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Europe Advances in Innovation: Analysis of the 2025 European Innovation Scoreboard
The European Commission has published the latest edition of the 2025 European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS), confirming a positive long-term trend in the EU’s innovation capacity. Since 2018, the European Union’s innovation performance has grown by 12.6%, reflecting efforts to strengthen R&D ecosystems, promote public-private collaboration, and accelerate digitalization.
Although the most recent data show a slight slowdown (with an average decline of 0.4 points between 2024 and 2025), the overall outlook remains positive. All Member States have improved since 2018, with especially notable progress in key countries such as Spain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, and Portugal, where innovation ecosystems have continued to strengthen alongside a sustained commitment to public-private collaboration and business-driven R&D.
In Spain, several regions stand out for exceeding the European average:
Catalonia, the Basque Country, Madrid, Navarre, and the Valencian Community, consolidating themselves as competitive innovation hubs at the European level.
The 2025 Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS) presents a mixed but converging picture. Between 2018 and 2025, 233 out of 241 European regions improved their innovation performance, narrowing the gap between the most and least advanced areas. However, 82 regions recorded a decline between 2023 and 2025, highlighting a recent slowdown in some territories and underlining the need to reinforce policies that enhance competitiveness across all regions.
The European Innovation Scoreboard is not just a statistical report; it is a strategic reference tool for guiding public policy, planning investments, and supporting business decision-making. Its integration into the New European Innovation Agenda further strengthens its strategic role, helping to reduce disparities among countries, promote collaboration, and accelerate the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.
It also supports initiatives such as:
- The Competitiveness Compass.
- The Choose Europe campaign to attract investment and talent.
- The forthcoming EU Innovation Law, which will use these indicators to plan reforms and modernize national R&D&I systems.
In a context of growing global competition and the urgent need for sustainable transformation, companies must take advantage of the funding and innovation incentives available. The strengthening of the European innovation ecosystem creates a favourable framework for:
- Accessing national and EU R&D&I funding.
- Collaborating with research centers and startups.
- Developing innovative projects that enhance competitiveness.
At FI Group, we have teams specialized in funding programs, offering comprehensive support that covers everything from idea conceptualization, project definition, to fostering collaborations and coordinating proposals.
We accompany our clients throughout the entire project lifecycle, up to the final closure by the administration, including:
- Preparation of funding proposals.
- Interaction with institutions.
- Dossier management.
- Project justification.
- Audit support.
We turn opportunities into tangible results. With a strong presence across Europe and deep expertise in EU funding programmes, we support businesses in identifying and securing resources for innovation-driven projects.
If your organisation is looking to enhance its competitiveness through strategic innovation, explore how we can assist you via the EU Grants.
Talk to our experts and turn your ideas into real impact: Request a Free Audit
AI-Driven Innovation: How Artificial Intelligence Helps Us Maximize Efficiency
Did you know that over 70% of companies worldwide are already using some form of artificial intelligence in their processes? Currently, AI is not only transforming industries but also changing the way teams work and add value.
At FI Group, we have made artificial intelligence an ally to enhance our internal capabilities, improve our efficiency, and deliver better results for our clients.
The integration of AI into our daily work allows us to:
- Automate routine tasks: Automation through AI can save up to 30% of time on administrative and management activities
- Prioritize what really matters: By letting AI handle low-value tasks, our team can focus on strategic and creative projects that generate real impact for our clients.
- Quickly access and process key information: With the help of MarIA, our integrated artificial intelligence tool, we can analyze large volumes of documents and access cross-sectional information about our clients and the company to process and obtain relevant information in minutes.
- Improve decision-making: A recent IBM study reveals that 42% of consulting firms already use AI to support decision-making and real-time data analysis
How We Use AI at FI Group
The implementation of AI at FI Group spans several key areas that have transformed our daily operations:
- Support for teams: Tools like MarIA, SmartRead, and Copilot interact with each employee, assisting in document management and answering operational questions. This facilitates a review of the state of the art with an academic database, allowing human talent to focus on developing high-value information for the process.
- Process automation: The digitization of tax documentation has become a quick and efficient task thanks to tools like the invoice scanner, which uses locally trained AI. This not only speeds up document analysis but also improves efficiency in responding to our clients.
- Continuous learning: AI is not static; it learns from our processes and provides teams with personalized suggestions, helping to improve every day. This cycle of continuous learning is essential for adapting to the changing needs of the market and our clients.
For the successful integration of AI, it is essential to consider several aspects:
- Organizational culture: We are committed to the ongoing training and updating of our team. Training focuses not only on the use of tools but also on understanding how AI can enhance our capabilities.
- Ethics and responsibility: At FI Group, we ensure the safe and ethical use of data, protecting the confidentiality of our clients’ information. Trust is a fundamental pillar in our relationship with them.
- Long-term vision: We see AI as a tool to enhance human value, not to replace it. Our focus is on how artificial intelligence can complement and improve human work, creating synergies that benefit both our employees and our clients.
Artificial intelligence is a fundamental part of our operational strategy. It allows us to be more agile, respond better to our clients’ needs, and find new ways to deliver real value in a competitive environment. Our experience shows that when AI is integrated with a human and orderly vision, the results multiply.
In a world where innovation is the key to surviving and thriving, artificial intelligence is not just a tool but a strategic partner. By adopting AI responsibly and ethically, we not only optimize our processes but also open the doors to a future full of possibilities. Companies that dare to integrate AI into their DNA not only stay at the forefront of innovation but also become leaders in their respective sectors, creating a lasting impact on society and the economy.
