CDTI Innovación allocates up to €70 million to R&D projects in strategic technologies in the 2026 call for Cervera grants for Technology Centres

CDTI Innovación, the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, has launched the 2026 Cervera call for Technology Centres, an initiative aimed at strengthening the applied research and knowledge transfer capabilities of Spanish technology centres in strategic technologies. The programme is endowed with up to €70 million in competitive grants. The application period runs from 11 June to 10 July 2026.

For the 2026 call, CDTI Innovación has identified seven priority technology areas organised into two groups. The main novelty is the definition and selection of priority technologies linked to security and defence, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, with the aim of advancing strategic autonomy and strengthening applied research capabilities in sectors of high relevance for national security and industrial competitiveness:

Priority Cervera areas linked to security and defence:

Advanced digital twins for strengthening defence capabilities
Quantum sensors applied to defence
Enabling technologies for hypersonic flight vehicles
Technologies for kinetic electromagnetic systems
Metamaterials and advanced nanomaterials for defence and security applications

Civil priority Cervera areas:
6. Circular economy
7. Smart transport

In its four previous editions (2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025), the CDTI Innovation Cervera Centres programme has funded 45 projects with the participation of 62 technology centres, with total grants amounting to €182.4 million, representing 98.6% of the available budget. The approved projects comprise 213 operations (participants), with an average grant of €4.05 million per project and €0.86 million per participant. Cervera grants have been distributed across 15 of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities, with the Basque Country (24.6% of CDTI funding), the Valencian Community (16.5%) and Galicia (13.3%) standing out, together accounting for 54% of total funding awarded.

Profile of the grantsBeneficiaries

Groupings of Technology Centres and/or Technology Innovation Support Centres (CAITs) at national level registered in the Technology Centres Registry
Groupings must consist of a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 7 centres
The coordinating entity must be a Technology Centre
Each centre may apply in up to 3 proposals, although only one may relate to civil technology areas. In total, each centre may act as coordinator in a maximum of two proposals
Members must sign an internal agreement regulating the operation of the grouping

Type of call

Competitive call with submission deadlines

Application period

11 June to 10 July 2026

Type of aid

Grants covering up to 100% of the budget of the strategic programme submitted by the grouping. Receiving the grant also entails accreditation as a “Cervera Centre of Excellence”

Budget of the call

Up to €70 million, distributed between security and defence priority technologies and civil technologies

Project characteristics

Minimum eligible budget per project: €2,000,000
Maximum eligible budget per project: €5,000,000
Minimum participation per entity: 10% of eligible budget
Maximum participation per entity: 35% of eligible budget (the coordinator may reach up to 50%)
Duration: multiannual, 3 or 4 years, starting on 1 January 2027
Strategic programmes may include one or more priority technologies within the same technological area

Evaluation criteria

Strategic R&D objectives and feasibility of the strategic programme (40%)
Training activities and recruitment of human resources (20%)
Internationalisation (20%)
Exploitation and dissemination of results (20%)

Submission of applications

Through the CDTI electronic headquarters: https://sede.cdti.gob.es/AreaPublica/home.aspx
Inquiries: Cervera_CCTT@cdti.es

More information available at:
https://www.cdti.es/ayudas/ayudas-cervera-para-centros-tecnologicos-2026

CDTI InnovaciónThe Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI E.P.E.) is the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Its objective is to promote technological innovation in the business sector. CDTI’s mission is to ensure that Spain’s business ecosystem generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth. In 2025, under its Strategic Plan 2024–2027, CDTI provided €2.423 billion in support to Spanish companies and startups.

More information

web: www.cdti.es
En Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/29815
En X: https://x.com/CDTI_innovacion
En Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CDTIoficial