In the early 1980s, Basque technology centre objectives included training young graduates to augment their technological knowledge and help them find jobs in research by awarding them year-long grants (with an option on a second year) linked to research projects.

Grants were awarded by the two official associations of industrial engineers, the Vizcaya association and the joint Alava, Guipúzcoa and Navarra association and training was in-house at the technology centres.

Gradually the number of grants increased to include other kinds of degrees.

On 23 March 1995 the TECHNOLOGY CENTRE FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF TECHNOLOGY came into being. Trustees were the CEIT, GAIKER, IKERLAN, INASMET, LABEIN, ROBOTIKER, TEKNIKER technology centres and the Official Associations of Industrial Engineers of ALAVA, VIZCAYA and GUIPÚZCOA. The ESI and LEIA technology centres joined the Board of Trustees later.

After the creation of the Basque Science, Technology & Innovation network in 1997, the Foundation extended its offer of grants to players in the network, so they could include grants in the Foundation programmes.

In December 2002, the Board of Trustees resolved to modify the Foundation's official name in memory of Iñaki Goenaga Lumbier. The Foundation is now officially called FUNDACIÓN CENTROS TECNOLÓGICOS - IÑAKI GOENAGA