Catalonia 2020 Strategy EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING SOCIAL COHESION INNOVATION & KNOWLEDGE ENTREPRENEURISM INTERNATIONALISATION GREEN ECONOMY
Catalonia 2020 Strategy  Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia Ministry of Economy and Knowledge
http://www. gencat. cat/economiaiconeixement April 2012 Catalonia 2020 Strategy 4 This document, which establishes the guidelines for the
well as economic and social stakeholders Catalonia 2020 Strategy 5 Contents 1. Executive summary 2. Bases for growth
5. 6. Green economy 6. Shaping policy: strategic lines of action 6. 1. Improving employability
6. 5. Promoting entrepreneurship 6. 6. Fostering the transition to a more resource-efficient economy
6. 7. Modernising the Administration 6. 8. Promoting strategic infrastructure Catalonia 2020 Strategy 6 1. Executive summary
competitiveness of the Catalan economy (2005-2007 and 2008 -2011), the Government of Catalonia has drawn up the Catalonia 2020
the long-term competitiveness of the Catalan economy and better employment, establishing a roadmap for economic recovery whilst
by governments and economic and social stakeholders Taking into account both the headline targets and the seven flagship
the Catalan economy, ECAT 2020 identifies six priority areas employment and training; social cohesion; innovation and knowledge
and the green economy ECAT 2020 is organised around eight strategic lines of action. These are broken down into operational objectives and quantifiable targets
for products and services, which are reviewed annually in an evaluation process based on a system of indicators
of these policies depends on the action of other stakeholders (other public authorities, employers†organisations, companies, trade unions
communication plan that will help to identify this initiative as a reference for Catalan competitiveness amongst citizens
challenges facing the Catalan economy In its report, CAREC describes the situation and prospects for the Catalan economy
and identifies the priorities that should guide policies aimed at helping Catalonia to recover and begin growing again.
economy recover from the crisis and move towards balanced, sustained growth Moreover, it also identifies the four great challenges
the Catalan economy develops: employment, finance, productivity and confidence The CAREC report stresses that the strategy for the competitiveness of the Catalan
economy should revolve around four basic ideas -Taking advantage of the crisis to thoroughly overhaul the Catalan economy
-Back to basics, that is relaunching the project for an entrepreneurial Catalonia with a strong and firmly-rooted industrial base in order to attract more sectors with high
and rigidity that prevent the Catalan economy from growing. The public authorities should foster entrepreneurial activity,
Noting the will expressed by economic and social stakeholders and the parliamentary groups, the Catalan Government reaffirms its conviction of the need to build, within the
and social stakeholders 3. 1. The Europe 2020 Strategy The Europe 2020 Strategy, adopted by the European council on 17 june 2010, is an
initiative designed to help the European economy recover from the crisis and to emerge stronger from it by promoting competitiveness, productivity and growth.
Europe 2020 calls on the European economies to launch new engines to boost growth and jobs,
-Developing an economy based on knowledge and innovation (smart growth -Promoting a more resource efficient, greener and more competitive economy
sustainable growth), and Catalonia 2020 Strategy 11 -Fostering a high-employment economy that can ensure economic, social and
territorial cohesion (inclusive growth ECAT 2020 follows the roadmap laid down by the Europe 2020 Strategy,
the Catalan context and the priorities of its economy 3. 2. Previous strategic agreements Catalonia has had experience with two previous strategic agreements for the
competitiveness of the Catalan economy since 2005. These proved to be valid tools for cooperation between the Government and economic and social stakeholders
On 16 february 2005, the Catalan Government and economic and social stakeholders signed the Strategic Agreement for the Internationalisation, Quality of Employment and
Competitiveness of the Catalan Economy. This strategy established eighty-six measures to be implemented over the 2005-2007 period to promote competitiveness
and shape economic policy in order to boost productivity, economic growth, quality of employment and social cohesion When this agreement expired, the signatories decided to revise its content
and give the initiative new impulse. As a result, on 3 june 2008, an agreement featuring 102
conditioned by the current economic crisis and the subsequent budgetary restrictions all the actors involved are convinced that these strategic agreements have enormous
The current situation of economic crisis and public spending restrictions requires appropriate, effective and efficient economic policy measures.
The Government is responsible for designing, planning and implementing such policies, but in many cases they can only be put into effect in cooperation with other stakeholders (other public
authorities, employers†organisations, companies, trade unions, workers†associations etc Catalonia 2020 Strategy 13 4. The Catalonia 2020 Strategy (ECAT 2020) and
competitiveness of the Catalan economy and employment. ECAT 2020 takes its inspiration from the Europe 2020 Strategy,
stakeholders The ten defining components 1. Government leadership and dialogue with economic and social stakeholders is vital.
