Score Cymru Supporting Collaborative Research and Innovation in Europe ______

SCoRE Cymru Supporting Collaborative Research and innovation in Europe ______

Bilateral co-operation projects between Wales and the Basque Country Call July 2020

Background The Basque Country1 is a priority region in the Welsh Government’s International Strategy. Since 12 July 2018, Wales has had a Memorandum of Understanding with the Basque Government.

Oria Valley, Basque Country (Image: South Wales Ayuntamiento de Andoain)

There is a long history of links between Wales and the Basque Country, from prehistory to the iron and coal trade, and now with companies such as CAF and Midatech operating in both countries. The Basque Country offers 1,660 internationalised companies in one of the largest industrial concentrations in Spain. It has a high quality of life and some of the highest productivity levels in Europe. There is a strong manufacturing base with a relentless focus on science and innovation. The strong Basque technology organisations and universities make it one of the most successful regions in Europe for Horizon 2020 funding, particularly for applied industrial projects. For more information and useful links, see Annex 1.

1 For the purpose of this call, the Basque Autonomous Community

Trade with Bilbao, Newport, 1880

The Call

Summary

This call provides funding from the Welsh Government’s SCoRE Cymru budget that will support the collaboration of Wales-based organisations2 with the Basque Country. In addition to supporting the Welsh Government’s International Strategy, activities must create a basis for attracting future research and innovation investment into Wales, for example creating or reinforcing working relationships that can develop into larger scale collaborations. Supported activities are expected to be of benefit to both Wales and the Basque Country.

While travel is restricted due to COVID-19, applicants are invited to carry out other types of activity such as web events and brokerage, capability mapping, pre- commercial procurement preparation, collaboration around intellectual property or other additional costs of collaborating with the Basque Country.

The Government of the Basque Country has launched a call for applications to its €40,000 fund for activity with Wales and Flanders. Basque organisations should seek funding from the Basque Country in the first instance – click here for the call.

The indicative total allocation for the SCoRE Cymru call for Wales is £30,000.

The deadline for applications is 9am UK time on Monday 3 August 2020.

2 Legal entities such as registered companies, charities and public sector bodies, subject to due diligence checks. Organisations headquartered outside Wales may be eligible for Welsh funding, provided that the funded activity is for the Welsh site (eg HQ with Welsh branch) and if there is no conflict with the Basque funding.

Principality Stadium, Cardiff San Mamés Stadium, Bilbao

Eligible Costs In order to maintain consistency with the Basque conditions and to fund a variety of projects, we expect applications for up to £5,0003 (grant may cover 100% of eligible costs). In line with the Basque conditions, projects must start by the end of the December 2020. Projects will be expected to submit a claim for grant by 1 April 2021. The eligible costs are those that are necessary for the implementation, promotion and dissemination of the bilateral projects as agreed through the application form and written offer of grant. They may include:

 Consultancy (as per SCoRE Cymru guidance)  Fees, charges necessary for the implementation of the project, e.g. webinar costs, access to Intellectual Property, membership of interest groups.

 Travel costs (as per SCoRE Cymru guidance) for people travelling from Wales to the Basque Country. Support for travel from the Basque Country to Wales should be sought from the Basque scheme if reasonably practicable. In the case of multilateral collaborations, limited third country travel may be eligible if paid by the Welsh partner.  Reasonable accommodation and meals, on the basis of clear receipts, up to a maximum of €180 per day for 7 days.

 Under this call, actual staff costs for non-procured activities may be eligible. A rationale will be needed as to why the activity would not be carried out without a grant. We will require apportionment calculations for the hourly rate. The claim must be backed by time sheets and verifiable in payment and payroll records. In cases not covered by current SCoRE Cymru guidance, we will seek to apply the WEFO structural fund rules in a proportionate manner.

3 NB: Contracts over £4,999 require three quotes unless an organisation has a written procurement policy that achieves value for money with other thresholds.