The AI-driven transformation is a continuous journey. At FI Group, we are committed to continuing to explore new applications and improvements in our artificial intelligence tools, ensuring that every day we can provide an even more efficient and valuable service to our clients. Artificial intelligence is the path to a brighter and more productive future, and we are excited to be part of this revolution.
Food Revolution: Strategies for a Sustainable Future
The global food system is undergoing a profound transformation. As urbanisation and industrialisation have distanced populations from food production, the environmental and social consequences have become increasingly evident.
Today, the agri-food sector is responsible for a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and deforestation. In response, governments, businesses, and consumers are embracing sustainable practices and technologies to reshape the future of food.
The Environmental and Social Impact of Food Production
Modern food systems contribute to:
- 33% of global greenhouse gas emissions
- 70% of freshwater usage
- 80% of global deforestation
Additionally, over 735 million people face food insecurity, a number exacerbated by recent global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conflicts. These figures highlight the urgent need for a more resilient and sustainable food model.
To address these challenges, a range of sustainable practices is being adopted:
- Regenerative agriculture: enhances soil health through crop rotation, composting, and livestock integration.
- Urban farming: reduces food miles and promotes local food systems.
- Biodegradable packaging: minimizes plastic waste and environmental pollution.
- Extensive livestock systems: promote animal welfare and reduce environmental degradation.
According to the FAO, food production must increase by over 50% by 2050. Achieving this requires producing more with fewer resources, reducing waste, and promoting healthier, plant-forward diets.
Evolving Consumer Behaviour and Dietary Trends
Consumer awareness is shifting towards more responsible consumption. Key trends include:
- Preference for organic and locally sourced products
- Reduction in meat consumption
- Adoption of vegetarian and plant-based diets
- Efforts to reduce food waste through bulk purchasing and meal planning
These behavioural changes are essential to supporting a sustainable food transition.
The Rise of Foodtech: Innovation Driving Sustainability
Foodtech, the intersection of food and technology is revolutionising the agri-food sector. Start-ups and established companies are leveraging:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Big Data
- Internet of Things (IoT)
These technologies are being used to optimise food production, reduce waste, and develop alternative proteins such as lab-grown meat. Companies like Beyond Meat, backed by investors such as Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio, exemplify the potential of food-tech to scale sustainable solutions.
Future Foods: A Sustainable and Nutritious Alternative
The WWF and Knorr have identified 50 “future foods” that are nutritious, climate-resilient, and resource-efficient. These include:
- Seaweeds (e.g., wakame, laver)
- Legumes (e.g., lentils, fava beans)
- Grains (e.g., quinoa, brown rice)
- Tubers (e.g., sweet potato, lotus root)
- Insects, promoted by the FAO, offer high nutritional value and require minimal resources to produce.
ncorporating these foods into mainstream diets can significantly reduce environmental impact while improving global nutrition.
A Call for Collective Action
Transitioning to a sustainable food system is not only an environmental imperative but also a social and economic opportunity. By embracing innovation, supporting responsible consumption, and promoting future foods, we can build a more equitable and resilient global food system.
Change begins with small actions and conscientious choices that, collectively, can transform the world.
Is your company truly embracing diversity and inclusion?
Embracing diversity is not only a moral imperative, it is a powerful driver of growth, innovation, and resilience. Diversity should never be treated as a checklist; it is a mindset that must be deeply embedded into the corporate culture.
A genuinely inclusive organisation is one that evolves continuously, listens with intent, and understands diversity not as a challenge, but as a competitive advantage.
Just imagine: we operate in 13 countries, serve thousands of clients across the globe, and see first-hand how diversity transforms teams and ideas. However diversity alone is not enough. It is the combination of diversity and inclusion that unlocks an organisation’s full potential.
Why does diversity matter? And why might inclusion matter even more?
These efforts aren’t just nice to have, they’re essential for attracting the top talent and creating a workplace where everyone feels valued. Recent research states that 88% of employers consider D&I initiatives essential to their success, with 80% having a positive view of their impact.
But here’s the catch: diversity without inclusion is just optics.
True inclusion means:
- Listening to all voices, not merely inviting them to the table.
- Creating space for different communication styles, languages, and perspectives.
- Reshaping structures and habits to enable everyone to thrive, not just to “fit in”.
Understanding Diversity as a driver of innovation
Innovation develops when ideas grow constructively, when new perspectives gain space and when people are curious to understand the world through someone else’s experiences and opinions.
With offices across Europe, the Americas, and Asia, we are committed to building a workplace where individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, and experiences feel valued and empowered.
We know that innovation, the heart of our business, depends on it.
Let’s get practical: How do we build a diverse and inclusive culture?
- Redefine leadership: Diversity sets the tone for the entire organisation.
- Make inclusion measurable: Track team dynamics, promotion pathways, and feedback loops. Be transparent about areas needing improvement.
- Create safe spaces for all voices: Foster a culture where individuals feel confident to challenge ideas, share their experiences, and bring their authentic selves to work.
From this perspective, one conclusion becomes clear:
Teams + Diversity + Inclusion = Better decisions
Diverse teams bring more perspectives, richer experiences, and broader information, helping reduce cognitive bias and improve accountability. It’s no longer a question of whether diversity and inclusion matter, they are now strategic imperatives.
Organisations that nurture inclusive cultures benefit from:
- Faster, more effective problem-solving
- A deeper understanding of evolving markets
- Enhanced adaptability in a dynamic business environment
At FI Group, we believe that building diverse and inclusive teams is not only the right thing to do, it is essential for staying competitive and relevant in today’s world.
In an era where differentiation is critical, inclusion becomes a powerful engine of resilience, agility, and long-term growth.
Companies that embrace this mindset don’t just respond to change, they shape it.
