The Aclima - Basque Environment Cluster is the driving force behind the international mission with 21 of its members to IFAT 2024, the leading trade fair and meeting point of the environmental technology industry in Europe; which is being held in the German city of Munich from 13 to 17 May.

Five – Afesa, Agaleus, FCC Ámbito, Fivemasa SAU and LDX Solutions – of the 21 members that have taken part in the different activities that the cluster is organising during the trade fair have their own space on the group stand. Furthermore, the Aclima activities at IFAT 2024 include a showroom space within the stand featuring a full agenda of presentations, where the cluster members have been able to showcase their range of services.

"We are here in this magnificent setting with a clear purpose: to present to the world the potential and excellence of the Basque environmental sector, along with our members, companies which are true leaders in environmental innovation and services". The Aclima General Manager, Olga Martín, thus highlighted the strategic nature of this initiative in the framework of the cluster’s internationalisation plan and its effort to support its members in their international endeavours.

Aclima held a session entitled “International Potential of Basque Companies of the Environmental Sector”, as part of its approach to disseminating the environmental technologies that showcase the efforts of the Basque environmental sector in the development of technical innovations and technologies to offer advanced environmental solutions. The Cluster gathered together in one place the representatives of member companies, representatives of Basque public administrations and international speakers to present together the new industrial applications of innovative technologies developed to address the challenges of the green transition (#BasqueGreenTech).

Cristina Oyón, Director of Technology, Innovation & Sustainability at the SPRI Group, was tasked with opening the session and stressed the innovative nature of the Basque Country. Olga Martín, the Aclima General Manager, gave a short overview of the international potential of the member companies and the cluster's internationalisation endeavours. The member companies present on the group stand – FCC Ámbito, Fivemasa SAU, LDX Solutions, Afesa and Agaleus – presented part of their range of innovative industrial solutions in environmental technology. After a short break, the session continued with the presentation by Inken Carinna Sitller, Senior Manager at Federation of German Industries (BDI) - Circular Economy Initiative; she provided a first-hand account of the circular economy activities of the main business organisation of Germany - the BDI represents 39 industrial associations and over 100,000 companies - in the industrial sphere. The session was brought to an end by Alexander Boto, the Ihobe General Manager, who stressed that "the presence of Ihobe working with the Aclima cluster is fundamental to foster the technological leadership of the Basque environmental sector, by positioning the Basque Country as a benchmark in the development of environmental technologies globally, by facilitating that setting up of international cooperation networks and strategic alliances through public-private partnership”.

The Gipuzkoa Provincial Councillor for Sustainability, José Ignacio Asensio, attended the session as well.

The event was followed by a block of B2B sessions, where the Aclima members were provided with a suitable space to be in contact with other companies at the fair; the main aim was to provide an adequate setting to foster business opportunities and expand the contact network between professionals of the sector internationally.

The Aclima international mission has the backing of the Basque Government through its Ministry of Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment; the publicly-owned companies Ihobe, Spri, BasqueTrade & Investment; along with the support of Bizkaia Provincial Government and Gipuzkoa Provincial Government.

Aclima Global and the international context

As part of the International Plan 2023-2025 on which the cluster bases its strategy to foster the international outreach and consolidation of its members and under the Aclima Global brand, the cluster considers IFAT 2024 as a key moment to maximise the visibility of the Basque environmental sector in Europe and to foster competitiveness at a venue that will gather together the sector's main players globally.

Caring for the environment is a global need; furthermore, it has become one of the main business and investment opportunities that is making it one of the economic sectors with greatest growth expectations in the coming years. The global environmental market grew steadily between 2010 and 2020, and ended the decade with a volume of USD 1,427 billion. Greater global awareness of the risks of the climate change and the commitment to a green transition – which underpins and structures the whole economic activity with a view to a circular horizon – has turned a context with greater international business opportunities in environmental industrial technology into a reality.

Member accompanying the cluster

The Basque environmental companies are leaders in the field; they are noted for their high degree of innovation and the development of advanced environmental services and products in order to address the challenges of the transition towards a decarbonised and circular economy.

Environmental watch, technological innovation, positioning the sector and continuing to strengthen the #AclimaCommunity are the pillars underpinning the cluster's international mission comprising the following companies: FCC Ámbito, Fivemasa SAU, LDX Solutions, Afesa, Agaleus, Agrupa, Basoinsa, Belako Lanak, CRN Consultores, Gaiker, GMSM, Indumetal Recycling, Iragaz, Grupo Moyua, Ondoan, Serbitzu, Sercontrol, Tecnalia, Tecoplas, Tradebe and Viuda de Sainz.