The Basque Country fosters knowledge as the key element that can increase its competitiveness and sustainability, and the aim of its strategies to consolidate an international scientific-technological pole.
Basque expenditure in R&D over GDP stood at 1.65% in 2007 (one of the highest rates in Spain), confirming the leading position enjoyed by the Basque Country in the area of R&D. The average interannual growth rate in expenditure on R&D over the last ten years (12.85%), one of the highest in Europe, shows the potential of the Basque scientific-technological system to set up a stable pole of research as a contribution from the local environment to the consolidation of a Europe of Knowledge on the world scenario. The aim of the Basque political authorities is to reach an overall investment in R&D of 3% of GDP in 2015, placing the Basque Country at the head of Europe.