South Stack, Holyhead Gaztelugatxe, Biscay

Submission of applications The Welsh Government’s Welsh European Funding Office will make funding decisions in accordance with the selection criteria (see below), taking into account the advice of colleagues in departments that are relevant to the respective applications, forming a virtual panel. We will apply a portfolio approach in order to manage the balance of risk and range of outcomes. Project descriptions and costs may be shared with the Basque Government in order to facilitate coordination and avoid duplication. Complete the application form at https://gov.wales/score-cymru-call-collaboration- basque-country and send it to [email protected] / [email protected] by 9am UK time on Monday 3 August 2020. For applications for Basque organisations, see: Basque: https://www.euskadi.eus/diru_laguntza/2020/flandes/gales-kooperazio- proiektu-laguntzak/web01-tramite/eu/ Spanish: https://www.euskadi.eus/ayuda_subvencion/2020/proyectos-de- cooperacion-tecnica-con-las-regiones-estrategicas-europeas-de-flandes-y- gales/web01-tramite/es/

(NB: different closing date for applications to the Basque Government: 27 July)

Industry, Biscay Industry, Port Talbot

Selection criteria In order to maximise the coherence between the Basque and Welsh funding streams in this call, the following selection criteria will apply, supplementing the generic SCoRE Cymru guidance. Unless explicitly stated in this call, SCoRE Cymru rules and procedures apply. A. Strategic Impact. Contribution of the project to the development of relations between Wales and the Basque Country. This will include consideration of the number of actions carried out in the project, the number of people participating and the size of the target audience for which the project is aimed. B. Innovation and originality of the project. For the evaluation of this criterion, an innovative project will be understood as one that seeks improvements in products or services, processes, approaches or new concepts, or greater acceptance of the product or service. A potential link between the supported activity and future Horizon Europe participation is expected, for example creation of a relationship that could be a basis for future funding applications. C. Duration of impact. Potential to attract resources for development beyond the initial grant, such as the forecast of new projects after the supported activity. D. Viability of project implementation. Due diligence considerations such as financial viability of the grant recipient, as well as the feasibility of delivery.

E. Contribution to the Well-being of Future Generations

Dyfi Natura 2000 Biosphere Urdaibai Natura 2000 Biosphere

Annex 1 – selected links4 and Horizon 2020 data The Basque Country has a population of 2.2 million in an area around half that of Wales. It has a public health service (Osakidetza), low crime, good education and a thriving culture that includes world-famous arts establishments, the Basque language, local sports, cuisine and traditions. These sit within a superb natural environment, with 59 protected areas covering 23% of the country. Welsh organisations interested in making links with the Basque country are welcome to contact the Welsh Government, whether they apply to this call for funding or not.

The Wales – Basque Country Memorandum of Understanding prioritises activity in the following domains: 1. Consolidate and broaden existing contacts, exchange policy best practices, explore new cooperation possibilities, develop and encourage joint projects, in the following fields:

- Mobility and transport, mainly in railway infrastructure and services - Environment and climate change issues - Technology, innovation and competitiveness - Marine Energy - Agri-food industry - Education and training - Fiscal strategy and policy, tax administration policy, budget management and social policies - Health and social care services, value-based healthcare and active and healthy aging - Business opportunities

2. Strengthen mutual cooperation and encourage a multicultural and tolerant society. In particular, they will encourage initiatives and exchange expertise in language policy and the promotion of the cultural sector.

Newport Transporter Bridge Biscay Transporter Bridge

4 An introductory list for basic orientation purposes only. In case of significant omissions or errors please contact [email protected]

Useful links:

Directory of science in the Basque Country: https://www.science.eus/en

Basque Research and Technology Alliance: https://www.brta.eus/ including:

 AZTERLAN Metallurgy: http://www.azterlan.es/en/

 AZTI Seafood: https://www.azti.es/en/

 BIOGUNE Health Science research centre https://www.cicbiogune.es/

 BIOMAGUNE Biomaterials: https://www.cicbiomagune.es/

 CEIT Applied Industrial Research: https://www.ceit.es/en/

 CIDETEC Applied Research in energy storage, surface engineering and nanomedicine: https://www.cidetec.es/en/home  ENERGIGUNE Energy: https://cicenergigune.com/en

 GAIKER: Biotechnology and Sustainable Composites and Functional Polymers http://www.gaiker.es/ing/index.aspx

 IDEKO industrial production and manufacturing technologies https://www.ideko.es/

 IKERLAN: knowledge transfer in electronics, ICT, energy and power electronics and advanced manufacturing. https://www.ikerlan.es/en/  LORTEK: lasers as a manufacturing and materials processing tool http://www.lortek.es/

 NANOGNE Nano: https://www.nanogune.eu/

 NEIKER: agro-livestock and forestry https://neiker.eus/en/  TECNALIA Applied research and innovation development “We transform technology into GDP”. https://www.tecnalia.com/  TEKNIKER technology centre specialised in Advanced Manufacturing, Surface Engineering, Product Engineering and ICTs https://www.tekniker.es/en  VICOMTECH Applied research in digital technologies https://www.vicomtech.org/en/

