CDTI Innovación and INCYDE Forge a Strategic Alliance to Promote Innovation Projects and Technology Entrepreneurship

The Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI Innovación) and the INCYDE Foundation of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce have signed a cooperation agreement to develop training and mentoring initiatives focused on technology entrepreneurship, business innovation, and the creation of new knowledge-based ventures. The agreement, published in Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE) on 16 May, represents a strategic commitment to fostering an innovation culture from the earliest stages of the technological and entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is aligned with the current strategic cycle of CDTI, which aims to broaden the scope of innovative companies, strengthen the ecosystem, and enhance public-private cooperation.

The agreement, which has an initial duration of four years and a budget allocation of €6 million from INCYDE and €4 million from CDTI Innovación, aims to strengthen the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem through initiatives targeted at entrepreneurs, startups, and high-growth SMEs. To this end, both organisations will combine their network capabilities and territorial reach to deliver joint training and support activities for the national ecosystem, with the ultimate goal of fostering new business projects based on R&D and innovation.

The alliance between CDTI Innovación and INCYDE combines the territorial reach of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce network—present throughout the country—with that of the PIDI Network (Network of Information Points on public R&D&I support), coordinated and managed by CDTI and of which INCYDE is a member. In addition, INCYDE contributes to this collaboration one of the largest business incubation infrastructure networks in Europe, developed with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This network comprises more than 200 entrepreneurship support spaces, including high-tech incubators in strategic sectors, business incubators, and digital coworking spaces. This convergence of networks creates a multiplier effect in the reach of the programme, enabling engagement with entrepreneurs both in urban areas and in rural regions or territories with lower levels of innovation activity.

The agreement also contributes to CDTI Innovación’s social impact commitments, particularly in relation to the creation of quality employment linked to innovation, the promotion of equal opportunities in access to technology entrepreneurship, and support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda—especially SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals).

As part of the agreement, an impact evaluation study will be carried out to measure the degree of creation or consolidation of technology-based companies linked to the training activities, effective participation in international technological cooperation programmes, outcomes in international technology transfer, and the practical application of acquired knowledge in innovative projects.

Priority objectives

The planned actions are aligned with seven priority objectives: promoting self-employment with economic sustainability criteria; developing professional and social skills that enhance employability and entrepreneurial success; building networking and collaboration between businesses; increasing the survival rate of new ventures through specialised advisory services; promoting business success by identifying growth opportunities; specifically supporting the creation and consolidation of technology-based companies; and facilitating Spanish participation in international technological cooperation programmes and the international transfer of business technology.

The agreement aims to foster innovative business projects with real viability, growth potential, and adaptability to new technological and economic challenges, while also promoting business autonomy, digitalisation, and internationalisation.

CDTI–INCYDE programme framework

The agreement includes two differentiated and complementary types of actions. On the one hand, a programme of training initiatives for self-employment and business consolidation, co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus under the State Programme for Employment, Education, Training and Social Economy (EFESO), which will address key areas of business management. These include identifying market opportunities based on technological innovation, access to public R&D&I support instruments, knowledge transfer, and international technological cooperation.

On the other hand, the agreement also includes complementary value-added activities designed to strengthen the technological and innovation component of participating projects. Entrepreneurs and companies will have access to monitoring and personalised mentoring systems, participation in forums, round tables and working groups on topics that encourage innovation, business development and internationalisation, as well as events organised by INCYDE aimed at fostering business networking, access to potential clients, and the strengthening of commercial relationships.

About CDTI

The Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI E.P.E.) is the innovation agency of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, whose objective is to promote technological innovation within the business sector. CDTI’s mission is to ensure that Spain’s business fabric generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth.

In 2025, under the 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, CDTI provided €2.423 billion in support to Spanish companies and startups.

About INCYDE

The INCYDE Foundation (Cameral Institute for the Creation and Development of Business) was established in 1999 at the initiative of the Spanish Chambers of Commerce to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and business consolidation across the country.

Since 2000, the Foundation has invested nearly €500 million—with the support of the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)—in programmes supporting entrepreneurship, training and SME digitalisation. Thanks to the ESF, more than 200,000 people have benefited from training programmes that have contributed to the creation and consolidation of 80,000 companies and more than 150,000 jobs.

With ERDF support, INCYDE has developed one of the largest business incubation infrastructure networks in Europe, comprising more than 200 entrepreneurship support spaces, including high-tech incubators in strategic sectors, business incubators and digital coworking spaces, which have supported and digitalised more than 45,000 entrepreneurs and SMEs across Spain.

In addition, the INCYDE Foundation has an international presence in more than 40 countries, where it develops programmes in training, entrepreneurship, digital transformation and sustainability aimed at fostering business growth