CONTRIBUTION TO COMPLIANCE OF THE EUROREGION STRATEGIC PLAN

RENOVABLES is focused on the fields of education and the environment as linchpins, with an emphasis on bringing the Euroregion’s citizens onboard. It prioritises improving mutual knowledge and communication between companies and research institutions of its three territories, in order to foster competitiveness and the opening up of new markets. Importance is given to quality university education by means of cooperation between universities and R&D&i stakeholders. Crossborder mobility is encouraged by supporting offshore renewable energies, as one of the six key sectors.

Furthermore, the social and economic cohesion of its crossborder area is strengthened by means of strategic cooperation between different business and technological stakeholders. This represents the cornerstone of the Euroregion’s strategic plan. A Euroregional value chain that is greatly needed in this sector is thus created and is structured by the intense partnerships with EUSKAMPUS and which leads to close cooperation between its Chambers of Commerce, thematic networks and clusters. It is related to the social and economic development of humanity, as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the UN for 2030. Directly, SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (climate action) require measures to be adopted to combat climate change.

It is undoubtedly going to help increase regional employment in this sector with a labour shortage. Supply will be adapted to the crossborder situations in order to meet the great demand for highly qualified professionals in areas such as designing and testing prototypes in the offshore laboratory, maintenance, new materials, protection and control both for wind and wave energy, and for RIS3 strategic energies, with great growth potential in the whole euro zone in general and in the Euroregion in particular. The renewable energy implementation target for 2030 will be at least 32% of total consumption. The EU can thus move towards being carbon neutral and comply with its commitments regarding the Paris Agreements. The effect of the global economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic has already begun to be noted. World demand for primary energy is forecast to drop by 6.1% in 2020 and CO2 emissions 8%.

Its unique facilities are a benchmark worldwide and will strengthen the synergies with activities of the REM Master’s Degree (and also the REM+ now) in marine renewable energies, so that its students, selected from applicants from all over the world, may interact with those from the Euroregion, in coexistence with very different cultures.

Finally, it will ensure the implementation of the principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination on the basis of gender, along with their linguistic dimension (use of Basque, Spanish and French).