The Basque Government has awarded circular economy innovation grants following 33 applications

Irantzu Allende Fernández de Eribe, Deputy Minister for Energy Transition of the Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability of the Basque Government, signed resolution 2026/4165 on September 11, through which the call for 2026 grants for innovation in the circular economy was resolved. 33 applications were submitted for the call and 25 projects were approved, with a total of 1,500,000 euros distributed. The resolution was published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country, issue number 193, on October 8, 2026.

The bases of the call are established by the Order of December 9, 2025, of the Minister of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, which was published in the same gazette on December 22, 2025. The call was divided into three lines: Ecodiseño y demostración en Economía Circular, Ecoinnovación Estratégica, and Pyme Circular. The deadline for submitting applications ended on March 26, 2026.

Of the 33 applications, 13 were for the first line, 8 for the second line, and 12 for the third line. As stated in the background of the resolution, two files were withdrawn on June 15 and 18: 001-INNO-EC/26 (Darumanaia, S.L.) and 005-INNO-EC/26 (Excavaciones Peru, S.L.). The Evaluation Committee met on June 17, and the resolution proposal was made on July 6; allegations were received regarding file 014-INNO-EC/26, but they did not change the initial evaluation.

Line 1: ten projects approved

Ten projects were approved in the first line, each receiving a grant of 30,000 euros. Among the beneficiaries are Viuda de Sainz, S.L. (Escosi), Harri Green Recycling, S.L. (Zahomix), Hormigones Premezclados Álava, S.A. (Blokhor, together with Harsco), Hierros y Metales Gutram, S.L. (Dem I’Am), Befesa Zinc Aser, S.A. (Horfer), Industrias Mugica, S.A. (Recome), Asfaltos Uribe, S.A. (Arasc 3 Plus), Indart3D, S. Coop. (C-Print), Aurrenak, S. Coop. (Circucast), and Dikar, S. Coop. (Recupet).

The execution periods for these projects are from December 31, 2026, to October 31, 2027. The requested amounts ranged from 51,661.20 euros to 101,680.40 euros, but all grants awarded were 30,000 euros.

Line 2: eight strategic projects

Eight projects were approved in the second line, and these received the largest portion of the budget: 700,000 euros. The largest amounts were received by the projects Udom, S.L. (Ecoplame, 135,000 euros), Mondragon Componentes, S. Coop. (Cirvec, 135,000 euros), and Euskatfund, S.L. (Desia, 120,000 euros).

Some of the best-rated are Biolid IG, S.L. (Biolabel, 105,000 euros), Aceros Inoxidables Olarra, S.A. (3R-Steel, 69,151.39 euros), Carlos Santamaría, S.L. (Meca, 60,730.08 euros), Ekotrade RCD’S, S.L. (Hormix, 40,883.54 euros) and Orloga, S.A. (MAC, 34,234.99 euros). Many projects were developed as partnerships, involving, among others, the organizations Fagor Automotion, Fundación Inatec, Cikautxo, Cikatek, Fundación Azterlan, Asider Environment, S.L., Garaia, S. Coop. and Eroski, S.Coop.

Line 3: seven collective projects

In the third line, called Pyme Circular, seven collective projects have been approved, totaling 500,000 euros. Among them are Asociación de Fundidores del País Vasco y Navarra (Genera, 88,499.18 euros), Asociación Cluster Industrias Medio Ambiente Euskadi (Sinvertido, 50,182.59 euros), Asociación Cluster del Sector del Habitat Madera Oficina y Contr. (Ecomob, 67,464.11 euros), Asociación Española de fabricantes de Máquinas-Herramientas (AFM) (MTPRINT-PRO, 89,672.48 euros), Federación Vizcaina de empresas del Metal (Metal Digital Passport, 88,000 euros), Oarsoaldea, S.A. (LOTU, 100,000 euros) and Euskal Arido Asoc de Industrias y Empresas fabricantes de aridos del Pais Vasco (Aridap, 16,181.64 euros).

The last project, under file 014-INNO-EC/26, requested 95,988.08 euros, but only 16,181.64 euros were approved; nevertheless, this project was the first on the waiting list. Most of the projects in this line are led by business associations, with more than 45 companies participating.

Rejected projects and waiting list

The resolution rejected six projects. The Saltoki Araba, S.A. (Offbath) project was not approved because the budget allocation was exhausted, and Sociedad para el Desarrollo Economico del Bajo Deba S.A. (IDCP-II) was not approved because it did not achieve the minimum score. Also rejected due to the exhaustion of the budget allocation were Camara de Comercio Industria Navegacion y Servicios de Bilbao (ZIRKULAB), Asociación Empresarial Asle (Ciclo 3.0), Asociación de Fundidores del Pais Vasco y Navarra (AFV ESG-VSME) and Asoc Bilbao Urban & Cities Design-Urbanismo y Ciudades (BI-HIRI-BIL).

The third annex contains the priority order of projects that remained without funding, should the budget be increased. In that list, project 014-INNO-EC/26 is in the first position with 68.00 points, followed by 003-INNO-EC/26 (66.40), 024-INNO-EC/26 (67.00), 023-INNO-EC/26 (66.00), 032-INNO-EC/26 (66.00), 027-INNO-EC/26 (65.00) and 016-INNO-EC26 (66.00).

Deadlines and conditions

The execution period for the approved projects is that established in each project’s application and, in most cases, ends on October 31, 2027; some projects have a term until 2028. Before the period expires, beneficiaries may request an extension, provided it is done one month in advance and does not exceed half of the initial term.

Payments will be made directly to the beneficiaries, in accordance with the provisions of basis 22 of the Order of December 9, 2025. An appeal against the resolution may be filed before the Minister of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, within one month from the day following the receipt of the notification.

This call directly affects circular economy innovation projects, and a budget of 1,500,000 euros has been distributed among three lines. Out of 33 applications, 25 were approved, and six projects were left out. Waiting lists allow rejected projects to receive funding in the event of a future budget increase.

Fuente: Official Gazette of the Basque Country (BOPV), number 193, October 8, 2026, Section I – Other provisions, pp. 1-15 (official reference: 2026/4165).