At a recent event entitled “Where ideas are born: real stories from the business incubation ecosystem”, held at INCYDE headquarters, the tangible and real impact of this pioneering model. The network, which has 212 active spaces—including 26 High-Tech Incubators, 143 business incubators, and 43 digital coworking spaces—has become the largest infrastructure supporting high-tech entrepreneurship in Europe. With an investment of 215 million euros from the ERDF, its main objective is to transform innovative ideas into sustainable companies, connecting talent with technology and strengthening the cohesion and competitiveness of the Spanish business community.
Joseph Louis Bonet, president of the INCYDE Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce of Spain, highlighted the network as a structural tool for economic developmentBonet recalled how, more than a decade ago, the European Commission entrusted INCYDE with the deployment of this national network of innovation infrastructures.Today we can proudly say that this vision is a consolidated reality.", he said. The numbers speak for themselves: More than 45.000 companies and entrepreneurs benefited and a survival rate greater than 80% among startups incubated in high-tech centers. Bonet emphasized that “Incubators are communities, spaces where innovation materializes, where ideas are accelerated, where jobs are created, and the business community is strengthened.As proof of European recognition, he highlighted the Almería water incubator, Cajamar Innova, distinguished as the best European-funded project in Spain.
Success Stories That Transform the Country
During the event, five startups shared their experiences, demonstrating how the incubator network has enabled them to turn their projects into high-impact business realities.
From Malaga, the IAT Metaverse has been a pioneer in the development of immersive technologies. This center, the first in Europe dedicated exclusively to the metaverse and extended reality, has fostered 31 startups in its first year. A prominent example is AGforest, which uses satellite data and artificial intelligence to regenerate urban ecosystems. Guillermo De Santiago, CEO of AGforest, noted: “What we do, in short, is provide cities with real tools to adapt to climate change. Without the incubator's support, we couldn't have developed and tested this technology effectively.".
In Murcia, the ecosystem UCAM HiTech It has been a vital bridge between academia, research, and the business sector, promoting more than 250 startups. INTECC, one of the supported companies, has developed an innovative application to diagnose musculoskeletal pathologies. Julian Aguilera, CEO of INTECC, explained: “We're scientists, and we didn't have any cross-cutting skills like marketing, communications, or business strategy. The incubator allowed us to train, connect with the market, and make the leap from the lab to a real customer. Without that support, we probably wouldn't exist as a company today.".
Incubator Logistics 4.0 In Barcelona, the project has demonstrated the impact of digital transformation on traditional sectors. With 59 startups incubated and a combined turnover of €46 million expected this year, it has generated more than 450 jobs. One notable project is Grasshopper Air Mobility, which develops autonomous heavy-lift drones. Jakob Saalfrank, CEO and co-founder, said: “The challenge wasn't technological, it was regulatory. The incubator gave us space, contacts, technical support, and an entrepreneurial community. Thanks to that, today we are leading the development of a revolutionary logistics solution at the European level.".
In Jaén, the IAT Matrix, specializing in green transition, agroindustry, and robotics, has incubated 35 projects in just nine months. CEX Eco Energy, hosted at this center, optimizes industrial energy consumption through artificial intelligence and IoT. Luis Fernandez, founding partner, stated: “The incubator has provided us with training, a network of contacts, and access to facilities that have allowed us to consolidate and work with large companies on real decarbonization projects.".
Finally, Córdoba Biotech has focused its efforts on biotechnology applied to health, agroindustry and the environment. Cobiomic, a spin-off of IMIBIC and the University of Córdoba, specializes in precision medicine. Carlos Pérez, founder and director, commented: “I would recommend any scientist with a good idea to take the plunge. We were researchers, and thanks to the incubator, we made the leap to market.".
La INCYDE Foundation, with more than 25 years of experience, reaffirms its fundamental role in the transformation of the Spanish productive fabricIts internationally recognized network of incubators continues to generate success stories that validate the value of entrepreneurship, innovation, and public-private collaboration for a more sustainable and competitive future in Spain.
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