Kronikgune Institute has collaborated with the BIOEF Foundation in the preparation and presentation of the Basque Country to the 4th Call for European Reference Sites.

The European Commission, through the Reference Site Collaborative Network (RSCN), has awarded the Basque Country with four stars, the highest rating awarded by the European Commission, for its comprehensive approach to active and healthy aging throughout life based on innovation. The Minister of Health of the Basque Government, Gotzone Sagardui, received the distinction at the “Reference Site Awards” event held in Brussels on 10 October 2022.

Under the slogan “Lifelong health and care for active and healthy aging“, the award given to the Basque Country región recognizes it’s outstanding work in driving regional innovation in active and healthy ageing across the lifespan, improving the quality of life of the aging population and the provision of health and social care services and fostering economic growth and competitiveness.

The award also recognizes that the Basque Country has a “Quadruple Helix” innovation model, which includes government authorities, health and care service providers, industry representatives, academia, and civil society at regional and local levels working in the same direction. The Basque Country proposal is aligned with the strategic objectives of the European Commission in relation to the new challenges facing Europe, such as demographic change and ageing, the transition towards more sustainable, resilient, innovative, high quality and person-centered health and care systems, and the digital transformation of health and care.

The Basque Reference Site, led by the Ministry of Health of the Basque Government brings together a coalition of partners including: the Department of Equality, Justice and Social Policies, the three provincial councils, Osakidetza, BIOEF, and the Biodonostia, Biocruces Bizkaia and Bioaraba institutes, Kronikgune, the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), the University of Deusto, University of Mondragon, Euskampus, the Matia Foundation and Institute, Tecnalia, BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance), Vicomtech, the Mondragon Corporation, SSI Group, Basque Health Cluster, Basque Food Cluster, Tknika, CITA-Alzheimer, Orkestra, Adinberri, NIC-Nagusi Intelligence Center, SECOT ALAVA, EuskoFederpen, and the 4 Towers.

A delegation from the Basque Country, led by the Basque Regional Minister of Health, the Director of Health Research and Innovation, and the Director of the Kronikgune Institute represented the Basque Country at the event. The Minister of Health of the Basque government participated together with political representatives from other regions in a round table to discuss how regions are aligning their policies and priorities to develop smart, healthy, and age-friendly environments across the lifespan. The Basque Country was also one of the four Reference Sites to present a good practice, in this case, the Person-Centred Care Model implemented in Osakidetza.

To find out more about the accreditation of the Reference Sites and what is going to happen these days at the Award Ceremony in Brussels, click on the following link: