San Sebastián means innovation, a huge cultural offer and a better standard of living

San Sebastián's extensive research centre network has led Nature magazine to declare it the world's leading exponent of collaborative science*, and one of the world's two hundred major scientific cities.

* 2017

Located in northwestern Europe next to the French border, San Sebastián is a medium-sized city that is now also much appreciated for its knowledge and science.

Heading up the Basque Bayonne San Sebastián Eurocity, it boasts an unbeatable cultural offer all year round, and is the venue for some major international events.

In economic terms, its innovation is accompanied by its retail and tourist sectors.

A large medium-sized city for research, work and enjoyment.

San Sebastián is an unbeatable working environment, because it has:

1 International Film Festival to rival Cannes or Venice. 1 Jazz Festival, one of Europe´s oldest. 2 official languages (Basque and Spanish) and 2 names (Donostia, in Basque, and San Sebastián, in Spanish), but only one adjective for its inhabitants: donostiarra. 3 beaches: Ondarreta, La Concha y Zurriola, the best for surfing, with the best waves. 4 universities (UPV-EHU, Deusto, University of Navarra and the Basque Culinary Center) where engineering disciplines account for 30% of syllabuses. 16 vocational education and centres and 18 Michelin stars in the general area. 237,37 hectares of parkland, providing an average of 18m2 of green space per inhabitant.

San Sebastián is also a leading exponent of science and innovation. This is confirmed by socioeconomic data from the Urban Observatory.

187.850 inhabitants

40% with university qualifications and 52% with tertiary studies

7,369 M € GDP

of which 2.9% are invested in R+D+i (the EU average is 2.2%)

42,408 € average

29 R+D agents in the city and the surrounding area

1 Basque Science and Technology Network agent for every 6,482 inhabitants

5,336 people

working in R+D+i (47.1% women)

3,585 of these people

are employed on full-time R+D+i schemes (4.63% of the active population, compared to 0.86% in EU member states)

55,252 people

employed in advanced services (56.6% of the population)

18,500 businesses in the city and the surrounding area

44.5% in cutting-edge services

These 8,227 businesses

generate 56.6% of jobs

2,600 retail businesses

1,500 hospitality establishments

19.7 % of jobs in traditional sectors / 9.3% unemployment