Basque Excellence Research Centres:

 Neuroscience https://www.achucarro.org/home  Climate Change https://www.bc3research.org/  Applied Mathematics http://www.bcamath.org/en/  Cognition, Brain and Language https://www.bcbl.eu/en  Materials - https://www.bcmaterials.net/

 International Physics Centre Donostia http://dipc.ehu.es  Biophysics https://biofisika.org/  Material Physics https://bercmpc.org  Molecular Design and Engineering http://www.polymat.eu/en/home Industry 4.0 university capability mapping http://4gune.eus/en/ Strategic Sectors –https://www.spri.eus/invest-in-basque-country/en/invest-basque- country/sectors/ . Links to clusters and other key organisations in:  Automotive  Energy  Advanced Machinery  Aeronautics  Marine  Rail  Electronics/ICT  Ecoindustries  Biosciences Universities:

 Universidad del País Vasco (UPV) https://www.ehu.eus/en/web/guest/en- home  Deusto University https://www.deusto.es/cs/Satellite/deusto/en/university- deusto

 Mondragon University https://www.mondragon.edu/en/home Sector Centres :

 Automotive Intelligence Centre https://www.aicenter.eu/

 Aeronautics Advanced Manufacturing Centre: https://www.ehu.eus/en/web/cfaa/home

Innovalia Association – Metrology https://innovalia.com

Biscay Marine Energy Platform https://bimep.com/

Basque Energy Agency https://www.eve.eus/?lang=en-gb

Basque Government: https://www.euskadi.eus/ Health Service: https://web.bizkaia.eus/eu/

Basque Language promotion foundation http://www.azkuefundazioa.eus/ Provincial Councils:

https://www.gipuzkoa.eus/en/web/council

https://web.araba.eus/eu/

https://web.bizkaia.eus/eu/ Provincial Capitals:

 Bilbao: http://www.bilbao.eus

 Donostia / San Sebastian: https://www.donostia.eus

 Vitoria / Gasteiz: https://www.vitoria-gasteiz.org

Basque Horizon 2020 recipients (top 20, June 2020) No. Legal Name H2020 H2020 EU Participations Contribution 1 FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & 291 € 143,757,988 INNOVATION 2 UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL 111 € 32,222,376 HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA 3 Aernnova Aerospace S.A.U. 9 € 26,416,978 4 FUNDACION TEKNIKER 49 € 26,057,413 5 INDUSTRIA DE TURBO PROPULSORES S.A.U. 7 € 24,724,839 6 FUNDACION CIDETEC 47 € 23,510,716 7 IKERLAN S. COOP 47 € 19,705,239 8 UNIVERSIDAD DE LA IGLESIA DE DEUSTO 28 € 17,008,990 ENTIDAD RELIGIOSA 9 ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION 28 € 13,787,171 COOPERATIVA EN BIOMATERIALES- CIC biomaGUNE 10 ASOCIACION CENTRO TECNOLOGICO CEIT-IK4 38 € 13,223,981 11 ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION 18 € 13,121,750 COOPERATIVA EN BIOCIENCIAS 12 FUNDACION CENTRO DE TECNOLOGIAS DE 27 € 12,726,319 INTERACCION VISUAL Y COMUNICACIONES VICOMTECH 13 CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA 18 € 11,325,175 DE ENERGIAS ALTERNATIVAS FUNDACION, CIC ENERGIGUNE FUNDAZIOA 14 FUNDACION AZTI - AZTI FUNDAZIOA 25 € 8,365,986 15 Asociacion - Centro de Investigacion Cooperativa 28 € 7,944,569 en Nanociencias - CIC NANOGUNE 16 IDEKO S COOP 18 € 7,654,793 17 FUNDACION DONOSTIA INTERNATIONAL 10 € 6,985,079 PHYSICS CENTER 18 ASOCIACION DE EMPRESAS TECNOLOGICAS 17 € 6,750,187 INNOVALIA

19 Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. 16 € 6,691,781 20 GRAPHENEA SEMICONDUCTOR SL 10 € 6,665,225

Snowdonia Goierri Technological specialisation indicators5

Policy specialisation indicators5

5 EC Smart Specialisation Platform – R&I Regional Viewer: https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/synergies-tool