Research, development and innovation
R&D&I to accelerate the transition to a more sustainable, digital and social industry
We endeavour to help Basque companies improve the quality of their R&D&I and increase the number of companies that incorporate R&D&I in their strategies, leading the promotion of the Basque research, development and innovation system in global, digital and sustainable value networks.
The 2030 Science, Technology and Innovation Plan is our tool devised in order to face Basque enterprise’s biggest challenges.
Its ultimate purpose is to improve the standard of living and the quality of employment in the Basque society, through an innovation policy that will place the Basque Country among the most advanced European regions by 2030.
A plan that covers a triple transition: the technological-digital, energy-climate, and social and health fields, as a consequence of the impact of global megatrends in the Basque Country.
It also proposes a research and innovation policy based on RIS3Euskadi smart specialisation and the interaction between: business capabilities, scientific and technological capabilities, and market opportunities.
We are working on 3 strategic priorities, 4 areas of opportunity and the development of cross-cutting tractor initiatives
Science, technology and innovation are our instruments for solving the main challenges we face and guaranteeing balanced and sustainable economic and social development in the Basque Country.
3 strategic priorities
Smart Industry
Enables improvement to the enterprise's competitive position within the international industrial sector, in order to face the new challenges related to digital transformation and the efficient use of material and energy resources.
Cleaner energy
Strategy that boosts the competitiveness of companies in the energy sector in global markets through technological innovation.
Health and socio-health transition
For Basque companies to develop and export new advances and solutions to health challenges. In short, R&D&I in the health sector should generate knowledge and the results should lead to better healthcare for the population.
4 areas of opportunity
Healthy food
Eco-innovation
Sustainable Cities
Euskadi Creativa
And the development of transversal trailblazing initiatives:
An instrument that promotes collaborative work in specific strategic areas.
We promote tools, assets, support, working groups and alliances for R&D&I
We take on challenges to improve the quality of R&D&I and its insertion in value networks
For expanding the Basque network and improving the quality of R&D&I:
01_
Align R&D&I support instruments to the development of RIS3 areas and the digital and sustainable transitions and serving as a nexus in the development of different policies that require science, technology and innovation (energy, environment, health, education...) for their development.
02_
Evolve and strengthen the current R&D&I support instruments.
Evolve and strengthen the management of support programs. Take advantage of the potential of Basque and international trailblazing companies to measure the impact of R&D&I support.
03_
Complement support for R&D&I with new mechanisms.
Support the updating and renewal of equipment in the Basque Science and Technology Network with capital subsidies for scientific-technological infrastructures and equipment.
Promote Innovative Public Procurement processes in administration that allow Basque companies to access new ways of promoting R&D&I.
For promoting the insertion of the Basque R&D&I system in global, digital and sustainable value networks:
01_
Take advantage of the positioning of international initiatives and implement the Basque Strategy for the Internationalisation of R&D&I.
02_
Accelerate the incorporation of advanced, digital and sustainable technological solutions in companies, especially SMEs.
03_
Mobilise companies, especially SMEs, towards innovation dynamics that also incorporate digitalisation and environmental sustainability.
04_
Promote, among others, collaborative approaches to data sharing in the business environment aligned with international standards that allow basic AI positioning.
We seek to strengthen the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network, a key to social welfare and economic wealth.
The BSTIN, set up in 1997, has played a key role in the competitive improvement of companies and in the creation of economic and social welfare and wealth.
The sustained support of the Basque Government has favoured the consolidation of a scientific and technological infrastructure aimed at working in a network in a complementary and coordinated way, from a market and customer proximity perspective, which has enabled the Basque Country to be placed among the group of innovative regions of the European Union.
The Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network is made up of different types of agents:
Singular Agents are agents that emerged through the Basque Government’s initiative to assist it in the design, implementation and promotion of new science, technology and innovation policies; for example, by attracting talent or promoting non-technological innovation.
The University Research Structures are the Centres, Departments, sections, research groups, centres attached to the universities of the Basque University System (SUV), or other structures dependent on universities whose fundamental function is the generation of scientific knowledge, although they also carry out activities along the entire R&D&I value chain.
The Basic and Excellence Research Centres are basic and excellence research entities that develop their activities in areas of scientific interest for the Basque Country.
Science, Technology and Innovation Dissemination Agents are entities whose main function is to promote both the dissemination of knowledge to society and the transfer of knowledge between agents of the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation System.
Health Research Centres (CIS) are research and innovation entities that have their core in one or more healthcare organisations, whose main function is to conduct translational research.
Health R&D Organisations are entities focused on health research (biomedical, epidemiological, public health and/or health services) and innovation, promotion and management.
Technology Centres are research entities that fundamentally generate, develop and transfer technology to the Basque Autonomous Community business network. The Technological Centres can be classified as follows:
- Multi-focused Technology Centres.
Multi-focused Technology Centres develop their R&D activities in various technologies and in different economic or business sectors. - Sectoral Technology Centres.
Sectoral Technology Centres develop their R&D activities focused on a specific economic or business sector.
Cooperative Research Centres, CICs, are research entities that develop collaborative and excellence research in a strategic, scientific and technological field for the Basque Autonomous Community.
Business R&D Units are research entities focused mainly on experimental development and oriented to satisfy the R&D needs of the companies that own them.
Supply-demand intermediation agents are entities that perform intermediation tasks between technology supply and business technology demand (especially from SMEs) along the entire R&D value chain.
