The Basque Country Technology Park opens the doors to four cutting-edge scientific facilities across its Campuses to raise public awareness of the importance of research infrastructure

The activity forms part of “APTE Innovation Spaces”, an initiative promoted by the Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain to raise awareness of Spain’s Unique Science and Technology Infrastructures (ICTS)

Guided tours will take place on 18 and 19 November at the Advanced Aeronautical Manufacturing Centre at the Zamudio/Derio Campus; the CIC energiGUNE laboratories at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Campus; and BCBL and CIC biomaGUNE’s Molecular and Functional Imaging Platform, both at the Donostia Campus

This year, the Basque Country Technology Park will broaden the opportunities for the public to discover some of the most advanced scientific infrastructures in Spain located in the Basque Country, as part of the “APTE Innovation Spaces” initiative promoted by the Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain. In addition to CIC biomaGUNE’s Molecular and Functional Imaging Platform, which took part in the initiative in the two previous editions, this year visitors will also have the opportunity to explore the facilities of CIC energiGUNE, BCBL-Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language, and the Advanced Aeronautical Manufacturing Centre (CFAA).

The guided tours will take place on 18 and 19 November and will be open to anyone interested in science, subject to prior registration via the Parke website. The aim is to bring the cutting-edge work carried out at Spain’s Unique Science and Technology Infrastructures (ICTS) closer to the public and highlight its crucial role in social and human development. Notably, four of the 22 facilities selected for this year’s initiative are located in the Basque Country.

In the case of CIC biomaGUNE’s Molecular and Functional Imaging Unit at the Donostia Campus, this will be the third time the platform has opened its doors as part of the initiative. It is a leading European facility in the field of preclinical molecular and functional imaging. Thanks to its combination of experimental techniques, including radiochemistry, Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Optical Tomography (OT), together with its animal facility, which holds international AAALAC quality accreditation, it is the largest biomedical imaging technology platform created in Spain to date. Its work focuses primarily on developing new applications for nanomaterials in biomedicine.

The visit to this CIC biomaGUNE facility at the Donostia Campus will take place on Thursday 19 November at 18:00. Registration is available via this link.

The second leading facility selected this year is also located at the Donostia Campus: the laboratories of BCBL-Basque Center on Cognition, Brain and Language. These facilities are at the forefront of brain and language research using advanced neuroimaging technologies. During the visit, attendees will be able to discover its main laboratories, learn about the types of studies conducted with participants of different ages, and explore the impact of this research in areas such as bilingualism, learning and health.

The visit to BCBL at the Donostia Campus will take place on Wednesday 18 November, from 12:00 to 13:30. Registration is available via this link.

At the Vitoria-Gasteiz Campus, the initiative will offer visitors the opportunity to discover CIC energiGUNE’s laboratories, where major advances are being made in research into new materials and technologies for energy storage and conversion. Visitors will be able to explore cutting-edge infrastructure, engage with the professionals leading these developments, and find out how the centre’s capabilities can lead to new ideas and projects. The visit is designed to foster discovery, connections and the joint development of energy solutions for the future.

Visits to CIC energiGUNE at the Vitoria-Gasteiz Campus will take place on both Wednesday 18 November and Thursday 19 November, from 13:30 to 14:30. Registration is available via this link.

Finally, at the Zamudio/Derio Campus, visitors will have the opportunity to take an in-depth look at the Advanced Aeronautical Manufacturing Centre (CFAA). The centre is a joint initiative of the University of the Basque Country (EHU), established with the aim of focusing directly on end-use applications while also generating new knowledge in advanced manufacturing technologies. The work carried out at CFAA focuses on developing and working at Manufacturing Readiness Levels 6–7, where validation testing in representative environments is required.

The visit to CFAA at the Zamudio/Derio Campus will take place on Wednesday 18 November, from 10:00 to 12:00. Registration is available via this link.