The Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability is promoting entrepreneurship this year with €4.5 million through the Ekintzaile and Hazten+ grant programs, managed by Grupo SPRI. These initiatives aim to support the creation, consolidation, and growth of new innovative and technology-based business projects in the Basque Country.
Both programs are part of the Industry Plan Euskadi 2030 strategy and are designed to strengthen a competitive, innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem aligned with priority strategic sectors, with particular focus on industrial projects and related services linked to product-process development.
Ekintzaile is open from March 17 to December 11, and Hazten+ opens on March 24.
Ekintzaile: support for launching new business projects
Through the Ekintzaile program, endowed with €3.5 million, the Basque Government offers financial support of up to €30,000 in non-repayable grants for business projects promoted by individuals or newly created companies that are in the idea development and launch phases. These projects must be supported by a Business Innovation Center (BIC) and benefit from expert guidance for idea development and implementation.
In cases of intrapreneurship—projects arising within Basque companies, driven by internal teams and aimed at creating new business ventures that diversify the company’s current activity—the same amount (up to €30,000 in non-repayable funding) is available. The subsidy intensity can reach up to 70% of eligible costs and may increase to 100% if the new company is established within the project execution period.
Ekintzaile also provides comprehensive support to assess project viability and help beneficiaries develop their business plans.
Hazten+: driving growth and consolidation of high-potential projects
Meanwhile, the Hazten+ program, with a budget of €1 million, aims to support small companies and startups with strong growth prospects, high-impact projects, or a high level of technological disruption. It serves both as a natural continuation of the Ekintzaile program and as support for young companies with proven progress. These are non-repayable grants covering up to 70% of eligible costs, with a maximum of €100,000 per project.
Hazten+ 2026, which succeeds the Ekintzaile+ program, is a funding line that covers key expenses necessary to implement or develop the business plan, such as hiring talent, external technical advisory services, rent, industrial property, and project promotion.
It is aimed at innovative or technology-based Basque companies engaged in industrial or related service activities, of small size, established after January 1, 2023 (or after January 1, 2021, in the case of biotech companies), and with a forecast of creating at least three jobs within the next three years
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