This report provides an overview of the positioning of España in the main European funding program of the I+D+iallowing analysis of the volume of economic return achieved, as well as the capacity of the Spanish science, technology and innovation system to participate in and lead projects at European scale.
In general terms, one stands out consolidation and strengthening of the role of España in the innovation funding ecosystem in EuropaThis has translated into an increase in quantitative terms – funding raised and number of shares – as well as qualitative terms – coordination of collaborative projects and positioning in strategic areas.
During the period 2021–2024, Spanish participation reached particularly significant figures. Spanish entities obtained 4.507,6 million euros in subsidies for the development of 4.813 research and innovation activities, which will mobilize investments exceeding €5.300 billion nationwide. In this regard, España stands as the third country in terms of subsidy volume received, with the highest rate of return, 11,4% of the total, second only to Alemania y Francia, confirming an upward trend compared to previous programs and surpassing the relative weight of España in the budget of the Unión Europea.
| Indicator (2021-2024) | Figure / Value |
|---|---|
| Grants received | 4.507,6 € million |
| R&D&I activities | 4.813 |
| Investment mobilized (National) | > €5.300 billion |
| Rate of return | 11,4 % |
| Ranking by grant | 3 No position |
In terms of participation, Spanish entities have accumulated 11.227 participations in funded proposals, which positions them España as the second country in this indicator. It particularly stands out in leadership in collaborative projects, where it occupies first place, representing 15,8% of the coordinations, which demonstrates the capacity of Spanish entities to structure and lead international consortia.
Regarding the entities that obtain the most funding, the following stand out: Private companies are leading the fundraising efforts and accounting for 31,5% of the total.followed by universities (22,5%) and research associations (12,6%). This demonstrates a strong role for the Spanish business sector and a relatively balanced distribution of funds, where technological, academic, and business actors coexist.
| Entity type | % Financing obtained |
|---|---|
| Private businesses | 31,5 % |
| Universities | 22,5 % |
| Research Associations | 12,6 % |
From a territorial perspective, fundraising continues to be concentrated in Comunidades Autónomas with a consolidated innovation and research system, standing out in first position Cataluñawhich obtains 31,6% of the funds, translating to 1.424,9 million euros, followed by the Comunidad de Madrid (21,6% and 971,5 million euros) and País Vasco in third position (12,2% and €551,9 million). However, the report shows positive signs of convergence with communities such as Extremadura, Canarias, Castilla y León o Región de Murcia significantly improving their results compared to Horizonte 2020.
| Autonomous community | % Funds | Millions of Euros |
|---|---|---|
| Cataluña | 31,6 % | 1.424,9 |
| Comunidad de Madrid | 21,6 % | 971,5 |
| País Vasco | 12,2 % | 551,9 |
In relation to the different Pillars that make up Horizonte Europa, most of the funding is concentrated in the Pilar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, representing 68,6% of the funds raised by Spanish entities and indicating a clear orientation of Spanish participation towards collaborative projects and reinforcing the alignment with strategic priorities of the Unión Europea in areas such as energy, climate, mobility, industry or bioeconomy.
Lastly, España attains leadership positions in several key areas such as Industria del Clúster 4, Ecosistemas Europeos de Innovación, Acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie and in the Clúster 6, Alimentación, Bioeconomía, Recursos Naturales, Agricultura y Medio AmbienteFurthermore, it ranks second in areas such as Clima, Energía o Movilidad, confirming a strong position and competitive leadership in strategic sectors for the Unión Europea such as the energy and digital transition.
Taken together, these results show a solid positioning, a strong presence, and a clear progression in market share España within the innovation funding ecosystem in the Unión Europeanot only increasing its economic return and participation volume, but also reinforcing its leadership capacity in collaborative projects and positioning itself as a key strategic partner in international consortia. This translates into the maturity of the Spanish innovation ecosystem, in which private entities, universities, and research centers participate in a relatively balanced way, increasing specialization in strategic areas for the Unión EuropeaFurthermore, the fact that the return exceeds the national contribution to the budget of the UE confirms the value of Horizonte Europa as an indispensable instrument for investment in I+D+i en España.
However, the interim report also highlights a number of challenges that will shape the evolution of Spanish participation in the coming years, including the improvement in the success rate of submitted proposals, the strengthening in the Pilar I (Ciencias Excelente) and Pilar III (Europa Innovadora) where there is room for improvement. Similarly, it is necessary to reduce the territorial concentration of aid and improve its geographical distribution.
Luis Jiménez Mata,
Project Manager EU Projects at Euro-Funding
Key points and frequently asked questions about this analysis
What is Spain's position in attracting Horizon Europe funding?
Spain ranks as the third country with the highest volume of subsidies received, achieving a return of 11,4%, positioning itself only behind Germany and France.
What types of Spanish entities are leading the way in obtaining financing?
Private companies are the main players, attracting 31,5% of the total funds, followed by universities with 22,5% and research associations with 12,6%.
In what areas does Spain stand out as a leader in European projects?
Spain ranks first in coordination of collaborative projects and leads in strategic areas such as Industry, Innovation Ecosystems, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Bioeconomy.
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