21 July 2025
Bilbao Campus
The Bilbao Campus of the Basque Technology Park, located on Zorrotzaurre Island, has become a reality with the construction kickoff on July 21st of its first building, which will be named “Helena Matute” — Professor of Experimental Psychology at the University of Deusto and an international authority in the study of cognitive biases and their application in artificial intelligence. With this naming, the Basque Technology Park aims to strengthen its commitment to highlighting and recognising the contributions of women scientists.
Lehendakari Imanol Pradales, Bizkaia’s Deputy General Elixabete Etxanobe, and Bilbao’s Mayor Juan Mari Aburto were responsible for laying the foundation stone of the first building at the Bilbao Campus, owned by the Basque Technology Park. Designed to host technologically advanced companies, it will be located on the site of the former Tarabusi Pavilion, on Avenida de las Galleteras.
In this regard, it involves the reconstruction of that pavilion, with architecture that will respect the original aesthetic. An additional new building will be added to the west façade, constructed following sustainability and eco-design principles. In total, there will be 4,000 m² entirely dedicated to advanced technology companies and projects, spread across four floors.
At present, following the demolition of the old pavilion, construction work on the new facility is already underway, with an estimated completion time of 24 months. In terms of energy efficiency and sustainability, the new building will set a milestone in the development of Bilbao Campus. It will be climate-controlled using energy from the ground through a geothermal system, and will feature an installed photovoltaic capacity of approximately 53 kW, generating around 52,000 kWh annually.
At the presentation ceremony, several outstanding projects were also announced, led by Idom, Mondragon, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, Ikerlan and Vicomtech. In this way, the Zorrotzaurre project is gaining momentum to become a unique Urban Technology Campus on an international scale, promoting the location of cutting-edge companies within a space surrounded by public facilities and housing. Specifically, this initial phase will enable the addition of 46,000 m² of tertiary-use floor space, distributed across four plots in the North Point area. Two of the plots had existing buildings, while the other two are currently vacant. Additionally, work is underway on the development of another 60,000 m² located in the South Point of the island, aimed at the advanced services sector.
This milestone marks the culmination of years of inter-institutional collaboration, with the Bilbao City Council, the Biscay Provincial Council, and the Basque Government working hand in hand to transform Zorrotzaurre into an island of knowledge, technology, innovation, and advanced industry through the Basque Technology Park and its new Bilbao Campus.
This project will act as a key driver for the economy of Biscay and the Basque Country, creating a sector-focused ecosystem that supports the growth of the local business network. In addition, it will respond to the existing demand for space in Bilbao, contributing to the Basque RIS3 Strategy (Smart Specialisation Strategy) with its commitment to advanced sectors, linked to research and training.
The Mayor of Bilbao, Juan Mari Aburto, after thanking the Basque Government and the Provincial Council of Biscay for their work and involvement with Zorrotzaurre Island, proudly stated that "this act is a milestone in the development of the future of Bilbao. Companies, talent attraction and retention, qualified youth employment, innovative processes, and new business opportunities are now joining the urban development, new housing, and services we are promoting on the island—without forgetting the well-established cultural and educational activity, with over 3,000 students across the three universities already based here (Kunsthal, Mondragon Unibertsitatea, and DigiPen)”.
Aburto highlighted Idom and the Mondragón Corporation as “the pioneers who took the first step towards making the dream of establishing companies on this Bilbao Campus a reality,” acknowledging that “they have opened the door to other business projects that will follow in the coming months. From today, the present and future go hand in hand, and this is great news for Bilbao and its people”.
Elixabete Etxanobe, the General Deputy of Biscay, added that “today we lay the first stone of a building – laying the foundations for a bold, technological, and deeply human future for Biscay. The Bilbao Campus of the Basque Technology Park is a clear statement of intent: Biscay wants to, and will, play a leading role in the major technological, digital, and energy transitions that are transforming the world".
"For 40 years, since we launched the Zamudio Technology Park, the Biscay Provincial Council has been committed to innovation as a driving force for economic development and social well-being. This new urban Campus is the natural evolution of that commitment: connected to the city and serving the most innovative companies, science, entrepreneurship, and talent,” said Etxanobe, who added, “Moreover, this Campus is a hub for attracting talent, reinforcing the ‘Bizkaia with Talent’ strategy. A space where knowledge is transformed into opportunities and where those who want to contribute to the future of Biscay will find conditions for growth, innovation and entrepreneurship".
