Eco-innovationinSpain

EIOCountryProfile

2014-2015

Eco-InnovationObservatory

The Eco-Innovation Observatory functions as a platform for the structured collection and

analysis of an extensive range of eco-innovation information, gathered from across theEuropean Union and key economic regions around the globe, providing a much-neededintegrated information source on eco-innovation for companies and innovation serviceproviders,aswellasprovidingasoliddecision-makingbasisforpolicydevelopment.

The Observatory approaches eco-innovation as a persuasive phenomenon present in alleconomicsectorsandthereforerelevantforalltypesofinnovation,definingeco-innovationas:

“Eco-innovation isany innovationthatreducestheuseofnaturalresourcesanddecreasesthereleaseofharmfulsubstancesacrossthewholelife-cycle”.

Tofindoutmore,visitwww.eco-innovation.euandec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap

Any views or opinions expressed in this report are solely those of the authors and do notnecessarilyreflectthepositionoftheEuropeanCommission.

Eco-InnovationObservatory

CountryProfile2014-2015:Spain

Author:PatriceLéger

Coordinatoroftheworkpackage:TechnopolisGroupBelgium

AnotetoReaders

Any views or opinions expressed in this report are solely those of the authors and do notnecessarilyreflectthepositionoftheEuropeanUnion.Anumberofcompaniesarepresentedasillustrativeexamplesofeco-innovationinthisreport.TheEIOdoesnotendorsethesecompaniesandisnotanexhaustivesourceofinformationoninnovationatthecompanylevel.

This brief is available for downloaded fromhttps://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap/spain

Tableofcontents

Summary...........................................................................................................................1

Introduction.......................................................................................................................2

1 |Eco-innovationperformance......................................................................................3

2 |Selectedcirculareconomyandeco-innovationareasandnewtrends........................5

3 |Barriersanddriverstocirculareconomyandeco-innovationinSpain........................8

4 |Policylandscape:towardscirculareconomyinSpain.................................................9

ANNEX:Policymeasuresaddressingcirculareconomyandeco-innovationsinSpain........13

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Summary

Compared to 2013, the eco-innovation landscape in Spain is rather stable. Spain is rankednumber9intheEco-IS2015,losingthreepositionssince2014.Asitwasthecaseinallpreviouseditionsof theScoreboard, thecountryhasabove-averageoverallperformance,withscoreof106(against110in2013).Despitekeepingitsperformancehigh,thecountrylostthreepositionsandfourscore-pointsincomparisontoitsrankintheEco-IS2013.

Eco-innovation inputs remains the component inwhich Spain performs theworst, illustratingSpain’s relatively low level of R&D intensity. The country’s strongest performance remains ineco-innovationactivitieswithanindexof134,buthaslostitsleadingpositionof2013.Itstandsslightly above EU average when it comes to eco-innovation outputs, but outperforms withregards to resource efficiency outcomes (index of 112), with strong performance in materialproductivity (149), energy productivity (118) and greenhouse gas emissions (121). Finally,Spain’soverallperformanceintermsofsocio-economicoutcomesis5%abovetheEUaverage,against17%in2013.

The recession has put significant pressure on labour markets and businesses. Overall, poorframeworkconditionsforresearchandinnovationhamperedinvestmentoverthelongtermandthetransitionoftheSpanisheconomytowardshighervalueaddedactivities.Whiletheeconomyseemstostandbackonitsfeet,uncertaintyremainsdominantinacontextapoliticalinstability.

Public policy support for eco-innovation is a mix of first and second-generation policies andmeasures addressing technologies and resources for pollution control and energy efficiency.Eco-innovation is generally embedded in national and regional policies targeting resourceefficiency, environmental innovations, clean technologies and sustainable development. TheNationalPlanforWasteManagement2016–2022setsupanewframeworkforthetransitiontowardsamorecirculareconomyinSpain.

Themost important eco-innovation areas and trends includewastemanagement, eco-design,greenengineering, energy efficiency, sustainable construction, urban greening systems, urbanwatersystemsandwaterefficiency.Themost importanteco-innovationdriversofthecountryarethepressurefromexistingEuropeanandnational legislations, theexistenceofacompletesetofstrategies,policiesandprogrammesdesignedatcounteractingtheenvironmentalimpactof the economy, and the importance given to the green economy, green jobs and thetransformation of the economic model to a resource efficient and more environmentallyfriendly one. The lack of public and private funds to support eco-innovations and the loss ofqualifiedhumancapitalduetoemigrationarethemaineco-innovationbarriers.

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Introduction

Circulareconomyandeco-innovationneedsandchallengesinSpainaredeeplyintertwinedwiththeeconomiccrisis it faced.Thecountry isnowinaphaseofrobustrecoverythatfollowstheextendeddouble-diprecessionof2008-2013.Afterayearofmoderategrowth in2014(1.4%),GDP Growth reached 3.2% in 2015, one of the highest in the euro area, and is expected toremain robust in 2016 and 2017, according to European Commission forecasts (EuropeanCommission,2016).Nevertheless, theBankof Spainand theEuropeanCommissionexpressedconcernsthatthepoliticalinstabilitysincetheDecember20th2015electionmayputatrisktheeconomicuptake(ElPaís,2016).

