San Sebastian (Spanish: Donostia) is the administrative capital of Basque Country, Gipuzkoa. The costal city is located at the Bay of Biscay, neighboring the French border. The city, with Basque and Spanish as the official languages, has a population of around 190,000 and covers an area of 60.8 km2.
San Sebastian is a city with dynamic economic activities (with an estimated GDP of 7,701M €), it has a high average personal income (26,395€, one of the highest in Spain. Its economy is mainly focused on services (88.6% of total establishments), highlighting advanced, knowledge-intensive services and the retail and hospitality sector (21.4% of total establishments).
San Sebastian also stands as a city of Science, Technology and Innovation. The city has undergone notable development over the last few decades in these areas, as a result of a successful local and regional strategy, with a yearly investment of around 3.6% in R+D+I, as percentage of total GDP. Its science and innovation ecosystem comprises a large number of research and technological infrastructures (34 large entities, research and cutting-edge technology centers) such as the Technology and Science Park, Business parks, together with four universities, three Basic and Excellence Research Centres, four Cooperative Research Centres, four Health Research Centres, the largest private R+D+I group in Spain, an ICT Business pole. Recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation as a “Science and Innovation City” since 2011, the city hosts around 6,000 people working in R+D and more than one hundred companies are specifically dedicated to R&D in biotechnology and environmental, technical or social sciences.
The city was recognized as the European Capital of Culture 2016. Started in 1953 and as one of the world’s oldest and most influential film festivals, San Sebastian International Film Festival is an annual A category film festival recognized by the International Association of Film Producers. It is held every September, and the highest award is the “Golden Shell Award”. San Sebastian Jazz Festival, held each last week of July, is the oldest continuously-held jazz festival in Europe. The main tourist attractions include Playa de la Concha (known as “the most beautiful beach in Europe”), Palacio de Miramar (former royal Summer residence), and the steel sculpture “Peine del Viento” (The Comb of the Wind). The city is also the home to Real Sociedad, La Liga.
The cities of Kunshan and San Sebastian established relationship of friendly exchanges in 2018.
Pictures from Donostia San Sebastian Turismoa
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