The Director of Igape, Covadonga Toca, recently took part in the inauguration of the Startup Day Incubation of the Business Factory Sport (BFSport), where she highlighted the role of this accelerator as a strategic tool to boost innovative entrepreneurship in the fields of sport and wellbeing.
During the event, held at the Real Club Náutico de Vigo, Toca Carús stressed that Galicia is experiencing “a particularly favorable moment for innovation,” with a “diverse, balanced, and growing” ecosystem in which innovation extends across the entire territory and multiple sectors.
In this regard, she recalled that Galicia’s R&D investment is now around 1.3% of GDP and that the region has consolidated its position as the sixth most dynamic ecosystem in Spain, with more than 400 technology companies, nearly 3,000 jobs created, and revenues exceeding €290 million.
The Director of Igape underlined that these results are the outcome of a clear strategy by the Xunta de Galicia based on “public-private collaboration, sector specialization, and continuous support for entrepreneurs and companies,” a vision from which the Business Factory Sport itself was born.
In this context, Toca Carús emphasized sport and wellbeing as a strategic sector with the capacity to generate innovation, industry, and high-quality employment. “They represent health, technology, industry, and the economy, but also a real opportunity to create innovative companies with growth and internationalization ambitions,” she stated.
The Galician model
The Business Factory Sport is part of the Galician Business Factory model, a network of sector-based accelerators that has positioned Galicia as a benchmark in applied innovation and public-private collaboration. This model includes well-established initiatives in areas such as automotive (BFAuto), aerospace (BFAero), agri-food (BFFood), sustainability (BF ClimaTech), and cross-sector entrepreneurship (VíaGalicia).
Toca Carús also highlighted the financial and operational support offered by the program to participating projects. Through Igape, the Xunta co-finances 80% of the accelerator’s operating costs, allowing teams to focus on product development, business model validation, and market entry. This support is complemented by XesGalicia, which strengthens financial backing in later stages of growth and consolidation.
Referring to the projects presented during the event, she noted that they are “a very good example of this approach and of this ecosystem,” featuring market-oriented initiatives with a strong innovative component and the ambition to grow from Galicia.
The head of Igape concluded by emphasizing that the Business Factory Sport is “a long-term commitment to Galicia: to our talent, to innovation, and to the future of sport and wellbeing in our region.
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