Agreement will strengthen moves to adapt the production model to a more competitive system, generating
Administration and all economic and social stakeholders 6. ECAT 2020 will be monitored annually, with an interim
promotion and communication plan 10. As in the two previous agreements, ECAT 2020 encourages participation and dialogue through commissions formed by
different stakeholders. These bodies are Catalonia 2020 Strategy 15 -An institutional commission, the highest body for monitoring
ministries involved and by economic and social stakeholders and -A parliamentary monitoring commission, formed by the
The Ministry of Economy and Knowledge, which acts as the technical secretariat for ECAT 2020, is supported also by other units with transversal functions.
priorities of the Catalan economy Equivalence between the Europe 2020 Strategy flagship initiatives and headline
The greatest challenge facing the Catalan economy is to create employment. The Government must provide a stable,
reliable environment in order to restart the production system and economic growth, an essential condition for generating jobs and
reducing the high unemployment rate. The Government will promote sectors with high potential for job creation. These sectors include, for example:
Resource-efficient Europe Green economy Sustainable growth Innovation Union Innovation and knowledge Smart growth An industrial policy for the
Resource-efficient Europe Green economy Sustainable growth Innovation Union Innovation and knowledge Smart growth An industrial policy for the
For instance, in order to foster economic growth based on increased productivity and quality job creation, it is necessary to improve mechanisms for
professional mediation, information and guidance so as to adjust supply to demand in the labour market. Policies promoting a culture of mobility with regard to employment
adopt measures to combat the informal economy and undeclared work. A commitment should also be made to reducing segmentation
Economic and social stakeholders should also play a major role in this sphere In order to ensure that the labour market operate adequately,
dropout rates and equipping human capital with improved skills. Professional profiles and training provisions should also be adapted to the real needs of the production
economics, the media, the new technologies, postgraduate studies, international mobility, etc Catalonia faces the challenge of modernising its universities
demands of the knowledge society. In order to improve their contribution to individuals and to society as a whole, the universities should adapt to the needs of production
Promoting the social economy is a basic means of correcting inequalities. In the present economic climate, public spending caps greatly restrict the public authoritiesâ€
capacity to respond to growing social demands. More than ever, social challenges require social innovation. The creation of new business initiatives in the social economy
†which has a long tradition in Catalonia†is essential to bring out the full potential of
social enterprises to create new jobs and provide solutions for social problems 5. 3. Innovation and knowledge
of resources, the efficient provision of goods and services and the generation of new markets, is a major motor for increasing productivity.
opportunities and provide a source of competitiveness The Catalan ICT industry should act as a driving force behind economic growth
helping to increase business productivity and competitiveness and creating jobs. The introduction and more efficient use of digital technologies improves people†s quality of
and cultural content, new opportunities for the media, etc Research should be aimed at achieving objectives
developing new processes, goods and services, thereby generating new growth opportunities for companies in all sectors
The Government supports universities, research centres, technology centres and science and technology parks in order to foster the establishment of companies with
Catalan economy. Biotechnology and biomedicine provide an example of the success of public policies for innovation based on research and highly qualified personnel
Business enterprises are expected to lead the recovery of economic activity. To emerge from the crisis, it is necessary to boost business activity,
strongest points of the Catalan economy. Businesses must maintain or intensify their activities, increasing in size and number
The limited availability of resources causes problems of liquidity that, in turn, hampers business activity. For this reason, the Government must facilitate access to finance for
business investment and innovation and provide support for the capitalisation of Catalan companies Given its key role in spreading technological change,
International competition and the economic crisis require companies to rethink their competitive strategies, particularly as regards technological
which account for the majority of enterprises in the Catalan industrial sector, should lead the recovery of economic activity and job
creation. However, all too often, SMES have neither the training nor the tools needed to adapt to a rapidly-changing and evermore competitive environment.
For this reason the Government promotes SME cooperation strategies, establishing clusters and Catalonia 2020 Strategy 20
special plans and providing resources and services to simplify procedures for start-ups An outstanding initiative in this field is â€oecatalunya emprã nâ€, a programme whose
public-private network that coordinates all stakeholders committed to launching new business projects. Similarly, the Government promotes a new model for relations
services, but more than 40,000 firms are potential exporters or export only occasionally. In many cases, businesses do not take the decision to export because
Catalonia has a long tradition as a favourite destination for direct foreign investment The Government is active in promoting new investment, as well as business
reinvestment and expansion Good infrastructure is a key condition for attracting and consolidating the presence of
5. 6. Green economy The Catalan economy, like that of the rest of Europe, has taken up the challenge of
moving towards more efficient use of resources. Industry needs to speed up the process of transition towards an economy that produces low levels of greenhouse gas
emissions and promotes an efficient use of energy and resources. This transition towards a more sustainable production model represents a new opportunity for
reindustrialisation The move towards a more sustainable growth model depends largely on the commitment of established production sectors.