Recessionhasputsignificantpressureon labourmarketsandbusinesses.Labourreformshavehelped to boost productivity, allowing employers and unions to opt for wage moderationinsteadofjobcuts.Unemploymentremainsdangerouslyhighthough(21%oftheworkforceinthe fourth quarter of 2015 ), especially youth and long-term unemployment, but has fallensharplyfromitspeakof26.9%inearly2013(InstitutoNacionaldeEstadisticas).Businessesthathave registeredgrowth in the lastyearshavebecomemoreproductiveandefficient. In2015,businessinvestmentstrengthened,underpinnedbydynamicdemandconditions,lowborrowingcosts, and on-going balance sheet repair by the corporate sector and household. Favourableexternal developments (oil prices and thedepreciationof the euro) and supportivemonetarypolicyalsocontributedtotherecovery.Exportsheldupwell,andareexpectedtohavegrownby6%in2015(EuropeanCommission,2016).

Eventhoughinnovationisseenbyhigh-levelsofgovernmentasapoliticalobligationtorespondthe challenges brought by the economic crisis, Spain's R&D intensity keeps on declining,standingat1.2%ofGDPin2013against2%intheEU(Eurostat).Specifically,Spainisranked19(of28countries)ininnovationperformancein2015,tworankpositionslessthanin2014.Poorframeworkconditions forresearchand innovationhamper investmentoverthe longtermandthe transition of the Spanish economy towards higher value added activities, against thebackdrop of a relatively low number of innovative firms, limited incentives for university-business cooperation and institutional weaknesses leading to overlapping bodies andprogrammes(EuropeanCommission,2016).

Eco-innovationandthegreeneconomyareseenasasustainablewaytoconsolidateeconomicrecovery by increasing competitiveness, promoting the creation of quality employment andreducingtheeconomy’senvironmentalimpact.AccordingtoCarlosMartínezOrgado,Presidentof the Foundation for Circular Economy, 2016 will be a key year towards a more circulareconomyinSpain,followingtheimplementationoftheEuropeanCircularEconomyPackageandtheNationalFrameworkPlanforWasteManagement2016–2022.

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1 |Eco-innovationperformance

TheanalysisinthissectionisbasedontheEU-28Eco-innovationscoreboard(Eco-IS)fortheyear2015.ViaitscompositeEco-innovationindex,producedbytheEco-InnovationObservatory(EIO),Eco-IS demonstrates the eco-innovation performance of a country compared with the EUaverageandwiththeEUtopperformers.Eco-IS isbasedon16 indicators,aggregatedintofivecomponents: eco-innovation inputs, activities and outputs, environmental and socio-economicoutcomes.

Figure1EU27Eco-innovationscoreboard2015,compositeindex

Source:EIO,2016

Spainisrankednumber9intheEco-IS2015.AsitwasinthecaseinallpreviouseditionsoftheScoreboard,thecountryhasabove-averageoverallperformance(scoreof106).Despitekeepingitsperformancehigh,thecountrylostthreepositionsandfourscore-pointsincomparisontoitsrankintheEco-IS2013.

Thecountryperformswellandaboveaverageinallareaswiththeexceptionforeco-innovationinputs,withaperformanceof about6% less than theEUaverage (indexof94, seeFigure2),whichneverthelessrepresentsasubstantialrisefromascoreof67in2013.ThisfigureillustratesSpain’s relatively low level of R&D intensity, in particular with regards to governmentenvironmentalandenergyR&Dappropriationsandoutlays (index91),butalsoa lowshareofR&Dpersonnelandresearchersamongtotalemployment(index91).Thelevelofvalueofgreenearly stage investments is in line with EU average (index 101), illustrating the country’senhancedconfidencewithinthebusinesscommunity,followingyearsofwariness.

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Figure2Componentsoftheeco-innovationcompositeindexforSpain,2015

Source:EIO,2016

Thecountry’sstrongestperformanceremainsineco-innovationactivitieswithanindexof134,buthaslostitsleadingpositionof2013,nowheldbyCzechRepublicwithanindexof181.Thisisin part due to fall in the number of ISO 14001 registered organisations from 416 permillionpopulation in 2013 to 298 in 2015. There is no new data on Spain’s business performancerelatedtotheshareoffirmshavingimplementedinnovationactivitiesaimingatareductionofmaterial and energy input per unit output, based on the Community Innovation Survey (CIS)resultsin2008.

SpainstandsslightlyaboveEUaveragewhenitcomestoeco-innovationoutputs,withanindexof102.Whenlookingintodetailthough,itsperformanceintheareaiscontrasted.Thecountryregisteredonaverageonly8.49eco-innovationrelatedpatentspermillioninhabitants,against18.6onEUaverage,accordingtothelastfiguresof2012.Itsnumberofeco-innovationrelatedpublications is in line with EU average (index of 101) but it outperforms the EU level withregardstoeco-innovationrelatedmediacoverage(indexof160).

Asforresourceefficiencyoutcomes,Spain iswellabovetheEUaveragewithanindexof112,with strong performance in material productivity (149), energy productivity (118) andgreenhousegasemissions(121).Finally,Spain’soverallperformanceintermsofsocio-economicoutcomesis5%abovetheEUaverage,against17%in2013.Thegreeneconomycontributesanestimated EUR 2.8% of GDP. The share of eco-industry employment continues to be largelyabove theEUaverage,but toa lesserextent: itwas37%higher thanaverage in2015against68% in2012.This figure illustrates thegovernment’shopesplacedon thedynamismofgreenjobsasameanstolowerunemploymentrates.Eco-industriesexportsremainatverylowlevel,withanindexofonly47%underEUaverage.

