Collaborative governance as a factor of competitiveness for wellbeing

2026
Ane Izulain (coordinadora), Mari Jose Aranguren, Ainhoa Arrona, Miren Estensoro y James R. Wilson 
https://doi.org/10.18543/TCRK1433 
Cuadernos Orkestra

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Abstract

Collaborative governance has been adopted by numerous local and regional governments as a means of strengthening democracy, fostering community cohesion and improving the effectiveness of public policies. In 2025, the Basque Government, together with local stakeholders specialising in this field, defined its own approach to collaborative governance based on three complementary principles: deepening democracy, strengthening communities and fostering competitiveness for wellbeing.

This report focuses on the latter principle with the aim of developing an actionable framework that enables collaborative governance to be understood and implemented as a critical factor in driving competitiveness geared towards inclusive and sustainable wellbeing. To this end, it draws on Orkestra’s (2021) framework for competitiveness for wellbeing and constructs a proposal based on a review of the academic literature, as well as an analysis of three cases developed in the Basque Country at local, provincial and regional levels (Advanced Services in Bilbao, Industry 4.0 in Gipuzkoa, and the Cluster Policy in the Basque Country).

The Report proposes a conceptual framework, accompanied by a methodological guide that sets out four key considerations: the rationale for collaborative governance in competitiveness for wellbeing, the purpose or objective pursued in the processes, feasibility, and three types of potential impacts (on competitiveness, on process outcomes and social capital, and on institutional capabilities).