Lehendakari Imanol Pradales remarked that the construction of the first building of the first urban technology campus in the Basque Country will serve to strengthen and consolidate the Basque industrial model, which “bases its competitiveness on advanced knowledge, manufacturing culture, sustainability, technological development, and value-added activities”.
"The Technology Park is a fundamental pillar of the new Basque Industry Plan, because if we want to continue being an advanced, attractive, cohesive country with a high quality of life, we need an innovative industry that creates opportunities, quality employment, and well-being,” stated the Lehendakari.
Imanol Pradales also highlighted the role of the new Campus—which will host companies specialising in artificial intelligence, Big Data, and new startups—as a driver of innovation and technological development “serving people, the community, and our well-being.” He reiterated the Basque Government’s commitment to ensuring that “Zorrotzaurre becomes the island of knowledge, technology, innovation, and advanced industry”.
Finally, the Lehendakari highlighted that the first building of this new space will bear the name of Basque researcher Helena Matute, who was present at the event. He thanked her for her daily work, which seeks to “shed light where others wish there were darkness” in the form of populism, denialism, and anti-scientific movements that must be fought, Pradales said, “with all our strength”.
Main business projects
Idom Science Factory/Zientziola will be located on plot RZ-7 in Zorrotzaurre, a short distance from the company's headquarters. With this project, it aims to boost its activity in the design and supply of complex engineering systems for Science and Technology, in fields such as Astronomy, Particle and Nuclear Physics, Space and Renewable Energies, among others.
The development and enhancement of this activity require expanding Idom’s current facilities with the construction of new laboratories, an integration room, and clean rooms, all of which will be accommodated in the new building. Additionally, Idom Science Factory/Zientziola aims to become a space that fosters contact, the exchange of ideas, and creativity, promoting collaboration across disciplines and the cross-fertilisation of knowledge.
Idom, a leading engineering firm in the sector competing internationally with top-tier scientific and technological knowledge and infrastructure for the most demanding markets, represents an industry characterised by high-quality, technology-based jobs with high added value in global markets. The work carried out in these new facilities is expected to have a direct impact on projects such as optical systems, instruments and large mobile structures for telescopes, specialised mechatronic systems, unique test benches, diagnostics, and microwave heating systems for fusion reactors, among others. The initiative will also increase the number of highly skilled jobs needed for the company's development in the near future.
Bilbao Bizkaia Digital Faktory is Mondragon Corporation’s flagship project for Zorrotzaurre. The project, with an investment exceeding 20 million euros, will help develop a hub that attracts talent and high-value companies in digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, cybersecurity, digital humanities, mechatronics, robotics, and intelligent energy systems, among others.
Mondragon, fully aware of the demographic challenge and the resulting shortage of digital talent for industry, is committed to developing an innovative hub where companies, technology centres, and the university sector converge, creating a network in which knowledge and the digital world provide innovative solutions to industrial needs.
This project, led by Mondragon through its Knowledge Division, will have the close collaboration of the Ikerlan technology centre and Mondragon Unibertsitatea. The expected impact of this project includes the generation of local talent and the attraction of international talent, participation in European digital technology projects, knowledge transfer to companies, and the stimulation of new business development in digital sectors.
Located on plot RZ-10, the new building complex replaces the former Consonni and Lancor buildings, resulting in two new structures measuring 7,526 m² and 4,281 m² respectively.
Regarding the layout of the buildings, Mondragon Unibertsitatea and Ikerlan will carry out their activities in the larger Consonni building, while Vicomtech, in collaboration with the Basque Technology Park, will be located in the smaller Lancor building. Both buildings will be connected to each other to become an international hub of knowledge and digital technology.
In this new space, Vicomtech reaffirms its commitment to Bilbao-Biscay by contributing to the development of Artificial Intelligence technologies and their transfer to the Basque industrial sector, thereby enhancing its competitiveness. In addition, the centre reaffirms its role in promoting the Basque language through language technologies and is committed to promoting STEAM talent.
The development of the Bilbao Campus building complex on the North Point of Zorrotzaurre will be completed with plot RZ-9, which is currently pending finalisation. However, with the development of this plot, all the planned projects for the North Point site would be completed.
The launch of the Zorrotzaurre project will add to the six active campuses in Zamudio/Derio, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Donostia, Leioa, Hernani, and Abanto, reinforcing the Basque Technology Park’s commitment to its multi-campus model.
