The Basque Vice-Ministry of Science and Innovation has commissioned the Agirre Lehendakaria Center (Euskampus) to coordinate a research project on public science, technology and innovation policies in the Basque Country from 1980 to 2030, covering the period from the restoration of self-government to the present day. The main aim of this project is to collaboratively interpret our recent past, strengthen the current strategy of the Basque Government and project it into the future, reinforcing its international position.

The research, directed by Cristina Uriarte from the University of the Basque Country, will include a strong focus on identifying narratives and perceptions, an area in which the ALC specialises, as well as having solid experience in the analysis of the socioeconomic transformation of Basque society. As a complement, an analysis will be carried out from the perspective of social innovation portfolio and a comparison with other European regions and states with similar characteristics. Columbia University, a founding partner of the Agirre Lehendakaria Center, will contribute to the evaluation, comparison and international positioning of this research.

The fundamental mission and added value of this research is to collaboratively interpret our recent past, enrich our current strategy and project it towards the future, reinforcing its international positioning.

Context

The year 2030 will mark 50 years of Basque R&D&I policy promoted by the Basque Government. Although there are various studies on the impact of Science, Technology and Innovation policies on the development of the Basque Autonomous Community, there is a lack of sources of information and detailed and properly referenced data, as well as a lack of a broad historical analysis of the path taken. Likewise, it is increasingly necessary to analyse policies in terms of their social impact. How and whom have they affected? What have been their main impacts? What perceptions are there of them? How do they relate to each other and what has made them possible? What value system do they have at their foundation?

The study will include the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to assess the strategic decisions taken, some of them counter-cyclical, with the aim of identifying a narrative of its own that reinforces the international positioning of the Basque Country in this field. Likewise, an archive will be designed that synthesises and integrates information on policies, plans and tools, and will map key agents and actions (both public and private), milestones, historical context and thematic areas, among others, to understand the evolution of the ecosystem of relationships in different historical periods.

The expected results include a digital repository of key documents, a system for monitoring the Basque scientific ecosystem, a collection of historical publications and the organisation of international seminars. The aim is not only to document the past, but also to propose concrete improvements to align the R&D&I strategy with other strategic initiatives of the Basque Government and with society.