Bizkaia: Unique in the impact world!​​​​​​​​​​

The Basque Country is a clear example of urban reconversion, and a region that is firmly committed to sustainable human development thanks to the governance and the permanent collaboration between different public and private agents.

Bizkaia, the largest province of the Basque Country, has a strong ecosystem of companies, social agents and institutions that dedicate their efforts and target their public policies towards the construction of a more inclusive and sustainable society.

Bilbao, capital city of Bizkaia, was chosen by the United Nations as the headquarters of the Local Coalition 2030. The Sustainable Development Goals depend more than ever on the capacity of local governments to promote territorial, inclusive and sustainable development.

Today, the whole region must confront a new set of challenges: declining economic competitiveness, an ageing population, and the need to decarbonise its heavily industrialised economy.

How can Bizkaia and the Basque Country transform its industrial economy once more, this time along a low-carbon and climate resilient paradigm, while involving its citizens in the investment process?

We’ll find out and get learnings for our own work and communities, this November in the heart of Bizkaia!

Euskalduna Palace

The Euskalduna conference centre is a unique building and one of the flagships of the new 21st century Bilbao.

The building was designed by architects Federico Soriano and Dolores Palacios to resemble a ship under construction, because it stands on the site formerly occupied by the Euskalduna shipyard. It won the Enric Miralles award at the 2001 Spanish Architecture Biennial.

It is the home of the city’s opera season, organised by ABAO (Friends of the Opera of Bilbao), one of the most highly renowned in Spain. It is also the home base of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1920.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is part of an international constellation of Guggenheim museums, with an extensive collection offering an in-depth, expanded view of modern and contemporary art.

Designed by Frank Gehry, the museum building is a large sculpture made of titanium, limestone and glass, and has become the most recognisable icon of the city of Bilbao.

The complex and mutually enriching dialogue between the art exhibited and the architecture of the building serve as an unrivalled source of energy for the city and its people and presents an unique example of renewal and reinvention, known all around the world as the Bilbao Effect.

Seed Capital Bizkaia

Seed Capital Bizkaia belongs to the Department of Economic Promotion of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and it is dedicated to the administration and management of various financing tools.

From its beginnings in 1989, Seed Capital Bizkaia has been firmly committed to encouraging innovation, social impact and promotion and regeneration of the business landscape in Bizkaia.

The Entrepreneurship and Social Impact Fund (FEIS) was set up in 2014 with the goal of supporting the promotion and consolidation of company initiatives with social impact. Currently this is Spain's only public fund in the area of impact investing.