Working with Eurocities
Although the city has always been active in the network, our role as Chair of the Working Group on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (2026-2027) has been a highly enriching experience, providing us with the opportunity to share across Europe our talent and science-driven model and learn from other cities their benchmarks, starting long-term collaboration with some of them.
For instance, we welcomed Eurocities and many colleagues from European cities within our last WeekINN (InnovationWeek 2025) and our 2026 EKINN Entrepreneurial Summit. These events were an opportunity to showcase and share our rich research and development ecosystem.
Through Eurocities, we have collaborated with cities of similar size and strategy at a European level. With them, we have formed informal alliances based on a shared interest in learning from one another, providing opportunities for our startups and companies. Furthermore, we are driven by a desire to actively participate in the European framework, both in terms of seeking funding and taking an active role in forums and initiatives that highlight the role of cities in, and in particular Donostia’s position as a city of science and innovation.
Our participation in the Eurocities network has been instrumental in strengthening and expanding WeekINN, San Sebastian’s annual Innovation Week, and our participation in European Projects. Since its launch in 2014, WeekINN has evolved into one of the city’s flagship initiatives, bringing together public institutions, businesses, research centres, universities, entrepreneurs, and citizens to foster a culture of innovation.
The support and connections provided by Eurocities have enabled us to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and increase the international visibility of the event. As a matter of fact, we organised the Eurocities Economic Development Forum in San Sebastian in 2017 and a study visit of the Working Group on Innovation and Entrepreneuship in 2024, always linking it with our Innovation Week and increasing the visibility of our flagship initiatives when it comes to talent and entrepreneurship.
The best part of being a Eurocities member is the opportunity to connect with cities that share similar challenges and ambitions. For San Sebastian, the network has been a valuable source of knowledge, collaboration, and inspiration, helping us develop better solutions for our citizens and strengthen our position as an innovative city where people can thrive.
By working hand by hand with cities that share similar challenges, it becomes easier to collaborate and see common goals together.
What people need to know about the city
San Sebastian, Donostia in Basque language, is located in the North of Spain in the Basque Country, less than 25 km from France. The beauty of its Bay, known as the Pearl of the Cantabrian Sea, its quality of life and its famous cuisine have made it a top tourist destination over the last two centuries.
Throughout its history, the city has been an innovation-driven city, focusing on reinvention based on basic features and values – the city was destroyed and reborn in 1813. And it continues to be so, in keeping with the new times and facing the new economic, environmental and social sustainability challenges.
Donostia-San Sebastian’s economy is mainly focused on advanced services, gastronomy, tourism and the retail industry, as well as knowledge-based industries, like science, technology and innovation. Over the past few years, the city has leaned on innovation and knowledge, arts and culture. As an example, the city has been European Capital of Culture 2016. It is a city built on a human scale, it has sustainable public transport and a network of 65 km of cycling paths.
Cultural activity increased at the same pace as tourist activity, giving the city the exceptional programme of performances and cultural events that it enjoys today. The countless world-famous festivals that are held over the year, such as the International Film Festival, Jazzaldia the Jazz Festival the Musical Fortnight, are events visitors can’t miss.
It is a world-famous food destination, being located in one of the areas with the most Michelin stars per square meter in the world and it was the home of the rebirth of Basque cuisine.
The dense business and associative fabric has strong potential to develop a robust framework for innovation, science, and technology, strengthening the connection between the city and its wider ecosystem.
Today, the city hosts 7,171 people working in Research & Development (R&D) and is supported by 31 agents within the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network – comprising research centres, university research units, and R&D departments embedded in leading innovative companies, among others.
In addition, strong innovation-driven firms, advanced technological infrastructures, talent attraction facilities, and local education stakeholders (including four universities and 17 vocational training centres) have all contributed to the city’s consolidation as a vibrant hub for research and innovation, a position further reinforced by initiatives such as the Innovation Week.
Overall, innovation is in the city’s DNA, in our culture, our history and our future. The city’s model of innovation puts people at the centre, and it’s their talent that develops the city.