The green economy offers great economic opportunities to industry, the energy sector farming and tourism.
such opportunities by promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, renewable energy generation, the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity and local human
5. Promoting entrepreneurship 6. Fostering the transition to a more resource-efficient economy 7. Modernising the Administration
8. Promoting strategic infrastructure Each priority corresponds to a number of operational objectives that translate into
annually quantifiable measures (products and services) that have a direct impact on the six priority areas:
and the green economy Targets, budgets and monitoring indicators for each product and service will be
productivity and the competitiveness of the economy. In their twofold function †social and economic†education and training should enable people to acquire the skills they
In the present context of severe economic crisis and high unemployment, it is particularly important to improve employability as a way of working towards a change to
Catalan economy. On this point, all international organisations stress the vital role played by career guidance in integration into employment
Career information and guidance services provide support for people who need to take decisions with regard to training and employment, helping to ensure that they make
the unemployed, has appropriate, personalised access to career guidance services 6. 1. 2. Helping young people gain access to the labour market
policies to improve employability and increase job opportunities for young people Measures in this sphere, in accordance with the Catalan Government†s competences
-Increasing personalised career guidance services Catalonia 2020 Strategy 24 6. 1. 3. Promoting new niches of employment
demand, such as personal care services, sustainability and multimedia content Promoting such emerging industries is essential
information and guidance services 6. 1. 5. Raising rates of school success In order to reduce the high school dropout rate in Catalonia,
With its notable presence in the spheres of economics, the new technologies and higher studies, English has become the international language.
promoting common or joint services new policy for fees and grants; a new model for the governance of universities;
and career guidance services. Support is provided particularly for the integration into employment of people receiving the minimum income allowance
Accessible use of information and communication technologies improves employability and inclusion and has positive effects on social cohesion.
ensure that sufficient opportunities exist for highly-qualified workers. In this respect, the Catalonia 2020 Strategy 26
and represents an opportunity for those wishing to obtain professional qualifications abroad. Measures to promote such
and to generate economic growth through increased productivity and the creation of quality jobs. The Catalan
it is essential to ensure smooth communications between those looking for jobs and companies requiring workers.
to strengthen company mediation services and to enhance and increase the information available to job seekers
The legal and institutional framework should help to create an environment that is favourable to job creation and to enabling companies to increase productivity and
stakeholders should undertake to focus collective negotiation on increasing productivity within the Catalan economy 6. 2. 3. Improving job quality and conditions of employment
In order to foster sustained economic growth based on productivity, it is crucial to promote the creation of quality jobs.
A quality working environment and secure conditions of employment are key factors in persuading workers to commit to company
stakeholders, who should foster job quality and security and spread prevention culture amongst Catalan businesses
unfair competition with firms that do comply with the law. In order to prevent fraud connected to undeclared work,
promotes access to credit for investment, innovation and internationalisation, and supports the capitalisation of businesses so that they can improve their solvency and
organisations and social stakeholders, the Government also provides advisory services on SME funding 6. 3. 1. Improving companies†access to finance
financial institutions, guarantees, capital risk funds, co-investment, etc..It is also important to promote channels of access to finance
contributions and advisory services 6. 3. 2. Promoting new instruments of finance The highly specific nature of certain businesses often means that the usual provisions
include, for example, new public-private partnership models, investment networks and partner search mechanisms 6. 4. Promoting the strategic adaptation of businesses to the
global economy The world economy is currently facing two great challenges: technological change and globalisation. To meet these challenges successfully,
the advanced countries are implementing policies to increase their competitiveness. These policies revolve around two main priorities:
this new framework, business models and strategies that were once useful for competing are no longer tenable.
-ductive economy It is not easy to transfer the results obtained from research to the production system
and, in order to generate economic growth, fresh efforts are required to create a real market for the results of research and for patents.
in order to increase demand for innovation services amongst companies and to provide incentives for companies to launch high
-risk technological projects. With regard to mobilising private resources for innovation Catalonia 2020 Strategy 31 action focuses on promoting private sponsorship for projects, whilst proposals for
6. 4. 4. Increasing the internationalisation of the economy Internationalisation is a key driving force for economic recovery.
companies in Catalonia regularly export goods and services, but there exist around 40,000 firms that are potential exporters or that export only occasionally.
