More than 500 professional conferences and conventions every year

Bilbao is ready to host any kind of convention or professional meeting and to meet all their needs. Historically, the city has played host to many conventions and it has held business conferences in all economic and financial fields.

The Bilbao Exhibition Centre is a result of this tradition, each year bringing important trade fairs and shows, such as the Tools and Machinery Biennial, Ferroforma, Anticuarios, and Expovacaciones. The Euskalduna Concert Hall and Convention Centre is also a key infrastructure for holding meetings and conventions, in a city with more than 100 conference halls, occupying 10,000 m² of space.

Bilbao is the site of a Stock Exchange with an ancient, deep-rooted tradition. It is also the base for an EU-appointed European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Because of the city's financial tradition, Bilbao has always taken good care of the service industries. In addition, located only a few kilometres away, you will find the European Software Institute, and the Zamudio Technology Park.

Bilbao has two universities:the Universidad del País Vasco, a public university that, in spite of being relatively new, is a renowned academic and research centre;and Universidad de Deusto, an institution that has educated many of the Spanish leaders, politicians, and business men of the past century.