According to the Regional Innovation Scoreboard report, the regional innovation indicator panel prepared every two years by the European Commission, which measures the level of innovation across all territories within the EU member states, the Basque Country once again presents very positive figures.
The Basque Country ranks as a “strong innovator”, in the second-highest group. It exceeds the European Union’s average innovation level, reaching 108.1%.
The European Commission calls the Basque Country a “pocket of excellence”, for being a high-innovation region within a state classified as having moderate innovation. This only happens in 10 other European territories.
Out of 241 regions in the EU, the Basque Country ranks 81st, dropping 8 places from the 72nd position it held in the RIS 2023 publication.
“The Basque Country continues to be a strong innovator, but its pace has slightly slowed. We must make a greater effort... We cannot relax; we must keep improving and renewing our commitment to innovation,” stated the Basque Ministers of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi, and of Science, Universities and Innovation, Juan Ignacio Pérez Iglesias.
The Basque Government views the Basque Country’s situation within the EU positively. “Our goal is to place ourselves in the leading group of Europe’s most innovative countries... We are self-demanding and will analyze each and every indicator to improve them,” both ministers concluded.
In this regard, the new Basque Government’s Industrial Plan includes a strategic priority within the “Better Industry” section, aimed at raising the technological and innovation level of Basque companies. Plans include promoting the adoption of key enabling technologies, fostering public-private collaboration in R&D&I, and facilitating access for industrial SMEs to tools that accelerate their technological development. The objective is for more Basque companies to be at the forefront of innovation, both in products and processes.
Meanwhile, the upcoming redefinition of the Basque Country’s Science, Technology and Innovation Plan 2030, and in particular the development of the “Innovation Lighthouses” project—scheduled to be launched in 2025—will focus the Government’s efforts on the areas of greatest interest to the country.
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