The Basque Country is a region that covers a surface area of 20,664 square kilometres at the western end of the Pyrenees. Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Nafarroa are in Spain, and Lapurdi, Zuberoa and Benafarroa are in France. With a population of more than 2.1 Million people, Euskadi gives a figure of around 300 inhabitants per square kilometre, higher than the EC average.
Most people live in the larger urban areas in the northern zone.
The Science and Technology Plan 1997-2000 lays down policy guidelines in these two areas for the autonomous community of the Basque Country. To this end, the Plan itself facilitates leadership over all development activities affecting science and technology in the Basque Country. At present, the Basque Country sets aside a greater percentage of its budget for research than almost any other Spanish autonomous community. The main participants are Companies, followed by the Technological Centres and Public Administrations. Euskadi leads the Quality in Spain During the last years, the number of quality certifications has shown a great positive tendency in the Basque Country, as shown in the following graph.