The startups Manfacter, Banbu Cosmética Natural and Panssari have won the top three awards of SODERCAN’s Programme for the Creation and Scaling of Innovative Technology-Based Companies (EIBTs), endowed with €30,000, €25,000 and €20,000 respectively, aimed at strengthening the consolidation and scaling of their technology projects.
Additional runner-up prizes of €10,000 each were awarded to Valientes, Envisad, Idresa Services, Phytobatea, Deduce Data Solutions, BoloTrack Technology and Takumi Parts.
The ceremony, held at the Gran Casino Sardinero, was attended by the Regional Minister of Industry, Employment, Innovation and Trade, Eduardo Arasti, who closed the event by highlighting “the talent, forward-looking vision and technological capability” of Cantabrian entrepreneurs.
“This programme demonstrates that Cantabria has a solid base of innovative talent and an increasingly prepared entrepreneurial ecosystem capable of competing in national and international markets,” he stated, noting that this edition received 44 applications, of which only 10 reached the final.
Arasti also announced the publication of the new call for the programme in the Official Gazette of Cantabria and invited anyone with technological ideas or projects to participate.
The EIBTs Programme is a SODERCAN initiative designed to boost startups with high growth potential and the capacity to generate added value in the region. It forms part of the Government of Cantabria’s strategy to promote innovation, digitalisation and technological entrepreneurship.
Structured into three phases—training, individual mentoring and awards for the most promising projects—the programme is integrated into the First Digital Agenda of Cantabria 2024–2028, which includes 88 projects and €400 million of investment, and into the Support Plan for Self-Employment, which reinforces assistance for those who choose to start a business.
The initiative is also part of the TECH FABLAB project, within the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan financed by the EU’s Next Generation funds. Cantabria participates in this transregional project through SODERCAN, alongside Aragón, Navarra, the Valencia Region, Catalonia and La Rioja.
During his remarks, Arasti emphasised that Cantabria has doubled its investment in R&D&I in just two years—from €38 million in 2023 to €79 million in 2025—has climbed ten positions in the European innovation ranking, and that R&D expenditure according to the National Statistics Institute grew by 7.4% in 2024, above the national average.
“Our goal is to make Cantabria a region capable of generating and retaining high value-added projects,” he affirmed.
The minister also stressed that “Cantabria is ready to compete in the digital economy” thanks to infrastructures such as the Cantabria Cybersecurity Centre, the development of the upcoming Altamira Data Centre Technology Campus, and growing collaboration among universities, companies and the administration.
The awards ceremony was opened by SODERCAN’s CEO, Ángel Pedraja. After the presentation of the ten finalist companies and their projects, a keynote speech was delivered by Antonio López, CEO of SILO, titled “New Opportunities for Regions Around Deeptech Investment in Spain”, which addressed the key elements of a new regional development model based on technological innovation and investment in knowledge.
The jury was composed of representatives from SODERCAN and the Regional Ministry of Industry, as well as the University of Cantabria, CEOE and the Chambers of Commerce of Cantabria and Torrelavega.
1st prize – Manfacter: Software that automates industrial processes and accelerates the transition to Industry 4.0.
2nd prize – Banbu: Sustainable cosmetics free of plastics and with minimal water consumption.
3rd prize – Panssari: Smart technology for access control and security.
Runner-up awards:
cloud technology axon
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