I'm a physics student that nowadays is working in the candidacy of Bilbao for the ESS. What is the ESS? It is a project in Europe for develop an spallation neutron source in that territory. Such an installation will be created by a consortium formed by scientific from all around the world. There are 3 cities with a candidacy to build this installation: Bilbao (Spain), Lund (Scandinavia), and Hungary (that country, finally decided to stand for the ESS besides Spain, supporting them).
Due to the differentiating characteristics of its design and construction and to its use and applications, ESS is considered to be a unique installation of its type. The ESS provides services for the international scientific and technological community and is considered to be an essential tool for the development of competitive, quality scientific and technological research in Europe. The intention is to maximize the use of the installation with a staff of around 600 people, and 4.000 in a temporary way, rotating every year. You can see more information in the official website www.essbilbao.com. Also, you can find information in the Scandinavian web http://ess-scandinavia.eu/.
This is a very important project, because of the amount of scientific institutions involved. In fact, in March 2009 there was a workshop meeting in this city (Bilbao) in order to establish the priorities and more efficient technology to do that neutron source one of the best in the world. Scientist of the whole world, came to Bilbao a discussed about the technical parameters, neutron physics and so on. It is possible to see the programme and other stuff in www.workshop2009.essbilbao.com.
I invite you to visit the official website of Bilbao and the non official blog esns.blogspot.com for know the city and the Spanish project.