The S3 Platform assists EU countries and regions to develop, implement and review their research and innovation strategies for smart specialisation (RIS3). Successful cases, published on the above-mentioned platform's website, include a brief description of the tools and policy measures applied. Its dissemination on this European platform will enable other similar regions to apply these good practices.

As shown on the platform, the main success factor for the Basque Country is the early start promoting eco-innovation

After a decade of intense public-private collaboration in this field, some 239 Basque industrial companies are currently applying circular practices or models such as eco-design, remanufacturing, life-cycle assessment or environmental declarations. Specifically, the S3 platform highlights three initiatives: the Basque Ecodesign Center, which since 2011 integrates ‘life-cycle thinking” in the strategies of the largest Basque companies, such as Iberdrola or Eroski; the Programme for Innovation in the Circular Economy, which creates circular business opportunities for SMEs through demonstration projects since 2017; and the Basque Ecodesign Hub, which has been teaching circular business skills to young people and supporting their employability for more than 5 years.

The results of the projects carried out by companies in the Basque Country thanks to the Basque Government's support show many examples of companies that introduce circular innovations for products or processes that have led to improved productivity by saving in materials and energy consumption.

The European Commission's choice of the Basque Country means full support of the Basque Country's Circular Economy Strategy 2030, launched in January 2020 and which seeks to increase the productivity of material and the rate of use of circular material by 30%, in addition to reducing the generation of waste per unit of GDP by 30%. It is estimated that these innovative circular solutions could lead to an annual reduction of 6% in the consumption of raw materials, and therefore savings of 2 billion euros for companies.

Eco-innovation towards a circular economy in the Basque Country