Spain's Regions Lead the Way in Innovation with Focus on Startups, Defense, and Sustainability

Spain is witnessing a dynamic drive in business innovation ecosystems across its regions, highlighted by key developments in Murcia, Galicia, and Cartagena.

In Murcia, a recent debate hosted by the Círculo de Economía alongside CaixaBank brought together over 50 business leaders to explore the region's vibrant startup ecosystem, especially in health and education sectors. Maria José Bernal from Info noted Murcia ranks seventh in Spain for startup revenue, generating €300 million and over 3,000 jobs. However, speakers including Bruno Dureux of Innoventures Capital emphasized the need to cultivate a culture of private investment alongside public funding. Discussions also underscored challenges in talent retention and the importance of professional management, with José Trigueros from Odin Solutions emphasizing talent as critical to project success. Attendees advocated for better investor education and strategic global partnerships (ID 92298).

Meanwhile, Galicia is asserting itself as an innovation leader with a strong commitment to sustainability. Covadonga Toca, director of Igape, highlighted the Galician maker movement during the inauguration of the Maker Faire Galicia in A Coruña, Southern Europe's largest maker fair with over 100,000 attendees and 600 projects from 15 countries. Galicia’s ecosystem blends universities, startups, technology centers, and traditional businesses collaborating to foster global connections. Initiatives focus on artificial intelligence, energy sustainability, and advanced agriculture technologies, supported by Igape’s programs promoting SME modernization and startup acceleration in health and renewable energy sectors (ID 92290).

In Cartagena, the defense industry is experiencing significant innovation growth through the Defense Business Accelerator program, which recently welcomed 12 new companies, raising total participants to 22. This initiative, supported by the Instituto de Fomento and CEEIC, aims to secure the region’s role as a national hub for defense technology by advancing industrial autonomy and facilitating market access in Spain and Europe. Cartagena’s mayor, Noelia Arroyo, highlighted the city’s pioneering role as the first in Spain to host such a defense accelerator, integrating technology, talent, and industry to bolster strategic economic development (ID 92304).

Collectively, these regional efforts demonstrate Spain’s multifaceted approach to fostering innovation ecosystems—balancing startup growth, sustainable practices, and strategic industrial sectors to drive economic vitality and global competitiveness.