The ESS office in Bilbao, one of the largest science facilities in Southern Europe, will increase the scientific and technological capacity of the Basque Country and will rapidly boost economic growth in the region.

The Bilbao's office will have three main facilities:

• A testing laboratory that will be the main ESS centre for R&D and experiments.
• A technology centre for the design, development and testing of accelerator components
• A software development centre and station for remote access to Lund

Investment in the ESS office in Bilbao will amount to 180 million Euros, including 30 million Euros that have already been set aside in 2009 by the Spanish and Basque regional government. The science facility will be operative in 2011 and will clearly boost economic growth in the region. The agreement between Spain and Sweden to start up this facility pledges commitment to a unique project that will result in the European Spallation Neutron Source (ESS).