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2 |Selectedcirculareconomyandeco-innovationareasandnewtrends

TheleadingSpanisheco-innovationareashavenotchangedsubstantiallycomparedto2013.

Wastemanagementandthereductionofwastegenerationremainsthemostprominentareainthe field of circular economy. Legislation and enforcement at European level continue topromotewastemanagementimprovementsandgreatercommercialisationofwastesteams.Inparticular, theenforcementoftheCircularEconomyPackagethroughtheNationalFrameworkPlan forWasteManagement 2016 – 2022 opens new perspectives. Ecoembes is the nationalorganisation in charge of the coordination of the actors involved in the recycling process(companies,individuals,townhallsandrecyclers).In2015Ecoembesattainedarecyclingrateof73.7%andtargetstoreach80%by2020(Ecoembes,2015).Tothisendtheorganisationplannedto allocate about EUR 10 million in innovation, as well as a major effort in sensibilisationcampaignsandpartnershipswith strategicactors suchasmusic festivalorganisers,hotelsandfootballclubstocopewiththe litteringphenomenon.AccordingtoEurostat figures,municipalwasteinSpaingenerated435kgpercapita,15%lessthanin1995,whileEUaverageremainedstableata levelof475kgpercapita in thesameperiod.Despitepositive figures, in2015still60%ofthetotalwastegeneratedisdisposedinlandfill.

Inaddition,SpaincontinuestobeveryactiveatEUleveloneco-design.TheBasquecountryinparticularcountshalfofthecompaniesactiveinthefieldinthecountry,gravitatingwithintheinnovativeeco-systemcreatedbytheBasqueEcodesignCentre. Itwasfoundedin2011bytheBasqueautonomousgovernmentasapublic-privatepartnershipbetween thepublic companyIhobeandtheprivatecompaniesCIEAutomotive,Fagor,Gamesa, Iberdrola, Ihobe,OrmazabalVelatia and Vicinay Cadenas. During its first years of activity, the centre has been activelypromoting the incorporation of eco-design and lifecycle analysis in the productive processes,throughstrategicpartnershipwithnineregionalclustersandindustryassociations.

Energy efficiency remains a priority at policy and government levels, driven by the SpanishAction Plan for Energy Savings and Energy Efficiency 2011-2020 of the Ministry of Industry,EnergyandTourismwiththesupportoftheNationalInstitutefortheEnergyDiversificationandSaving(IDAE).TheSpanishTechnologyPlatformforEnergyEfficiency,onitsside,promotesthecollaborationbetweengovernment,theprivatesectorandacademiatosupportRTDIonenergyefficiency. It focuses on the generation of new solutions, new technologies, products andservices that contribute to reducing energy demand. The platform has recently developed itsactivities in exploring new directions in the design of smart grids and smart cities to reduceenergy consumption levels, notably through the participation in European conferences andprojects.Sustainableconstruction isalsoon topof theagenda. In itsSynthesisReporton theassessmentofMemberStates'building renovation strategies,DGRTD’s JointResearchCentreattributed Spain the highest score amongMember States. Indeed, its long-term strategy forenergyrenovation inthebuildingsector, launched in2014, isentitledto“provideaverygoodand comprehensive and detailed technical appraisal of the building stock and energy savingopportunities.”

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Some regions have regional plans for sustainable construction and urban greening systems.Andalucíaforinstancelaunchedin2014aplanco-fundedbyERDFtosupportenergyadjustmentwork for buildings and energy efficient installations.On its side,Madrid has announced early2016 a plan to “re-greening” of the city. Measures foreseen include, among others, theexpansion and restoration of city parks, the creations of 22 new urban gardens, thetransformationofvacantpublic land introcommunitygardens,special funding forgreenroofsand covering building facades with creepers and the inauguration of a new urban gardeningschool.

Water efficiency remains a leading eco-innovation area, particularly regarding efficiency inurbanwatersystems.TheAquaeFoundationpresentedareport in2014whichhighlightedthegreatachievementinthereductionofwaterconsumptioninSpain.Accordingtoitscalculations,water consumptionhasdecreasedbyaround12%between2007and2013,partlybecauseofthecrisis,butalsobecauseofgreaterawarenessamongcitizens.Technicalinnovationsarealsopresentedasan importantfactor,notablywiththerecenttechnologicaldevelopment inwaterdispensersandaerators.TheCenterofNewWaterTechnologiesFoundation(CENTA),locatedinSeville,occupiesaprominentroleinthewatersector,promotingbettermanagementofwaterresources. The Spanish Water Technology Platform (PTEA) continues to efficiently promotepublic-privatecooperationforthepromotionofR&D,andlinkswithactorsatEUlevelregardingregulations.Asan illustrationof thedynamismof theSpanishwater sector,Barcelonahostedthe iWater fair in 2015, which gathered businesses, investors, entrepreneurs, innovators andtechnologyprovidersonstrategic issuesrelatedtothegrowthoftheentirevaluechainofthewatersector.

GreenLiving:greeningconstructionimplementingtheLEED®certification

Green Living has been awarded a price for green entrepreneurship for climate 2015(Ecoemprendedores por el Clima 2015) in the field of Mitigation, for their innovativecontribution to the greening of constructions. Green Living helps its clients throughout theentire certification process for projects receiving the LEED certification, from training tocreation,implementationanddocumentation.

