Launched: November 2024
The challenge
The Basque Country faces significant challenges in connecting universities with industries and adapting to the rapid technological changes reshaping advanced industries. The 4gune Skills Partnership is designed to bridge this gap by enhancing collaboration between academia and businesses to prepare students and professionals with essential skills in the fields of engineering, science, and technology. One of the key challenges include accelerating research, development, and innovation to develop tailored university programmes. Another is ensuring that professors are recognised and compensated for supporting knowledge transfer to companies and increasing the visibility of the university programmes.
The ambition
The 4gune Skills Partnership aims to create a thriving ecosystem where administration, academia, business, and society drive digital, demographic, and sustainable transformations. The long-term goal is to position the Basque Country as a leader in innovation by 2030, fostering a green, digital, and inclusive economy.
To achieve this, 4gune will analyse skills gaps in the engineering, science and technology sectors and adapt university training programmes to industry needs. From 2024, new inter-university training programmes have been developed to upskill and reskill both the current workforce and future professionals.
The partnership will also focus on strengthening collaboration between universities and businesses, promoting knowledge transfer and talent integration through initiatives like the Business + University Programme. This initiative will play a crucial role in fostering innovation, supporting the green and digital transition, and driving regional competitiveness.
By actively engaging in the European Union's Pact for Skills, 4gune seeks to create synergies between local entities, universities, companies, and research centres, fostering joint projects that align with regional needs and contribute to long-term sustainable growth.
The commitments
The 4gune Regional Skills Partnership is dedicated to strengthening collaboration between universities and companies in the Basque Country to enhance its competitiveness in the fields of engineering, science, and technology. It focuses on launching new inter-university training programmes in 2024 combining cutting-edge technological skills and decision-making abilities, to ensure that both students and current employees can drive digital transformation. The partnership also aims to expand its Business and University Programme to promote talent development, knowledge transfer, and integration of new talent into the workforce. This programme will play a critical role in the region’s transition to a green and digital economy.
Learn more about the 4gune Regional Skills Partnership.
