Grupo SPRI will launch a new BDIH Konexio call on August 26, offering €950,000 to finance projects that reliably accelerate innovation processes in the Basque industry. Companies will once again have access to expert guidance from BDIH or selected European DIHs, providing the knowledge, infrastructure, and technologies to experiment with and test their digital and sustainable projects.The application period begins on August 26 and closes on October 15.
Since the first edition in 2020, the BDIH Konexio funding program has attracted an increasing number of companies each year. In this call, the budget reaches €950,000, aiming to accommodate all applications. The commitment to innovation in the Basque industry is clear, and Grupo SPRI supports companies on their journey toward Smart Industry.
To boost this process, Basque industrial companies can receive up to €20,000 to fund their projects with the support of sector-specific expert resources. The program’s goal is clear: to increase the competitiveness of Basque companies through technology, improving their products and production processes.
Many companies report that BDIH Konexio funding has allowed them to evolve their products and strengthen their position in the competitive global market. These companies come from diverse sectors: health, medical research, automotive, industrial design, tool manufacturing, fluid engineering, parts production… including long-established innovators and startups with just a few years of experience.
HRE Hidraulic is an example of a company with a long-standing commitment to innovation. Specialized in engineering projects in the field of industrial fluids, HRE serves multiple sectors and, thanks to BDIH Konexio funding, has developed a project applying cryogenic cooling to machining tools, extending their lifespan.
Waixo, a six-year-old company in the fabric printing sector, currently offers 50 customizable fabrics for printing. With BDIH Konexio support, they have launched a project to add a third dimension to fabrics using 3D printing. They are convinced that R&D is key to their business strategy.
These are just two examples, but they demonstrate the Basque industry’s strong commitment to innovation and collaboration as primary ways to maintain competitiveness in high-tech sectors.
The 2024 call supported 124 projects from Basque companies with more than €1 million in funding. Since the program’s launch in 2020, BDIH Konexio has become a key tool to promote innovation in companies, and this year it again offers a significant budget: €950,000.
In recent calls, projects focused on advanced materials have consistently attracted high participation, establishing themselves as one of the areas of greatest interest. There has also been a notable increase in initiatives related to smart and connected machines, reflecting the Basque industry’s commitment to digitalization and process improvement.
This year’s call introduces support for projects applying artificial intelligence solutions in industrial and related service environments. This opens the door to exploring new ways to optimize processes, automate decisions, and leverage data to transform production models.
Projects can focus on improving operational efficiency, personalizing products or services, or enhancing predictive capabilities. The funding allows validation of AI applications through a proof of concept, reducing the technical and economic risks associated with initial implementation.
The first step is identifying your company’s technological needs that BDIH can address.
BDIH has eight nodes to drive the transformation of Basque companies through technology and capabilities:
Once you’ve identified the area where technology can enable a major leap, BDIH resources allow you to test the technology before investing. You can understand its full potential to improve your processes and products.
The experiences of over 400 companies that have accessed funding through BDIH Konexio have been diverse, but nearly all share one thing in common: they received financing that jumpstarted their projects and comprehensive support from BDIH, which was crucial to achieving results. Personalized advice, access to infrastructure for testing, and validation of technologies are key elements that help companies take confident steps toward meeting the challenges of Smart Industry.
If you are an industrial company in the Basque Country, and you want to explore, test, or develop digital and sustainable technologies to make an innovative leap, take advantage of BDIH Konexio funding and apply before October 15.
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