International competition to attract foreign investment is growing, and the number of investment projects at European scale is falling.
Therefore, it is necessary to identify specific product and service lines that can generate investment projects and sectors
and companies in Europe that currently have investment capacity and then draw up proposals aimed at selling specific investment projects
6. 4. 5. Fostering the transition of companies to activities with higher added value For a country with a highly heterogeneous production sector based on strong industrial
traditions, and in which nearly 98%of all enterprises are SMES, cluster policies are vital
in order to guide the transition of companies towards activities with higher added value and to generate feasible and sustainable future strategies.
With a production system based on small enterprises that have considerable differences in size and productivity compared to both traditional European and new
measures should be differentiated based on business models adapted to new requirements for competitiveness A key condition for improving companies†competitiveness is to introduce new models
Tourism is a strategic sector of the Catalan economy. The Government seeks to foster tourism both in emerging and mature markets,
enabling the industry to adjust its services and exercise its influence to encourage a potential change of profile
enterprises in Catalan industry, the Government promotes projects with high economic impact and similarly high capacity to draw in other companies, both forward (clients
knock-on effects focused on ICT (linked to Barcelona Mobile World Capital) and on sustainable mobility (electric vehicles, development of new businesses and economic
pursue the goal of reactivating economic activity, particularly as regards SMES Catalonia 2020 Strategy 33 6. 4. 10.
and opportunities and through Government intervention to help ensure the continuity of strategic industrial projects.
6. 5. Promoting entrepreneurship The Government implements measures aimed at developing the capacity to create
and coordinate all stakeholders committed to establishing new business projects 6. 5. 1. Introducing entrepreneurial values in the education system
According to the European Charter for Small Enterprises, education and training are vital for fostering the entrepreneurial spirit.
to the global economy 4. 1. Improving efficiency and effectiveness in the R&d and innovation system
economy 4. 3. Fostering innovation in business 4. 4. Increasing the internationalisation of the economy
4. 5. Fostering the transition of businesses to activities with higher added value 4. 6. Promoting improved business and personnel management
and detecting growth opportunities Catalonia 2020 Strategy 34 and vocational training), throughout society and in public opinion in order to foster
entrepreneurship, which can help to increase the will to set up businesses. To this end for example, compulsory secondary education includes two programmes, â€oeenterprising
present a business plan in order to obtain certain university qualifications 6. 5. 2. Promoting business initiative, cooperatives and self-employed work
services as, amongst others: information, support and training for entrepreneurs access to entrepreneurial resources; instruments to provide new businesses with legal
high growth potential (growth acceleration network, public investment, seed capital business angels, etc. to foster the consolidation of projects with the greatest potential
Government action focuses particularly on the establishment of enterprises and on cooperatives and self-employed work.
The rural economy has a high margin for generating added value, and public policies should reinforce this potential by promoting the introduction of new products (such as
economy, has been the most rapidly growing tourism segment in Catalonia. Rural destinations, with their rich natural, historic, artistic and cultural heritage, and where
fishing-related tourism offer new opportunities for the development of the tourist industry potential that is endogenous to country areas
In line with the need to adapt the economy towards sectors that generate higher added value and to encourage technology transfer to the production sector,
vital to establish new, technology-based enterprises. In order to encourage the flow of know-how generated at universities
new, technology-based enterprises. These measures include advisory services for projects, incentives and research programme contracts
6. 5. 5. Promoting social innovation and entrepreneurship In a context marked by restrictions on public spending
and growing social demands the social economy is vital for fostering the integration of groups most at risk of social
exclusion. Government actions to this end are aimed at providing a framework to encourage new business initiatives in the sphere of the social economy
6. 6. Fostering the transition to a more resource-efficient eco -nomy Public policies to support economic activity should promote the transition towards a
more resource-efficient economy, as much out of necessity (decreasing dependency on fossil fuels, rising energy prices, security of supply, reducing emissions of
greenhouse gases and other pollutants) as for the opportunities that such a transition offers to the production sector.