LEED(LeadershipInEnergyandEnvironmentalDesign)isaninternationallyrecognisedmarkofexcellence, originating from the USA, which provides building owners and operators with aframework for identifying and implementing practical andmeasurable green building design,construction,operationsandmaintenancesolutions.

ThroughitsGreenLivingProjects,thecompanysupportsrealestateprofessionalsindesigning,buildingandmanaged itsbuildings soas to reduce their environmental impact.Amongmajorachievements,wecanhighlighttheCornerStonebuilding(seepicturebelow),thenewbusinesscentreintheheartofBarcelona.

KeyWords:sustainableconstruction,energyefficiency,resilience

WebLink:http://www.greenlivingprojects.com/

Contactsforfurtherinformation:info@greenlivingprojects.com

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Source:http://www.greenlivingprojects.com/en/Proyectos-Leed/leed-projects

ComexiGroupIndustriesS.A.U:innovativeprintingfreefromsolventink

ComexiGroupIndustriesS.A.U.(Spain)isafamilycompanywhosestrategiccommitmenttoeco-innovation led them to develop a newprintingmachine called COMEXIOFFSET-CI8. This fullyeliminates theuseof solvent-based inks in theprintingprocess– thusending theemissionofvolatileorganiccompounds(VOCs). Italsoconsumes40%lessenergy.Comexicouldtransformthe entire printing sector, especially because it has an outstanding level of engagementwithotheractorsinthesupplychain.

KeyWords:sustainableprinting,energyreduction

Website:http://www.comexigroup.com/

Contactsforfurtherinformation:(+34)97.247.77.44

Source:ComexiGroup

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3 |Barriersanddriverstocirculareconomyandeco-innovationinSpain

Themaindriversandbarriers foreco-innovation inSpain identified in2015havenotchangedsubstantiallysince2013.

Atnormative level, Spainhas implementedanextensivebodyof legislationat federal level inrelationtotheenvironmentandsustainability inordertoincreasedemandforeco-innovation.This consistent legislative framework stems to a great extend from European strategies andnorms,notablytheWasteFrameworkDirectiveandthelatterCircularEconomyPackage,whichwasimplementedthroughtheNationalFrameworkPlanforWasteManagement2016–2022.

Whatismore,inthelastyears,Spainhasimplementedacompletesetofstrategies,policiesandprogrammes at sectoral level aimed at counteracting the environmental impact on theeconomy. This includes plans and strategies regarding transport infrastructures; renewableenergies;climatechangeandcleanenergy;sustainabledevelopment;energyconservationandefficiency;sustainablemobility;urbanandlocalsustainability;andsustainableeconomy.

Thisconsistentapproachillustratesthegovernment’sviewthatgreeneconomyandgreenjobsare a sustainable driver for growth and competitiveness. The creation of employment in thesectors tied to the environment has reflected a positive trend during the recession incomparison with other sectors. Since 2007, the Emplea Verde Programme, or Green Jobsprogramme, supported by the Biodiversity Foundation, aims to leverage the potential ofeconomicsectorsrelatedtotheenvironmenttogeneratejobs.

Nevertheless, the consistency of the normative framework is to be put in perspective. Thestrong levelofdecentralisationandhighmarginofmanoeuverofautonomouscommunities inSpainisamajorinfluenceronthecountry’sperformance.Adecentralisedmanagementofeco-innovation policies has the advantage of offering greater flexibility and adaptability to localneeds.Sofarthough,agreatlevelofheterogeneityhasbeenobservedintheimplementationofregionalstrategiesinsupportofeco-innovationandcirculareconomywithregardstoobjectives,instrumentsandenvironmentalstandards.This isalsotheresultofa lackofnormativecriteriaontheapplicationanddevelopmentoffederalnorms.Thisnormativeheterogeneitygeneratesunevenadministrativeandenvironmentalburdenacrossregions,leadingtomarketdistortions.A novelty of the National Framework Plan for Waste Management 2016 – 2022 is that itforesees an obligation of result to autonomous communities based on common minimumperformanceobjectives. It remains tobeseenhowthisnew legislative frameworkwill reduceterritorialheterogeneityineco-innovationperformance.

Beyond the normative set-up, the lack of organisation and collaboration at institutional andgovernance levels also represents a barrier for eco-innovation. Most of the policies,programmes and support measures aiming at eco-innovations involve many entities,organisations and funds over awide geographical area (i.e.Ministry of Agriculture, Food andEnvironment;MinistryofIndustry,EnergyandTourism;MinistryofthePresidency;etc.).Whatismore, many of these institutions and organisations have been restructured in the last yearsbecauseofthefinancialcrisisandcuts.ThelackofleadershipanddirectionatthenationallevelhasonlybeenreinforcedbythecurrentpoliticaluncertaintygeneratedbytheabsenceofstablemajoritysincetheDecember20th2015elections.

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The financial crisis also resulted in heavy cuts in public funds to support eco-innovation, andinnovation in general. The general national budgets in support to R&D and innovation havedecreasedsince2010from1.35%ofGDPto1.23%in2013,shiftingawayfromthetargetof2%tobereachedby2020(Eurostat).ThisshrinkinR&Dintensity isnotedintheEco-IS2015withSpain under-performing in eco-innovation inputs, due to low levels of governmentsenvironmental and energy R&D appropriations and outlays coupledwith a low share of R&Dpersonnel and researchers among total employment. Increasedemphasis is given topromoteeco-innovationdrivenbytheprivatesector,orthroughpublic-privatepartnerships,asillustratedbySpain’slevelofvalueofgreenearlystageinvestmentsstandinginlinewithEUaverage.

