The Basque Country strengthens its presence at the European Commission’s Industrial Forum

The Basque Government, through SPRI, took part today in Brussels in the 10th plenary meeting of the Industrial Forum, organized by the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission, representing the Vanguard Initiative network of European regions. Cristina Oyón, Deputy Director of SPRI, represented the Basque Country at the meeting.

During the session, key strategic issues for the future of European industrial policy were addressed. First, the proposed European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) was discussed — a new budgetary instrument that will allocate €409 billion to support industrial competitiveness, particularly in strategic sectors and SMEs.

The discussions also focused on how to transform the public procurement system into an effective, sustainable investment tool aligned with European objectives. Finally, the “Apply AI” strategy was presented, aimed at accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence and robotics in European industry, with special emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises.

The session also introduced the document “Recommendations and Working Principles for the Industrial Forum 2.0”, which outlines proposals for the Forum’s next cycle (2026–2029). The aim is to consolidate this platform as a structured space for dialogue between industry, research, and European institutions — co-designing policies that foster competitiveness, innovation, and industrial growth in Europe.

Key recommendations include:

Recognition of the Forum as a central tool in shaping industrial policies.

Establishment of a work plan with regular meetings and agile consultation mechanisms.

Promotion of active, cross-institutional participation to ensure coherence in industrial policies.

Strengthening of inclusive practices and creation of new thematic working groups.

At the close of the meeting, the organizations CECIMO, EIT Manufacturing, Vanguard Initiative, VTT, and Orgalim, co-signatories of the document, called for the creation of a stronger, more influential Industrial Forum 2.0 with greater impact on the definition of European industrial policies.

Through its participation via SPRI, the Basque Country reaffirms its active role in European debates on the future of industry and its commitment to shaping more innovative and coherent policies aligned with the challenges of industrial transformation.

You can consult the full document HERE.