In line with the Europe 2020 Strategy, ECAT 2020 Operational objective Em pl oy m en
t a nd tr ai ni ng So ci al c oh es io n
STRATEGIC LINE 5. Promoting entrepreneurship 5. 1. Introducing entrepreneurial values into the education system 5. 2. Promoting business initiative, cooperatives and self-employed work
5. 5. Promoting social innovation and entrepreneurship Catalonia 2020 Strategy 36 seeks to guarantee that the Government†s long-term strategies in fields such as
fisheries and the environment achieve positive results with regard to efficient use of resources (particularly energy efficiency) whilst also benefitting from the opportunities
that they offer for business development 6. 6. 1. Promoting sustainability in the production system
Europe stresses particularly the need and the opportunity presented by guiding the production system towards a more sustainable model based on increased efficiency in
Whilst it has been demonstrated amply that investment in sustainability generates economic and competitive advantages for the production
economy in terms of use of resources. This can be achieved through such measures as: promoting voluntary agreements for sustainability;
economic activity and in public procurement In this respect, the Catalan Ecodesign Programme 2011-2012 (ECODISCAT) promotes sustainable production and consumption.
transfer and the consumption of sustainable products and services 6. 6. 2. Promoting more efficient use of energy and other resources
advantage of business opportunities. The Plan for Energy Saving and Efficiency in Buildings, besides establishing measures to improve energy efficiency in public
efficiency in all sectors of the economy 6. 6. 3. Promoting renewable energy sources Renewable energy sources generate business opportunities and employment and
contribute to modernising the production system, whilst also reducing dependency on fossil fuels and improving security of energy supply.
providing aid for investment and research into machinery and technology for waste minimisation and energy generation from waste
The public authorities should provide a framework for economic activity and public intervention that fosters business initiative and job creation whilst preserving the rights
-efficient economy 6. 1. Promoting sustainability in the production system 6. 2. Promoting more efficient use of energy and other resources
regulations governing competition; fostering competitiveness in public procurement improving the functioning of the justice administration; and establishing an open data
or that restricts competition, can create barriers against trade, investment, the creation of businesses and the efficiency
of the economy in general. Moreover, unnecessary red tape has a negative effect on company productivity, something that is especially serious in the case of SMES.
For this reason, it is vital to raise the quality of legislation and to promote smart legislation
that neither restricts competition nor generates unnecessary or disproportionate costs to economic activity. In this respect, it is vital to carry out impact assessments of laws
to integrate procedures and to implement legal reforms that can help to create a more
possible degree of free competition between tenderers, in order to increase efficiency in the management of public resources and guarantee the quality of the services
delivered to citizens. To this end, it is particularly important to establish internal mechanisms to detect
and the Administration that underlines the social utility of entrepreneurship and is Catalonia 2020 Strategy 39
In order to facilitate economic activity, and as part of the process aimed at improving public services, it is essential to introduce the electronic administration as an
the catalogue of services to be extended, as well as rationalising resources 6. 7. 5. Introduction of open data
emerging, in which all stakeholders add value to products and services (collective know-how. The Web and the social networks give products and services new
functionalities, in terms both of management (saving on time and travel, networking etc.)) and characteristics (possibilities for marketing, simulation, accessibility
attract foreign investment and facilitate the creation of new companies. The â€oenew Legal Office†project will enable common
services to be organised, centralising the procedures of all judicial bodies and thereby improving the speed
consequence of insufficient State investment. Moreover, the centralised management model applied to ports and airports restricts the contribution that such infrastructure can
make to the competitiveness of the Catalan economy In order to design the long-term policies and major public investment projects needed
the Catalan Government calls for the devolution of powers from Central Government to manage infrastructure that is vital to the competitiveness of the Catalan economy, or at
least to play a decisive part in the management of such infrastructure Operational objective Em
economic and social environment that will give this infrastructure value 6. 8. 1. Promoting Catalan ports as southern Europe†s gateway for goods
Moreover, competitive railway services should be provided between these ports and the rest of Spain and Europe, progress is required in the operational and
and border inspection services should be made more efficient. To this end, and to provide the necessary impulse for
With regard to promoting rail goods services, the Government establishes new services and measures leading to the effective liberalisation of both goods and passenger
services by rail and the simplification of the related administrative procedures Catalonia also needs new intermodal railway terminals with their respective logistic
centres. In this sphere of activity, it is also important to explore the possibilities of public-private cooperation
encourage concentration and the joint marketing of goods transport services; and promote the use of information and communication technologies in the sector
6. 8. 4. Increasing the connectivity of Catalan airports and ports and reinforcing their role as local economic motors
economy and as local economic motors, it is important to increase the connectivity of Catalan airports, opening up new routes and developing the air cargo industry.
supervision of investment plans drawn up by electricity and gas marketing companies Providing latest-generation land and mobile telecommunications networks is also
vital condition for generating economic activity in rural areas. Irrigation infrastructure also plays a strategic role in boosting
Overtext Web Module V3.0 Alpha
Copyright Semantic-Knowledge, 1994-2011