Anothernegativeeffectofthefinancialcrisishasbeenthelossofqualifiedhumancapitalduetothe brain drain caused by high unemployment rates. This phenomenon is particularly strongamongyounggraduates,whowerethestrongesthitbythefinancialcrisis,andoftenemigratedtolookforbetteropportunities. InSpain,thereisahighshareofthepopulationwithahighereducationdegree,and inparticular,ahighshareof researchersandtechniciansactive inR&Dactivities. This results in missed business opportunities based on new technologicaldevelopmentsinthefieldofeco-innovation.

4 |Policylandscape:towardscirculareconomyinSpain

Public policy support for circular economy in Spain is a mix of first and second-generationpoliciesandmeasures(seeAnnex1)addressingtechnologiesandresourcesforpollutioncontroland energy efficiency. The circular economy and eco-innovation are generally embedded innational and regional policies targeting resource efficiency, environmental innovations, cleantechnologiesandsustainabledevelopment.

Asmentionedformerly,theNationalFrameworkPlanforWasteManagement2016–2022(PlanEstatal Marco de Gestión de Residuos (PEMAR) 2016-2022), approved in November 2015,establishes the strategic guidelines for waste management in the next six years and themeasures necessary to meet Community objectives in this area. The final objective is tosubstitutelinearmodelsofproductionbycircularmodelsthatreintegratewastematerials intotheproductionline.Amongitsspecificobjectives,by2020atleast50%ofdomesticwastemustbe recycled, against 29% in 2012. The PEMAR applies the waste hierarchy that underlies EUwastelegislation.Importantlyaswell,thePlanintroducesanobligationofresultonautonomouscommunities,imposingonregionstoalignandreviewtheirregionalstrategiessoastoachievethespecificobjectivesofthenationalPlan.

TheSpanishStrategyforScience,Technologyand Innovation(EstrategiaEspañoladeCienciayTecnología y de Innovación) provides a framework for the period 2013-2020 related to thepromotion of RTDI in Spain. The objectives are largely alignedwith the EU objectives for theperiod2014-2020.Thestrategyhighlightseightnationalchallenges,outofwhichtwoarelinkedtoeco-innovationchallenges:Secure,sustainableandcleanenergy;andClimatechangeandtheefficientuseof resourcesandrawmaterials. Inparticular, the lattersuggests thetransitiontonewproductionmodels that reduce thepressureson theenvironment,natural resourcesand

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raw materials and triggers the application of cleaner industrial processes (FundaciónBiodiversidad,2014).

TheNationalActionPlanonEnergySavingsandEfficiency2011-2020(PlandeAccióndeAhorroy Eficiencia Energética 2011-2020) sets specific energy saving targets for 2016 and 2020. Thetargets include those derived from the energy transformation sector, the promotion of co-generation,andthosederivedfromthechangesinthemixofelectricitygeneration,inresponsetoEUDirectivespromotingtheuseofenergyfromrenewablesources.Therearefivetargetedsectors in the Action Plan: industry; transport; buildings and equipment; public services;agricultureandfisheries(IDAE,2011).

TheSpanishStrategyonSustainableMobilityof2009setsaseriesofobjectivesforan integralmodel of urban mobility and implements 48 structural reforms within five targeted areas:territorial planning of transport and infrastructure, climate change and reduction of energydependency, improvement of air quality and noise reduction, security and health, andmanagement of demand. The Spanish Strategy for Urban and Local Sustainability (EESUL,Estrategia Española de Sostenibilidad Urbana y Local), published in 2011, also proposes astrategicframeworkpresentingnonbindingprinciples,objectives,guidelinesandinstrumentstoimprovethesustainabilityofcitiesandlocalgovernments.

ThecreationofGreen Jobshas receivedpolicyattention in lightof theeconomiccrisishittingSpain harshly in the last years. Since 2007, the Emplea Verde Programme, or Green Jobsprogramme, supportedby theBiodiversity Foundation, aims to take leverage thepotential ofeconomicsectorsrelatedtotheenvironmenttogeneratejobs.Upto2013theprogrammehadatotalbudgetofEUR44.1m.ThenewphaseofEmpleaVerdefortheyears2014-2016providesspecial attention to young people under 30, in the framework of the Strategy forEntrepreneurship and Youth Employment 2013- 2016, bringing up to EUR4.53m. In the 2014edition,theprogrammehadfunded36projectsforatotalimportofEUR1.83m.

At regional level, many autonomous communities defined circular economy and regionalinnovation as a strategic priority within their smart specialisation strategies, most often inrelationwithregionalenergysavingpolicy.InthestrategyofAndaluciaforinstance,theseventhpriorityentails renewableenergies,energyefficiencyandsustainableconstruction.The regionalsopublishesaStrategyonEnergywithacentralobjectiveofreducingby25%thedemandofprimary energy by 2020. The region of Catalonia also stands out by its pioneering role in thecreation of an environmental quality label, or clean eco-label. The labelling system promotesenvironmentalfriendlydesign,productionandmarketingprocesses,wasteminimisationandthere-useofproductsandmaterials.

