Within the current global economy context, the competitiveness of a given region is determined to a large extent by its capacity to incorporate technological change. This requires, among other factors, that scientific and technological research inte-grate into the economic system. Public institutions can contribute to this process through policies and actions such as those carried out by the Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa with the support of Community funds, among which we can mention the consolidation of a network of technological centres integrated into the Basque technology network that have made it possible to develop the Industrial Technology Plan and the Science and Technology Plan. Likewise there has been insistence on the integral training of workers through the consolidation of 39 professional training centres that provide services for the unemployed as well as active workers. This on-going and occupa-tional training has become a fundamental element of active employment policies.        For this the Community has contributed 1,767 million pesetas, mainly from the ERDF and from the Resider community initiative. | Global evolution 1986-1999 | |  Axis 1 |  Axis 2 |  Axis 3 |  Axis 4 |  Axis 5 |  Axis 6 |   | 14 years constructing the EU | Guiaded visit | Glossary| Home |  | e-mail for making contact |