The Gipuzkoa Provincial Council has greenlit four new business aid initiatives, with a total allocation of seven million euros, aimed at "strengthening the competitiveness of companies in the territory, driving their transformation, and supporting them in facing major economic challenges."
As explained by the provincial spokesperson, Irune Berasaluze, among the approved calls is the Pertsonen Enpresa program, funded with 2.9 million euros. This initiative focuses on enhancing people's involvement in companies, promoting business continuity through generational succession, and fostering more participatory and competitive business models.
The Hazten program, meanwhile, will receive a budget of 1.7 million euros to boost business growth by diversifying into new business lines, products, services, and markets, as well as supporting mergers and acquisitions. The Enpresak Berritzen: Ekonomia Berdea program, with 1.5 million euros, will support investments enabling companies to improve their competitiveness and adapt to new economic and technological challenges.
Finally, the Department of Economic Promotion and Strategic Projects will allocate 944,794 euros to promote the international marketing of new products, overseas production facilities, and the sectoral internationalization of small businesses.
Furthermore, Berasaluze announced the approval of the 2026-2027 Digital Transformation Plan, which aims to provide a new impetus to the Diputación's modernization process until the end of the legislative term. This plan seeks to advance coordinated digitalization, enhance internal efficiency, and improve public services by incorporating areas such as artificial intelligence.
In this context, she highlighted the launch of the new GovTech Gipuzkoa program, designed to accelerate innovation in public administration through collaboration with startups and companies. Interested businesses can develop and submit proposals for the selection of several pilot projects.
Additionally, an agreement with the Biodiversity Foundation was reported to participate in the European LIFE Humedales project. Through this initiative, the Provincial Council will receive 1.4 million euros for the recovery of the San Pablo salt marshes in Jaizubia, within the protected Txingudi area, part of the Natura 2000 Network. The project will restore over 52,759 square meters of marshland.
Responding to questions about potentially advancing the official beach season due to the current heatwave and lack of lifeguards, Berasaluze stated that it "could be a reason for reflection," as could extending the season beyond mid-September, although she noted this would need to be discussed at the Beach Table, which includes the Diputación and all coastal municipalities except Donostia.