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Catalonia:shiftingfromwastemanagementtocirculareconomy

TheregionofCatalonia isatthevanguard intheshift fromtraditional waste management schemes towards a modelbasedontheprinciplesofthecirculareconomy.In2015theregion launched a strategic plan to increase the region’seffortand improvetheconsistencyof regionalprogrammesfavour of a greener and more circular economy. Thestrategicplansupportscross-sectorial integrationofcirculareconomy and coordination between related regional

programmes, such as the Catalan general waste and resource management and preventionprogram2013-2020, theCatalanEcodesign strategyand the Industrial Strategy forCatalonia.Theplandefineskeystrategicaxes,inparticularthegenerationofdemandandcreationofnewmarkets, the improvement of access to funding, the promotion of R&D, support tointernationalisation and promotion of entrepreneurship. Among the regional instruments wecanhighlighttheeco-innovationvouchers,grantsfor improvingtechnologyaccessforSMEstohireenvironmentalservices.

Keywords:circulareconomy,greeneconomy,wastemanagement,eco-innovation

Website:http://mediambient.gencat.cat/es/05_ambits_dactuacio/empresa_i_produccio_sostenible/economia_verda/impuls_economia_verda/

GreenBuildingCouncilEspaña:creatingsynergiesforagreenerconstruction

GBCe is a non-profit association that unites representatives from the entire constructionindustry,toworktogethertowardsanenergyandecologicallyconsciousapproachtothedesignofthebuiltenvironment.Itsassociatesincludepublicadministrations,professionalassociations,togetherwithprofessionalsandcompaniesengagedintheconstructionsector.Itcontributestoincreasingthelevelawarenessonissuesrelatedtosustainableconstruction,providesevaluationandcertificationofthesustainabilityofbuildings,andperformsresearchintheinvestigationforimprovementsinsustainablebuilding.

TheRehabilitationWorkingGroup (GTR), coordinatedbyGBCeand theCONAMAFoundation,gathers on a regular basis themembers of the Council to study the situation of Energy andBuildingsEfficiency inSpain,buildcommonstrategiesandpresentrecommendations formoresustainable construction in Spain (BBCe, 2016). It eventually contributed to the national long-termstrategyforenergyrenovationinthebuildingsector,launchedin2014.

KeyWords:sustainableconstruction,public-privatepartnership

Webpage:http://www.gbce.es/

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References

Aquae Foundation, 2014, La Reducción del Consumo de Agua en España: Causas yTendencias, Aquae Papers, N°6. Available athttp://www.fundacionaquae.org/publicaciones/aquae-papers

Ecoembes, 2015, Annual Report 2014. Available athttps://www.ecoembes.com/en/citizens/press-room/annual-reports

ELPAÍS,2016,ElBancodeEspañaadviertedelriesgopolíticoparalaeconomía[Online]Availableathttp://economia.elpais.com/economia/2016/04/01/actualidad/1459503359_525840.html

EL PAÍS, 2016, Bruselas advierte a España del riesgo por el déficit y la inestabilidadpolítica. Available athttp://economia.elpais.com/economia/2016/05/03/actualidad/1462262526_820282.html

EuropeanCommission,EuropeanSemester2016:countryspecificrecommendationSpain

FundaciónBiodiversidad,2014.Análisisdefactoresquefrenanlaeco-innovacióndelasempresasdetrabajadoresautónomosenEspañaypropuestasdemejoras.MinisteriodeAgricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, Available athttp://ata.es/sites/default/files/estudio_eco_innovacion_ata.pdf

Green Building Council España, 2015, Informe GTR 2014. Available athttp://www.gbce.es/es/pagina/gtr-2014

IDAE 2011. Plan de Ahorro y Eficiencia energética 2011-2020. IDAE, Ministerio deIndustria,TurismoyComercio.

Joint Research Centre, 2015, Synthesis Report on the assessment of Member States'building renovation strategies, Available athttp://iet.jrc.ec.europa.eu/energyefficiency/node/9117

THE ECONOMIST, 2015. Spain's economy: back on its feet [Online]. The Economist.Available at http://www.economist.com/news/finance-and-economics/21660550-growth-has-returned-dangers-still-lurk-back-its-feet

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ANNEX:Policymeasuresaddressingcirculareconomyandeco-innovationsinSpain

Groupofpolicymeasures Typeofpolicymeasure

Specificmeasure

Pleaseprovidereferencetoorbriefsummaryofspecificmeasures(national,regional)

addcellsifnecessary

Focusofpolicymeasure(tickifrelevant)

Circulareconomy

Genericfocusoneco-

innovation

Resourceefficiencyimproveme

nt

Energyefficiencyimprovement

Reductionofemissionsincl.CO2

Otherrelevantareas(e.g.renewableenergy,etc)

SUPP

LYSIDEFO

CUS

Equity/businesssupport

Publiclyco-fundedventurecapitalfunds

-TheMinistryofEconomyandCompetitivenesshascreatedtheCentreforIndustrialTechnologicalDevelopment(CDTI),aPublicBusinessEntitythatchannels the funding and support applications for national andinternational R&D&i projects of Spanish companies. The CDTI has twoventurecapitalfundinglines

-NEOTECVentureCapital: jointly financedbytheCDTIandtheEuropeanInvestment Fund, with the participation of the Spanish business andfinancialsector.I

- INNVIERTE programme, which is intended to promote public-privateventurecapitalinvestmentsdesignedfortheenterpriseandtechnologicalSMEgrowthandinternationalisation

