About Basque Country
A country with a clear industrial calling
Explore the main sectors
Euskadi Basque Country
On the race towards competitiveness in a highly globalised economy, the Basque Country is in a privileged position to access the main European markets thanks to its strategic location at the centre of the European Atlantic Corridor.
About Us
7,234 k2 surface area
2,193,199 population
A clear international calling
Over 5,000 export companies, over 250 multi-site companies, which total over 2,500 footholds abroad and with over 1,000 production facilities.
Companies with a strong culture of effort and commitment, experience and trusted partners, with capacity to roll out project with maximum guarantees
The Basque Country in figures
GDP per capita
Productivity per employee
(UE27=100)
Exports %GDP
Spain 30.0%
France 22.2%
Germany 40.7%
Human Development Index
Industrial GDP
UE27: 20,6%
Year-on-year variation of the GDP in 2023
Spain +2.5%
France +0.7%
Germany -0.2%
Spending on R&D (% GDP)
Spain 1.43%
Total R&D employment (people)
The Basque Country is…
A territory with good communications
‘Best European middle size Region in Connectivity’
Financial Times – European Cities and Regions of the future – Ranking 2016/17
High innovation
The Basque Country is on a par with high innovator European countries, thanks to a powerful ecosystem striving to position the Basque Country among the leading innovator regions.
7 Technology Parks
- 647 companies and entities
- 21,757 employees
- €6.48 billion in turnover
- 37% total spending on R&D in the Basque Country
4 Cooperative Research Centres
- CIC bioGUNE (biosciences)
- CIC energiGUNE (energy)
- CIC biomaGUNE (biomaterials)
- CIC nanoGUNE (nanosciences)
6 Innovation Centers
- AIC Automotive Intelligence Center
- Basque Cybersecurity Centre
- Aeronautic Advanced Manufacturing Centre
- Wind Power Advanced Manufacturing Centre
- EIC Energy Intelligence Centre
- BAIC Basque Artificial Intelligence Center
4 Business Innovation Centers
- BIC Araba
- BIC Bizkaia
- BIC Gipuzkoa
- BIC Bizkaia Ezkerraldea
Since they came into operation, the Centres have supported the setting up of 2,000 companies, that have generated 10,500 jobs and have mentored over 4,000 entrepreneurs.
9 Basic Excellence Research Centre (BERC)
- FBB Bizkaia Biophysics Foundation
- BCAM Basque Centre for Applied Mathematics
- BCMaterials Basque Centre for Material Applications and Nanostructures
BRTA. Basque Research & Technology Alliance
A strong partnership to drive the Basque technology ecosystem
- 3,700 researchers
- €300 million annual investment
- 100 patents a year
- 17 companies
Smart specialisation
Focus on three strategic areas: advanced manufacturing, energy and biosciences/health…
…and four areas of opportunity: food, urban habitat, ecosystems, creative/cultural industries.
Energy
- 96,305 jobs
- €56,090 million
- 434 companies: Iberdrola, Siemens Gamesa, Petronor, Ormazabal, Elecnor…
Railway industry
- 11,413 jobs
- €2,148 million
- 324 companies: CAF, Talgo, Bombardier…
Maritime industry
- 13,735 jobs
- €2,840 million
- 231 companies: Sener Naval, Vicinay Cadenas, Astilleros Balenciaga, Murueta…
Automotive
- 120,000 jobs
- €18,351 million
- 306 companies: Gestamp, CIE, Irizar, Mercedes Benz, Bridgestone…
Advanced machinery
- 7,489 jobs
- €1,731 million
- 128 companies: Danobat, Zayer, Lazpiur, Lantek, IZAR Cutting Tools…
Aeronautics
- 14,856 jobs
- €2,457 million
- 65 companies: ITP, Aernnova, Sener, Aciturri, Altran…
ICTs
- 19,276 jobs
- €4,958 million
- 258 companies: Ibermatica, Euskaltel, Ikusi Velatia, Entelgi…
Eco-industry
- 15,700 jobs
- €3,715 million
- 436 companies: Indumental Recycling, Idom, Acciona Agua, EKO-REC…
Biohealth
- 7,300 jobs
- €1,450 million
- 150 companies: FAES Pharma, PRAXIS, Progenika-Griffols, Noray Biosciences…
Talent development
48.9% of young people in the Basque Country have completed higher education
4 universities
- UPV/EHU
- Deusto University
- Mondragón University
- Navarra University
Vocational Education & Training
- With more than a hundred centres
Specialised centres
- Basque Culinary Centre, first university in the field of gastronomy worldwide
- Digipen (Institute of Technology Europe Bilbao)
- Institute of Tool Machining
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science
A place to live
High quality of life: an education system with extensive knowledge of international languages and an advanced public health system, which means it provides the best healthcare in Spain and one of the best in Europe
Museums
- From the Guggenheim to Balenciaga
Gastronomy
- 33 Michelin starts
Language
- The Basque language: Europe’s oldest language
Nature
- 59 protected areas (23% of the territory)
Our industry
Our presence abroad growing every year
2,570 footholds, 1,041 of which are production and the rest commercial
Empresas exportadoras
Nombre de la empresa
Países exportadores
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