Seville, December 27, 2005. – At a ceremony held today in the office of the rector of the University of Seville, the University’s rector, Miguel Florencia, and Abengoa’s chairman, Felipe Benjumea, signed a scientific and technological framework collaboration agreement between the two institutions.

With the signing of this agreement, both institutions undertake to tighten their relationships, combine efforts and establish far-reaching activity norms that channel and increment, within a pre-established framework, their existing contacts and collaboration agreements.

Through this agreement, the University of Seville and Abengoa will collaborate on scientific, technological research and development activities, the exchanging of experts, personnel training, and the utilization and marketing to third parties of the technology developed by the University’s institutes, departments or research groups, which will give rise to, if it were the case, specific agreements.

The collaboration modalities will be those on which a decision is taken regarding them being of mutual interest, such as the execution of research, development and innovation projects to be performed in the institutes and centers attached to the University of Seville, and/or in Abengoa’s facilities; Collaboration on research and technical personnel training programs; Organization and execution of joint activities related with the social promotion of technological research and development; or the exchange of personnel for a limited period, whenever necessary, due to the nature of the work.

Since its establishment, Abengoa has traditionally maintained a close relationship with the University of Seville, and this has given rise to very diverse collaboration agreements and projects being executed jointly. Of note is the fact that of the more than 2,430 superior graduates that work for the company a percentage of them has come from the University of Seville. One must also add the percentage scholarship holders that are participating in Abengoa’s scholarship program. Their number increases year-after-year and they are an important source of future professionals for the company.

Abengoa’s investment in R&D in 2005 exceeded 60 million euro, and more than 50% of this activity is dedicated to developing projects executed in collaboration with different University of Seville departments and research groups. Abengoa is eighth in the ranking of Spanish Companies that invested most in R&D last year according to the Scoreboard published this month by the European Commission.

Abengoa, a listed industrial and technology company, with treasury stock in excess of 1,200 million euro, provides solutions for Sustainable Development, the Information and Knowledge Society, and the Creation of Infrastructures. It currently operates in four large fields of activity: Bioenergy, where it is the world’s second largest bioethanol producer; Environmental Services, where it is European leader in segments of the industrial wastes market; Information Technologies, where it is one of the main role players at international level, with operations in Europe, the Americas, and Asia; and Industrial Engineering and Construction, where it is leader in Spain and Latin America. (www.abengoa.com).