Publicguaranteefunds

Thenationalsub-programmeforBusinessRDIaimstoincrease,extendandsystemiseinvestmentsandtheexecutionofR&Dactivitiesandtopromoteinnovation as part of the companies’ competitive strategy. To thatpurpose, theCDTIsupportsRDIProjects thatmaybeexecutedbyoneormore companies (individual and consortium projects). The projectsoriginate from business initiatives, also including those carried out byregionalbusiness consortiumsandmultilateralandbilateral internationaltechnologicalcollaborations.Thefundingmodalityforprojects isPartiallyReimbursableAid,withfinancialcoverofupto75%ofthetotalapprovedbudgetwhich,bywayof exception,mayamount toup to85%. Suchaidmay comprise a non-reimbursable tranche (NRT) depending on thecharacteristicsoftheprojectandthebeneficiary..

X X X

SupportforR&Dinpublicsectorandindustry

R&Dfunding

The National sub-programme for knowledge generation defines keypriorities to promote, by means of highly competitive tenders, theexecution of basic research projects and other activities, the results ofwhich represent a significant advance in knowledge for developing new

X X X

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approachesandmethodologiesotherwiseunachievable.

- INNPRONTA programme is financed by CDTI for large integratedindustrial research projects, of a large-scale and strategic nature, whichservetodevelopnewtechnologiesinforward-lookingtechnologicalareaswitheconomicandcommercialprospectsattheinternationallevel.

- EEAGrants–TheFinancialMechanismof theEuropeanEconomicArea2009-2014 finances several programmes in order to contribute to thereductionoftheeconomicandsocialdisparitiesintheEuropeanEconomicEnvironment. €18,2m have been allocated to the Programme"Environmental and Climate Change-related Research and Technology".The budget of this programme is completed with a contributionfromCDTIin the form of soft loans. The total Budget of the second calllaunchedin2014reached€40,7mofwhich€7,2mcorrespondtothenon-reimbursable portion of the aid, funded through the EEA Grants. Theprogramme aims to fund Industrial Research and ExperimentalDevelopmentprojects.

- The Technology Fund is a special item in EuropeanUnion FEDER fundsallocated topromotingbusinessRDI in Spain. It ismobilised through thefinancial instruments of the CDTI and is assigned to the proposalssubmittedaccordingtotheavailabilityoffundsintheAutonomousRegionwheretheprojectistobedeveloped.

X

NationalPlanforEnergySavingsandEfficiency2011-2020 X

NationalPlanforWasteManagement(Pemar)2016-2022 X X X

Collaborativegrants

DGICTprovides grants for fundamental R&Dprojects, at individual levelsorincollaboration,inwhichcasethepoolingofscientificandtechnologicalabilitiesandskillsarepromoted,aswellas thecomplementarynatureofthesame.ParticipationinlargeinternationalRDIprojectsisconsideredinthesetendersbymeansofadditionalfinancingfortheactivitiesperformedby the Spanish research groups participating in ERANETs, JPIs and othersimilar schemes. In 2013€115.5mhavebeenprovided, €85.5mofwhicharegovernmentalgrantswhiletherestoriginatesfromFEDERgrants.

X

“Explore Science” and “Explore Technology” projects aim at assessingestablished paradigms, interdisciplinary theoretical applications andsearchingfornewapplicationsindifferentfields.

X

R&Dinfrastructure

The national sub-programme for scientific and technologicalinfrastructures and equipment aims to provide, maintain and updatescientific and technical infrastructures for them to be accessible by allstakeholders of the Spanish System for Science, Technology andInnovationandfacilitatehighqualityscientific-technicalresearchaswellasthedevelopmentofhighlycompetitiveR&Dbusinessactivities.

«EQUIPA» loans support private companies and technological centres in

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theiracquisitionofscientificandtechnologicalequipment.

Fiscalmeasures

TaxincentivesforR&Dandstart-ups

NEOTECInitiative(CDTI),whichsupportsthecreationofnewtechnologicalbusinesses.

TaxincentivesforR&Dpersonnel

Education,trainingandmobility

Tailoredtrainingcoursesforcompanies,entrepreneurs

Advice/consultingforstartups,companies,entrepreneurs

Ihobe (www.ihobe.net) is a public company established in the field ofmanagement and environmental protection. It provides advice tocompaniesandresearchorganisationsoninnovationprojects,fundingandtechnologytransfer.

X X

Placementschemesforstudents

The National Sub-Programme For Training, by assigning competitivetendering, aims to select and train doctors, researchers, technologists,research personnel, RDI specialised technicians and RDI managers. Thenational sub-programme for incorporation aims to promote and finance,by means of competitive tenders, the incorporation of researchers,technologists,technicalpersonnelandotherprofessionalswithinthefieldofRDi,facilitatingtheiremploymentwithinthepublicandprivatesectorsin order to contribute to increasing the competitiveness of Spain’sresearch and innovation Both subprogrammes provide the followingfundinglines:

- Subsidies for initiation and introduction to scientific and technicalresearchaimedatuniversitystudents–undergraduatesorpostgraduates-who are completing their last training stages prior to commencing adoctorate programme, using formulas which allow for compatibilitybetweenclassroomactivitiesandRDItraining.

- Contracts for training doctors at national and international universitiesand public centres, including training within the framework of the“industrialdoctorate”programmesconsideredwithintheSpanishstrategyincollaborationwiththeprivatesector.

