Heartland-Spain projects

Initiative ArtGeneration

"EXTREMA VERDE" Region

The ArtGeneration “EXTREMA VERDE” region in Spain

This is how we describe the lush green, rainy north coast of Spain, which stretches across the regions of Galicia, Asturias, and Cantabria, together with the scenic diversity of Extremadura. The region is known for its dramatic coastlines, cliffs, beaches, dense forests, the Cantabrian Mountains, and a unique Celtic culture characterized by cider (sidra), traditional music, and fewer tourists.

The landscapes of Extremadura:

In the north, the Torreón rises to 2,400 meters, surrounded by unspoiled mountain landscapes.

Central region:

The characteristic dehesas—extensive pastures with holm oaks—are transformed into a sea of wildflowers in spring.

Southern lowlands:

Fertile plains dominate the landscape.

Key features:

Location:

Northern coast of Spain on the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay, between Madrid and Lisbon.

Regions:

Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, Extremadura.

Landscape:

Lush vegetation, green hills, forests, mountains, cliffs, hidden bays, and extensive pastures with holm oaks.

Climate:

Mild and humid with high rainfall, making the vegetation particularly green; hot summers in the central region.

Tourism:

Considered an insider tip, less mass tourism than in the Mediterranean, ideal for nature, hiking, and cultural vacations.

For example, there is the Costa Verde (Asturias):

A specific coastal region in Asturias, known for its beauty and beaches.

The Cantabrian Mountains, national parks, diverse coastlines.

With two major rivers, the Tagus and the Guadiana, Extremadura offers exceptional water resources. The La Serena reservoir, the second largest in Europe, creates an impressive coastal landscape with over 2,000 km of freshwater beaches. In addition to water sports, natural pools and waterfalls invite you to swim. (Film location for “Game of Thrones,” for example)

Cities:

Diverse places such as Santander, Gijón, Llanes, A Coruña, Cáceres, Santiago de Compostela (Way of St. James), Badajoz, Mérida, Trujillo, Alcántara.

In summary, the Extrema/Verde region is the “other Spain,” which attracts visitors with its green beauty, rustic diversity, and rich culture.

The ArtGeneration “EXTREMA VERDE” Region Project

Establishment of a special cross-border economic, innovation, and cooperation region with northwestern and central Spain as its operational core and a clear bridging function between the MERCOSUR countries of South America, Germany, the EU, and EFTA/UK.

Function as:

Green & Smart Atlantic Hub

In the areas of:

IT, AI, data economy
Sustainable tourism (year-round models), health, nature, and educational tourism
Digital nomads & remote work villages
Development and production in the area of clean food
Sustainable construction & renovation (new technologies, carbon concrete, wood hybrid construction)
Renewable energies (wind, water, green storage), mobility solutions in rural areas
Reforestation, resoil, flood and forest fire protection systems, agri-PV systems
Pilot and test region for MERCOSUR ↔ EU (for regulatory-compliant scaling into the EU)
Mutual training initiatives, technology transfers

* Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia; Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Colombia, Peru, and Suriname as associate members.

Cooperation within MERCOSUR is gradually being expanded to include cultural, social, and scientific aspects.

Economic structure and infrastructure

Economic structure:

Diversified economy with significant agricultural sector, fishing, textile industry, manufacturing, and services.

Airports:

Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Vigo, Oviedo, Santander, Badajoz

Port cities:

Avilés, Gijón, Santander, Vigo, Pontevedra, A Coruña

In addition, there are rail and bus lines as well as motorway connections within the ArtGeneration “EXTREMA VERDE” region to Portugal, Madrid, Barcelona, and other EU countries.

Basic information about northwest Spain and Mercosur-EU cooperation

Northwest Spain benefits from Mercosur cooperation through easier access to a huge market (770 million people), customs relief (especially for cars and machinery), the strengthening of the agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical industries, technology transfer, and new sales opportunities for innovative products, supported by Spain's geographical proximity and existing strong trade relations with Latin America.

Benefits for businesses and regions:

Market access & tariffs: The EU-Mercosur agreement reduces tariffs (e.g., 35% on cars) and opens the market to EU exports, offering enormous opportunities, particularly for the European automotive and engineering industries.
Economic boost: Significant savings through tariff reductions, increase in EU exports by up to 39% (€49 billion), job creation, and promotion of investment.
Sector-specific benefits: Strengthening of export opportunities in sectors such as mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products.
Demand for technology: The need for modernization in the Mercosur countries creates sales opportunities for European, including Spanish, technology and innovation.
Geographical proximity: Northwest Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria) is well positioned on the Atlantic coast to facilitate trade with South America and optimize logistics.
Cultural and linguistic proximity: Knowledge of Spanish greatly facilitates communication and business development.

Opportunities for northwestern Spain (“EXTREMA VERDE” region):

Export promotion: Expansion of exports of agricultural products (e.g., from Extremadura) and industrial goods to Mercosur countries.
Investment: Attracting investment from South America and vice versa, especially in port and logistics centers such as Vigo or A Coruña.
Economic diversification: Reducing dependence on US and Asian markets by tapping into new growth regions.

The agreement gives northwestern Spain and the ArtGeneration “EXTREMA VERDE” project privileged access to a huge, growing market that has technological needs and is culturally closely linked, strengthening the region as a bridge between Europe and Latin America.

Private initiatives and development projects

Revitalization of historic villages and townhouses:
Historic buildings are being renovated to improve energy efficiency, villages are being revitalized and transformed into modern living and working spaces. Highly efficient materials and design developments are being used.
Ecological new buildings:
Themed villages such as the “Hommage Beatnik Villages” combine modern design with sustainable concepts.
Technology and innovation:
Use of state-of-the-art IT solutions (AI and Linux technologies), sensor technology (e.g., forest fire protection), and intelligent water management systems. Convenient communication technology, smart living, and telemedicine.
Sustainable agriculture:
Projects in solar agriculture and innovative approaches to food production promote self-sufficiency and strengthen the regional economy.

Lighthouses of culture and education

Planned educational centres and theme parks are to set international standards. In co-operation with institutions such as UNESCO:

Cultural centres: art retreats, film locations, theatres and literature centres.

Education and health platforms: Theme parks and research centers on sustainability, health, and smart technologies, e.g., pop culture forms of therapy in connection with the historical past of South American and Spanish-European culture.

Creative networks: initiatives in fashion, design, crafts and music create new opportunities for creatives and entrepreneurs.

ArtGeneration "EXTREMA VERDE" is not only a region of outstanding natural beauty, but also a centre for innovation and sustainability. The ArtGeneration projects combine these elements to create a sustainable, future-proof way of life in harmony with nature.

Example: The WoolArt & Music Village: wool art, artisans, concerts and vinyl collector events.