Source : http://www.bulletins-electroniques.com/actualites/54641.htm

After a successful conversion of its hard industry, thanks to the development of influential technological centres, the Bask country is developing an ambitious programme in basic research.
It is interesting to note that the Ministry of the Bask Industry, which leads the programme, considers money spent with research as an investment rather than an expense. The idea: to create private research centres in order to have the freedom for recruiting top researchers creating their own research teams on attractive environmental and material conditions. This approach is inspired from the research centres of Catalonia that emerged on the 90’s.
Four topics were selected: each centre is the reflect of its recruiters and their projects. Nanosciences et nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, biomaterials, micro-nano-technology.
Four subjects, four centres ( in San Sebastian and Bilbao), four names: nanoGune, bioGune, biomaGune, microGune.
In the Bask language “Gune” means “place”. These “places” which are on a more or less developed stage should be closely followed: the best of research will come up or has already came up from it.
For more information, contacts :
– NanoGune : http://www.nanogune.eu – BioGune : http://www.cicbiogune.es/ – BiomaGune : http://www.cicbiomagune.es/ – MicroGune : http://www.cicmicrogune.es/
Sources : Mission in the bask country, 02/2008. Meetings with the directors of NanoGune, BioGune et BiomaGune
Writer: Guy Molenat, scientific attaché