The Basque Country Technology Park celebrates 40 years in Biscay and announces the expansion of the Zamudio/Derio Campus to almost double its size

Lehendakari Imanol Pradales today visited Mantuliz (Derio), which will enable the incorporation of 1.2 million square metres into the Zamudio/Derio Campus.

“Just as we did 40 years ago, we must lift our gaze, respond to uncertainty with action, and step up our commitment. We must make room for the future. Also for the dynamism of our business and technological fabric, which is fully committed to transformation,” stated the Lehendakari.

At present, the occupancy rate of the Zamudio/Derio Campus stands at 97%, with 265 companies established.

The Lehendakari emphasised that the Basque Country Technology Park “must be able to grow in order to continue helping us grow as a country, to keep connecting us with other hubs and entrepreneurial ecosystems around the world, and to offer opportunities to our emerging talent.”

This afternoon, the Basque Country Technology Park held the official event marking the 40th anniversary of the creation of what is now the Zamudio/Derio Campus, with its sights set on a new phase of expansion that will almost double its size.

The expansion towards the Mantuliz area, in the municipality of Derio, was announced by Lehendakari Imanol Pradales, who visited the site together with the Basque Government’s Minister for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi; the Biscay Provincial Council’s Deputy for Economic Promotion, Ainara Basurko; the Chair of the Basque Country Technology Park, Jaione Ganzarain; the Managing Director of the Basque Country Technology Park, Itziar Epalza; the Mayor of Derio, Esther Apraiz; and the Mayor of Zamudio, Lander Aretxabaleta.

Lehendakari Imanol Pradales highlighted that technology parks have been a tool for transformation and growth in Euskadi: steering the economy towards the industries of the future, generating skilled employment and new opportunities, and creating and transferring knowledge and technology. “Just as we did 40 years ago, we must lift our gaze, respond to uncertainty with action, and step up our commitment. We must make room for the future. Also for the dynamism of our business and technological fabric, which is fully committed to transformation,” he stated.

Furthermore, Pradales stressed that the Basque Country Technology Park must be able to grow “to continue helping us grow as a country, to keep connecting us with other hubs and entrepreneurial ecosystems worldwide, and to offer opportunities to our emerging talent.”

According to activity data for the 2025 financial year, the Zamudio/Derio Campus already hosts 265 companies, employing 12,000 people on a daily basis. The occupancy rate stands at 97%, in a space that has become a benchmark location for the development of technological projects. This high level of occupancy makes it necessary to accelerate the expansion of the Campus.

The incorporation of the Mantuliz land, covering an area of 1.2 million square metres, would virtually double the space of the Zamudio/Derio Campus, which currently has 1.1 million square metres in the municipality of Zamudio and 730,000 in Derio.

The Campus brings together significant activity in IRABAZI sectors (currently leading industrial sectors), such as Advanced Manufacturing and Energy, as well as HAZI sectors (those with future growth potential), including Aerospace, Biosciences and Advanced Digital Solutions, as set out in the Basque Government’s Industry Plan – Euskadi 2030.

Overall, the Basque Country Technology Park Campuses in Biscay – Zamudio/Derio, Abanto, Leioa and Bilbao – according to 2025 activity data, host 297 companies employing approximately 13,000 people on a daily basis, with a combined turnover of nearly €5.9 billion.

The expansion project towards Mantuliz, part of the flagship public leadership initiative “Strategic Land Reserve” within the Industry Plan – Euskadi 2030, is presented as the most suitable response to the growth in activity of the companies based in the Park and their demand for space, as well as to the need to reserve land to attract strategic projects.

The timeline envisaged for the establishment of the first companies begins from 2030 onwards.

Comprehensive expansion of the Basque Country Technology Park

In addition to today’s announcement, the Basque Country Technology Park is simultaneously working on the expansion of its facilities across the entire region. In Biscay, the most notable operation is linked to the Bilbao Campus, where the Punta Norte of Zorrotzaurre has been completed with the recent incorporation of the Lantek project, joining Idom, Mondragon, Vicomtech and Ikerlan. This pioneering Urban Campus will serve as a benchmark space for the development of advanced digital technologies: artificial intelligence, data analytics and cybersecurity.

At the same time, projects are underway such as the Donostia Campus, with expansion into Illunbe and the consolidation of an internationally recognised biosciences network. Likewise, at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Campus, the incorporation of 900,000 square metres is planned in order to facilitate the attraction of large-scale projects.

As a whole, the Basque Country Technology Park has continued to grow in recent years. It currently brings together 692 companies across its Campuses, employing more than 24,000 people – including 7,700 professionals dedicated to R&D – with a combined turnover of €9.257 billion in 2025, representing an increase of 12.3% compared to the previous year.

Furthermore, total investment in R&D has grown by 30%, rising from €660 million in 2024 to €854 million in 2025, while companies belonging to the different HAZI and IRABAZI sectors of the Industry Plan – Euskadi 2030 currently account for 76% of total turnover.