• • Innovative environment
  • Organization and public administration
  • Proximity of authorities
  • Higher education
  • Excellent port and airport facilities
  • Geographical location

Innovative environment

The Basque country is home to more than 60 players in the science and technology sectors including companies' R&D units, technology corporations, cooperative development centers and universities. The following aspects should be underlined:

• Two large technology corporations at the service of business, with over 2,000 researchers and 12 technology centers.
• Five universities with 91,000 students and 4,000 teaching staff.
• Leading the indices of R&D on a national level. In the last 22 years investment in R&D in the Basque Country has risen 22 times to 1.44% of the region's GDP in 2004.

Mention must also be made of the Biobask 2010 strategy, Spain's first business development project in biosciences.

• Internationally acclaimed technology parks.
• A large sector offering advanced services to companies.
• The headquarters of major companies in areas as diverse as banking, energy and others.
• The Basque country is one of the regions with the highest rate of quality certificates in the EU.
• The Basque County also houses the largest number of companies accredited with the European system of environmental management in relation to its GDP and the second largest in relation to its population.

Organization and public administration

Organization and public administration is highly efficient, as has been recognized by agencies like Standard & Poor's, who in March gave the region an AA+/positive rating.

Proximity of authorities

Basque authorities operate under a highly devolved system of government which enables them to directly govern and administer fields such as inland revenue and tax collection, industrial and economic promotion, transport, etc.

The Basque Country's particular fiscal system is a clear sign of this devolution.

Higher education

Five public and private universities with acclaimed departments of engineering, science and advanced management, with a total of 91,000 students.

Excellent port and airport facilities

Excellent port and airport facilities for cargo and passengers, as well as rail and road networks. Intermodality: the region has three transport and distribution centers for goods and services.

Geographical location

The Basque Country is located in the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula and is the home of the biggest industrial complex in Spain. It accounts for nearly 10% of Spain's industrial activity and its inhabitants enjoy a disposable income which is nearly 25% higher than the national average.