SupportforR&Dworkersrecruitments

- Support to the employment of doctors with a proven track record,including:i)contractsforemployingyoungdoctorswithinthepublicresearchsystem

ii) “Ramón y Cajal” contracts for employment at public universities andcentres

iii) “Torres Quevedo” contracts for employment in companies, R&Dbusiness centres and centres which, regardless of their ownership andlegal form,are focusedonbusinessRDi. (€15mprovided in2013 for300

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beneficiaries)

- Subsidies and incentives for employing technologists, universitygraduates and higher graduates in vocational training for developingactivitiesinvolvingtechnicalsupportandRDIsupport

- EMPLEA Programme: subsidies and incentives for the incorporation ofRDI managers for developing activities involving management andknowledgeenhancement(€101mprovidedin2013)

Networksandpartnerships

Competencecentres,clusters,science-technology

parks

The National sub-programme for institutional strengthening aims topromote the competitiveness of the Spanish System for Science,Technology and Innovation and foster the scientific and technologicalleadershipoftheinstitutions,centresandunitsintheSystembyprovidingthem with financing. It supports RDI programmes for strengtheningcentres and units of excellence through subsidies destined to identify,acknowledge and finance existing research centres and units in order topromote the international leadership of the Spanish System for Science,Technology and Innovation stakeholders bymeans of highly competitivetenders.

X X X X X

Thesub-programmenotablysupportstheacknowledgement,certificationandgrantingofsubsidiesfor“SeveroOchoa”CentresOfExcellence inthepublic sector for the development of RDI programmes and strategicactionswhichincreasetheirscientificleadership,abilityforattractingandretaining international talentand theirdriving role throughout theentireSystem.€20mhavebeeninvestedin2013.

X X X X X

Technologyplatformsandinnovationnetworks

SpanishTechnologyPlatformforEnvironmentalTechnologies(PLANETA) X X X X X

Eco-Unionisanot-for-profitassociationthatworkstocreateandconnectagents of change among the different sectors of society, publicadministration, economic and social actors to catalyse the transitiontowardssustainability.

X X X X X X

Foresightandcommonvisionbuilding

Marketintelligenceandotherformsofinformation

sharing

DEMAN

DSIDE

FOCU

S

Regulationsandstandards

Regulations,targets,cap&tradeschemes

Royal Decree on the Irrigated Lands SustainableModernisation NationalStrategy–Horizon2015

X

SpanishStrategyonSustainableMobility X X X X X

StrategicPlanonInfrastructuresandTransport2005-2020 X X X

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SustainableEconomyLaw X X X X X

Performancestandards,labeling,certification

ISO14001 X

EMAScertificationoforganisationsandworksites X

Publicprocurement

“Green“publicprocurementofgoodsandservices

NationalPlanonGreenPublicProcurementoftheMinistryofAgriculture,FoodandEnvironment

X X

R&Dprocurement

The INNODEMANDA programme is a financing instrument that supportstechnologybidstakingpartinthepublicpurchaseofinnovationprocesses.It is financed and managed by the Ministry of Science and Innovationthroughthe CDTI. Cooperation between the CDTI and the contractingentities is formalisedthroughtwoGeneralActionProtocolsthatsetforththe terms and conditions under which the CDTI can finance the R&Dactivities associated with innovative technology public purchaseprocedures.

Pre-commercialprocurement

TechnologyTransfer

Advisorysupportfortechnologyadopters

Sub-programme on experimental research projects on environment andeco-innovation,MinistryofEconomyandCompetitiveness

X

As part of the sub-programme for fostering Key Enabling Technologies,CDTI provides direct support through its “direct innovation line” totechnological innovation and modernisation projects for increasing thecapability for technological absorptionof companies, especially SMEs,bymeans of actively adapting and assimilating knowledge, as well astechnological modernisation through of the incorporation of technologywithin mature sectors. Projects are divided into threecategories: Individual R&D projects, National Cooperation R&D projectsandInternationalTechnologicalCooperationProjects.

CDTI also provides loans for RDI PROJECTS executed by one or severalcompanies (individual and consortium projects) also including thoseperformed by regional business consortiums and those involvingmultilateral and bilateral international technological collaboration. Theseprojects focus on the development and dissemination of Key EnablingTechnologies,includingthosethat,despitebeingofanexploratorynature,areclosetothemarket

Financialorfiscalsupportfortechnologyadopters

(e.g.grantsforpurchasingnewtechnology)

Supportofprivatedemand

Taxincentivesforconsumers(e.g.forpurchasing

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environmentallyefficientproducts)

Taxreductionsforproductsandservices(e.g.VAT

reductions)

Demandsubsidies(e.g.eco-vouchers,consumer

subsidies)

Awarenessraisingandinformationprovision

WorkofEcoembesincollaborationwithSpanishmunicipalities X X

AbouttheEco-InnovationObservatory(EIO)

The Eco-Innovation Observatory (EIO) is the initiative financed by the European Commission’sDirectorate-General for the Environment. The Observatory is developing an integrated informationsource and a series of analyses on eco-innovation trends andmarkets, targeting business, innovationserviceproviders,policymakersaswellasresearchersandanalysts.

VisitEIOandDGENVEco-innovationActionPlan(EcoAP)websiteandregistertogetaccesstomoreinformationandtoaccessallEIOreports,briefsanddatabases.

www.eco-innovation.euec.europa.eu/environment/ecoap