The CIC nanoGUNE is a research center established in 2009 with the mission of addressing basic and applied world-class research in nanoscience and nanotechnology, fostering high-standard training and education of researchers in this field, and promoting the cooperation among the different agents in the Basque Science, Technology, and Innovation Network (Universities and Technological Centers) and between these agents and the industrial sector. NanoGUNE develops the Cooperative Research Center (CIC) concept which has been successfully implemented in various cases in the Basque Country. CIC accounts for “Centro de Investigación Cooperativa”, which means Cooperative Research Center in Spanish. CICs are promoted by the Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism of the Basque Government and are designed with the aim of creating an effective framework of collaboration that strengthens interdisciplinary basic and applied world-class research in order to provide technology transfer and promote competitiveness of the Basque Industry in strategic areas.