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Science in the Basque Country 2020 Report

The Minister of Education Jokin Bildarratz, presented this morning with the Deputy Minister of Universities and Research, Adolfo Morais, the Director of Research Amaia Esquisabel, and the Scientific Director of Ikerbasque, Fernando Cossío, the results of the Report on Science in Euskadi 2020. The report includes the main results of Euskadi in terms of research population, financing of science, scientific results and technology transfer through the indicators monitored by Ikerboost - Basque Observatory of Science and Technology.

IKERBOOST, the Observatory of Science and Technology of Ikerbasque, includes a wide range of indicators based on proven sources of information, both at the CAV and state or international levels, which allows a characterization of the Basque scientific community and its quantitative and quantitative comparison. qualitative with those of other countries. "Scientists share the results of their research by publishing them in specialized journals, the Ikerbasque Observatory monitors these publications analyzing the quantity, international impact and thematic specialization of them," as explained Fernando Cossío, scientific director of Ikerbasque.

Here are some of the most relevant data in the report:

  • In 2019, 6,657 scientific publications were published in the Basque Country, an increase in scientific production of 6.3% compared to the previous year, the largest increase in the last 5 years.
  • In 2018, the Basque Country invested a historical maximum of 1,423 million euros in R&D, 4.4% more than the previous year. With this growth, the Basque Country is the autonomous community that invested most in R&D activities as a percentage of its GDP, with an investment close to 2%.
  • In 2018 there were 20,250 researchers in the Basque Country, 4% more than the previous year. This means that almost 2% of the workforce in the Basque Country works in research, the Basque Country being the leading autonomous community in this indicator.
  • In absolute values, the scientific production of highest quality has doubled, with an 8% growth in the last year. This growth has led the Basque Country to 59% of its total scientific production in 2019 being produced in world-class journals.
  • In 2020 in the Basque Country there are 17 ERC projects underway, 2 more than the previous year, which is the all-time high to date. These ERC projects are indicative of excellence in science, as they are long-term projects funded by the European Union, awarded to top-level researchers who present projects of scientific excellence.
  • Euskadi is the leading autonomous community in the per capita return of the European H2020 program. With almost 160 million euros achieved in 2019, the raising of European funds in the 2014-2019 period amounts to 690 million euros.

To download the complete Report on Science in Euskadi 2020:

Basque Science Report 2020 (ESP)

Basque Science Report 2020 (EUS)