Evidence-based approaches - Basque country - Franco

Presentation Susana Franco, Research Director, Orkestra- Basque Institute of Competitiveness, Spain at the 26th OECD Spatial Productivity Lab meeting "Smart moves: How data can help discover what regions could be great at" held online on 23 October 2025.

More info: https://oe.cd/6dd

1. Evidence-based approaches
to regional development in
the Basque country
Susana Franco
Smart moves: How data can help discover what regions could be great at
Spatial productivity for regional and local development 26th meeting
23 October 2025

2. Annual budget
around €3m
Created in
2006
43 people
60% PhDs and
PhD students
AboutOrkestra
Explicit mission to foster the competitiveness of the Basque Country through action-
oriented research to improve the well-being of its citizens

3. 1.Addressing real problems
2.Applying scientific methods
3.Working jointly with our stakeholders
4.Providing rigorous content for decision making
A culture of transformative research
Earth
Transformative
research
Strong
connection
Strong
alignment

4. Cluster Identification: an action- research process (2011)
•Quantitative: Identification of agglomerations by using data
on the location of productive establishments
•Qualitative: Process with local development agencies to
select potential clusters
Methodology
•Improve mapping tools
•Knowledge about the reality of productive strategies
•Incorporate flexibility in cluster identification
Researchers
•Acquire competencies on conceptual frameworks and tools
•Knowledge about the productive structures of their
territories
•Synergies with the clusters identified in other territories
Local technical
officers

5. Specialisationanalyses (2018)
•Quantitative: Specialisationon economic activities
(employment), scientific knowledge (publications) and
technological knowledge (patents)
Methodology
•Knowledge about economic, scientific and technological
structure of the Basque Country as compared to reference
regions in Europe and the EU average
Researchers
•Recommendations about the strategies set in the Basque
Country
Policy makers

6. Up-to-date information to compare European regions and “shared language”
Regional Competitiveness Observatory (2018 onwards)
https://www.orkestra.deusto.es/competitiveness-observatory/en

7. Complexity analysis (2022 and 2024)
Objective: Provide an input for the reflection between the Basque Development Agency, cluster
organisations and Orkestra about cluster boundaries and opportunities to connect among
clusters + Input for local diversification in counties
Economic activities space Product activity space

8. Complexity analysis (2022)

9. 3
Each analysis is a piece that contributes to get the broader picture 2
Adapting the methodologies at regional/local level is difficult due to data availability1
Some lessons learnt
Knowledge cogeneration between researchers and policy makers/local agents can
help to produce actionable knowledge, but understanding each other takes time

10. www.orkestra.deusto.es
© Orkestra-Basque Institute of Competitiveness – Deusto Foundation
@orkestra
Orkestra-Basque Institute of Competitiveness
San Sebastian
University of Deusto,San Sebastian campus
Mundaiz,50
20012Donostia/SanSebastián
Tel.[phone]
Bilbao
University of Deusto,Bilbao Campus
LaComercial building,3
rd
floor
AvenidadelasUniversidades,24
48007Bilbao
Tel.[phone]
@orkestra-deusto.bsky.social