From ActionMK we would like to provide you with this information about the strategic plans which is being carried out by the city of Grenada.

This plan contains a wide variety of lines of action. However, given its scope, we will detail those that refer to the link with the national side. Below, we comment on the fourth axis.

COORDINATION WITH NATIONAL POLICIES AND PLANS

In order to achieve optimal synergies between all instruments at the level of the city of Granada and coordination in the framework of the different stages of programming and implementation, the first step to take into account is the visualisation of the opportunities offered by the different national programmes and their inclusion in a coherent and coordinated way in the Grenada 2020 Strategy.

The importance of aligning the Grenada 2020 Strategy resides in the competence conditions established by Law 27/2013, of 27 December, of rationalisation and sustainability of local governmentThis makes it essential to establish synergies between the local policy of the city of Granada and the policies set by the regional and state administration, the latter being, in turn, influenced by European policies, with the aim of being able to address all the needs of the people of Granada in a comprehensive manner.

Taking into account the national economic situationas well as social demands and the European context, In Spain, a series of policies, strategies and plans have been put in place with the aim of boosting economic growth, creating jobs and addressing social and economic needs.. These policies are set out in the National Reform Programme, which is revised annually to incorporate the specific recommendations of the European Economic Council, which aims to lay the foundations for the achievement of the EU's objectives. Europe 2020 strategyby achieving fiscal consolidation, stimulating economic growth, job creation and modernisation of public administrations. The initiatives that the Government of Spain has undertaken, either through the National Reform Programme or other channels, and which are directly applicable and influential in the implementation of the Grenada 2020 StrategyThe European Commission's proposal for a new European Union strategy for the development of the European Union, either because it sets out the lines of work to be followed in the cities, as well as the destination of national and European funds, or because the competences to carry out the proposed projects depend on the state.

Grenada 2020 Strategy

4.2.1. DIGITAL AGENDA FOR SPAIN

The government has decided to develop a Digital Agenda for Spain as a reference framework to establish a roadmap for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and eGovernment; to establish Spain's strategy to achieve the objectives of the Digital Agenda for Europe; to maximise the impact of public ICT policies to improve productivity and competitiveness; and to transform and modernise the Spanish economy and society through an efficient and intensive use of ICT by citizens, businesses and administrations.

The objectives, lines of action and plans established in this Digital Agenda are articulated to favour the creation of employment opportunities and economic growth through the intelligent adoption of digital technologies, thus contributing to the collective effort to boost the country's economic recovery.

The Digital Agenda for Spain is structured around six main objectives:

1. Encourage the deployment of networks and services to ensure digital connectivity.
2. Developing the digital economy for the growth, competitiveness and internationalisation of Spanish companies.
3. Improve e-Government and adopt digital solutions for efficient delivery of public services.
4. Strengthening trust and confidence in the digital environment.
5. Promote the R&D&I system in Information and Communications Technologies.
6. Promote digital inclusion and literacy and the training of new ICT professionals.

As a result of the objectives set out above, in conjunction with the programmes and actions that develop them, it has been proposed, in the context of the Grenada 2020 Strategy and on the basis of municipal competences, to develop a cross-cutting strategic line called ".Granada Smart CityThe "Digital Agenda", in addition to a series of actions to incorporate the objectives of the Spanish Digital Agenda, such as the following:

• Development of the transparency portal of the Granada City Council.
• Implementing full eGovernment. Administration 2.0.
• Establish a citizen participation portal on the municipal website.
• Linked to the transparency portal, an open government platform will be developed to publish all its data electronically.
• Encourage the strengthening of ICT industries.
• Encourage the transformative use of ICTs in business.
• Develop a Smart City project based on building an interactive city, which pays special attention to the elderly and groups with more difficulties.

4.2.2. SPANISH SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION STRATEGY 2013-2020

The general purpose of these strategies is to promote the scientific, technological and business leadership of the country as a whole and to increase the innovation capacities of Spanish society and economy. To this end, four strategies have been established general objectives that will shape technological and innovative development in Spain:

1. Recognition and promotion of R&D&I talent and its employability.

It is aimed at improving the R&D&I training capacities of the System; promoting the labour insertion and employability of the trained resources, both in the public and business sectors, and facilitating their temporary mobility between public institutions and between these and the private sector for the execution of R&D&I activities.

2. Promoting scientific and technical research of excellence.

The aim is to promote the generation of knowledge, increase the scientific leadership of the country and its institutions, and foster the generation of new opportunities that can trigger the future development of highly competitive technological and business capabilities.

3. Boosting business leadership in R&D&I. The objective is to increase the competitiveness of the productive fabric by increasing R&D&I activities in all areas and, mainly, in those sectors that are strategic for the growth and employment generation of the Spanish economy and that of its Autonomous Communities.
4. Promoting R&D&I activities geared towards the global challenges of society. This objective responds to the need to stimulate the country's scientific and innovative potential in areas that respond to the many problems facing our society and which require a major effort in terms of R&D&I.

The incorporation of the objectives of Spain's science, technology and innovation strategyis a priority for GrenadaGranada currently has a very powerful University, being currently the fifth Spanish university according to the Shanghai ranking, and the sixth University at national level in patent applications in 2014.

Despite this, Granada is a city with a very scarce productive fabric. and the existing one is linked to the service sector, mainly related to tourism. For this reason, for Horizon 2020, one of the priorities of Granada's society is to promote the creation of a business environment favourable to innovation, through the potential that the University of Granada in sectors such as ICT or the capacity of the Health Sciences Technology Park.

In order to achieve the objectives of the Grenada 2020 StrategyThe city of Granada, by virtue of its powers, will work to facilitate the establishment of technology-based and innovative companies in the city of Granada. GrenadaThe creation of a Project promoted and coordinated by CEMThe aim of the project is to promote the creation of a "Business Park" in the city of Granada, the Confederación Granadina de Empresarios, and supported by the City Council of Granada. It aims to positively influence the decision to locate in Granada "Projects and/or production/support centres of local, national and international technology companies". Granada's ICT industry represents more than 400 companies, more than 4,000 direct jobs and more than 7% of the province's GDP in turnover.. Moreover, Granada's ICT companies are currently leading national markets and are receiving national and international awards and recognition, and are exporting more and more technology and knowledge every day.

Source: Granada City Council

If you want to read the Grenada 2020 Strategy complete, do click here.