The BBVA Foundation reflects the group's goal of corporate social responsibility. In particular, it highlights its commitment to improving society in the areas where it conducts its business. This sensitivity and commitment are associated with a long history of adding to the world's stock of knowledge.

In particular, the foundation specialises in promoting scientific research in the area of social science, biomedicine and the environment. Priority is given to large-scale challenges and the opportunities at the beginning of the new century.

In developing these functions it is guided by principles of independence, pluralism, objectivity, transparency and by a commitment to excellence and innovation.

Areas of action

The generation of knowledge and its dissmination to public and private decision-makers plays an essential part in resolving problems and in realising the potential of current society.

The foundation wishes to explore the dynamics of social and economic change, of science and technology and of values, in a context characterised by the following:

• Globalisation.
• The break-down or erosion of traditional models.
• Complexity and uncertainty in traditional and emerging areas.
• Ever faster changes in science, technology and knowledge.             

The main lines of action try to combine concern for questions of local or domestic interest with attention to large-scale multi-lateral questions, European enlargement and global society in the 21st century.

• Knowledge society and innovation
• Globalisation 
• European construction and policies
• The Latin-American Observatory
• Formation of capital, growth and competition
• Studies of population, families and social integration
• Ideas, values and education
• Biomedicine and the health system
• The environment, urban spaces and quality of life  

Criteria for action

The activity of the foundation is divided into programmes or clusters of knowledge that contain projects of medium to large size. It participates actively in managing the life cycle of all projects.

The foundation's support for research has two aspects: its own initiatives (which lead to internal projects) and public tender for specific questions.

Own initiatives 
Helped by the guidance committee and expert working groups, the foundation selects the questions worthy of attention and an appropriate research team.

In some cases it sets up long-duration co-operation agreements with excellence-related institutions dedicated to research. The goal is to ensure the continuity and formal coherence of projects concerned with recurring questions or with projects of special complexity.

Public tender 
The public tender procedure introduces an element of competition for most of the foundation's budget. Evaluation is carried out by referees. The basic criteria followed in selecting projects are quality and innovation. Researchers are evaluated according to the written assessments of domestic and foreign experts.

The foundation’s culture

The basic aspects of the foundation's culture are scientific objectivity, independence, innovation, commitment to excellence and a focus on lateral and global questions at the beginning of the new century.

• Information
  
  E-mail: informacion@fbbva.es
  
• Registered office:
  
  Plaza de San Nicolás, 4
  48005 Bilbao
  
• Main Offices:
  
  Paseo de Recoletos, 10             Gran Vía, 12
  28001 Madrid                           48001 Bilbao
  Tel.: 91 374 54 00                    Tel.: 94 487 52 52
  Fax: 91 374 85 22                    Fax: 94 424 46 21