Become an agent of the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network
And be part of a reference network in Europe
Meet the agents who are part of the network
Meet the agents who are part of the network
We participate in the great alliance to boost the technological ecosystem of the Basque Country
Basque Research
& Technology Alliance
BRTA was created to meet the industrial challenges of the Basque Country and to compete with large international leading corporations in technology research and development. This great alliance will be the spearhead of Basque research in Europe and the rest of the world, and the Spri Group is an active part of it.
Basque Research and Technology Alliance was established through a collaboration agreement between 16 technology centres and cooperative research centres belonging to the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network, the Basque Government, the Provincial Councils of Alava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa and the SPRI Group.
We lead work networks that allow us to position ourselves as a relevant competitiveness pole, both in Europe and internationally.
Internationalisation of Basque R&D&I, in order to anticipate and generate opportunities
The new strategy for the Internationalisation of R&D&I 2021-2030 is based on the excellent results obtained: the excellence of the proposals presented, the success rates above the European average, the increase in the participation of our companies and the volume of funding obtained.
We are one of the most highly regarded regions and an active partner for Europe:
The Spri Group leads the Basque consortium of the Enterprise Europe Network, promoted by the European Commission, which provides SMEs with advice and business opportunities in the European Union, with regard to the processes of technology transfer and access to European R&D&I financing programs.
We are part of the European network of "Digital Innovation Hubs". The purpose of DIHs is to improve business, production processes, products and services through digital technology
We are part of the Innovation Community within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which connects European leaders to create differential value in their products, services and processes, in order to maintain Europe as a leader in industrial innovation.
Committed to the S4, the regional economic transformation agenda to become a benchmark region in Europe in economy that is sustainable, digital and committed to the territory and people.
The Basque Country is participating in the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Manufacturing pilot projects for energy-related applications in harsh environments.
The Vanguard Initiative brings together 39 European industrial regions that want to promote industrial innovation and build value chains at the European level based on the synergies of their smart specialisation strategies and the principle of interregional cooperation.
The Basque Country is participating in the Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Manufacturing pilot projects for energy-related applications in harsh environments.
The Vanguard Initiative brings together 39 European industrial regions that want to promote industrial innovation and build value chains at the European level based on the synergies of their smart specialisation strategies and the principle of interregional cooperation.
The Spri Group leads the “Women in Manufacturing” expert group promoted by the World Manufacturing Foundation, an open platform that aims to improve and disseminate industrial culture worldwide as a means of ensuring economic equity and sustainable development. Within this framework, the Basque Country promotes measures to facilitate women’s access, permanence, promotion and leadership in the industry.
We offer support, services and instruments for you to develop high added value products or for you to launch business initiatives in the field of R&D&I
01. PERFORMANCE ORIENTATED
You are part of RVCT and want to improve and market your results and capabilities.
02. COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH
You are working on fundamental research, or industrial or experimental development activities for the generation and development of proprietary technology.
03. TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURES
Do you need new equipment or infrastructure, or do you need to improve your current elements in order for your R&D&I to deliver valuable results?
04. INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
If you develop products that are original or superior to the existing ones.
05. EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT
You participate in industrial research and experimental development projects in strategic sectors.
06. SMART CONNECTED MACHINES
You want to implement intelligent production technology and improve connectivity between your systems and industrial machinery.
07. TESTING AND EXPERIMENTATION
You are looking to improve your production process by incorporating digital technology and you want to test them first.
08. R&D&I TAXATION
Would you be interested in being able to deduct activities of your R&D&I project from corporate income tax with greater legal certainty?
For Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network Agents
- If you want to be part of a reference network in Europe and want to be certified.
- Meet other agents and see what projects you have in common.
- If you are working from a market and customer proximity perspective.
For Basque companies
- If you want to invest in the research and development of new products
- You are developing a product that is original or superior to what you had so far.
- You use your own intellectual property rights or rights acquired through exclusive licences.
- You experiment with new materials.
- You collaborate in the provision of services such as testing, approvals and certifications.
- Or manage your day-to-day life differently.
At Spri Group, we work to facilitate
your R&D&I for Basque companies
We design support programs to promote your innovative project
Do you know all that the Basque R&D&I Strategy can offer your company? If you are a research and sustainable industrial development specialist, we have a lot to offer you.
Women in industry 
We promote measures to facilitate women's access to, retention, promotion and leadership in the industry
SPRI leads the "Women in Manufacturing" expert group promoted by the World Manufacturing Foundation, a Milan-based organisation that aims to spread industrial culture worldwide. Find out more here Net-Zero Basque 
Accelerating the decarbonisation of energy consumption in Basque industry
Collaboration with the two main energy companies in the Basque Country, Iberdrola and Petronor, and the 16 industrial clusters to find solutions that reduce their net emissions and generate opportunities for technological developments in the Basque Country. Find out more here BDIH 
Do you need to learn about, test or develop digital and sustainable technologies?
BDIH is a connected network providing Basque companies with assets and advanced manufacturing services for training, research, testing and validation of technology. Request here Cleaner energies 
Improve your company's competitiveness in the context of energy-climate transition
We support the consolidation of a competitive network of companies and scientific-technological agents within the energy sector, which will contribute to the intelligent specialisation of the Basque economy and become a source of wealth, employment and quality of life for the Basque Country. Find out more here Basque Tek Ventures 
Mentoring for high-technology business models (deeptech)
An opportunity to develop and implement solutions and technologies to transform scientific discoveries into new business projects Request here Basque Enterprise Europe Network 
We bring everything that Europe can contribute to your R&D&i project
Expert advice, methods and tools to support the international expansion/projection of Basque SMEs that want or have the potential to grow in foreign markets and that base their businesses on technological and/or innovative products/processes/services. Request it here Public Procurement for Innovation (PPI) 
