The amendment, passed by the Plenary, deems it “essential” to guarantee the continuity of scientific dissemination “without interruptions, avoiding any gap between the current model and future alternatives.” The Assemblies highlight the value of Eureka! as a “reference facility for positioning Donostia as a city of science and knowledge,” for which “education, dissemination, and the promotion of scientific vocations must be a central part of its performance.”
The amendment originated from a proposal by the Popular Party, which recognized the “historical and strategic value” of the museum as a “benchmark in scientific dissemination in Gipuzkoa for over two decades.” It advocated for the need to “explore alternatives that allow its continuity under conditions comparable to its current size and functionality.”
“"They decide to close a museum that works, which has received more than two and a half million visitors in these 25 years, over 100,000 schoolchildren annually, and is unique in Euskadi."
A popular assembly member noted that “social, scientific, educational, and institutional pressure” has forced Kutxa Fundazioa to reverse its closure plan for the Eureka! Science Museum twice. The member criticized the attempt to replace the current 8,000 square meters with a 500-square-meter space in Tabakalera, questioning the social value of Kutxa Fundazioa for “prioritizing resources over the maintenance of necessary social infrastructures.” Other assembly groups, however, criticized this stance, defending the foundation as an “independent institution with a board of trustees representing the social plurality of Gipuzkoa.”
An assembly member referred to Eureka! as a “strategic benchmark in scientific dissemination” in Donostia and Gipuzkoa, stating that the region is “in the Champions League of science” in areas such as bioscience, nanotechnology, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and health research. Another assembly member highlighted that Donostia invests over 365 million euros in R&D, representing 3.7% of the local GDP, and has more than 7,000 professionals linked to research activities.
An EH Bildu assembly member emphasized the need to “act responsibly” to foster a “serious and profound” debate. In this context, the member mentioned a study commissioned by Kutxa Fundazioa to address “what kind of museum we want, what we need to offer, for whom.” The member called for institutional involvement, stating that the Basque Government, the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council, and the Donostia City Council “must take the lead so that Donostia truly becomes a city of science.”
Another assembly member from Elkarrekin Gipuzkoa criticized the continuation of the debate after Kutxa Fundazioa announced the museum's continuity until the Atenea project in Tabakalera is launched. The member stressed that “in the era of flat-earthism, scientific dissemination is more important than ever” and expressed confidence that the future Atenea will “complement and improve scientific dissemination and knowledge” and position Donostia “as a scientific reference.”
