16.9 Million Euros Now Available for Business Innovation
The Catalan government has activated the first 16.9 million euros in business innovation grants, part of a 78 million euro annual support package under the Catalonia Business Innovation Strategy 2026–2030. The call was launched by ACCIÓ, the agency for business growth within the Department of Business and Employment, and will remain open until 21–23 September, depending on the modality. This initial disbursement marks the first concrete action since the Generalitat approved the strategy on 14 July 2026. The funding aims to accelerate research and development, support the adoption of advanced technologies, and strengthen innovation across key sectors.
Support Focused on Strategic Sectors and Innovation Stages
The grants are structured into three complementary modalities with shared regulatory frameworks, designed to simplify procedures and provide long-term stability for companies. They specifically prioritise the chemical sector's value chain and the digital, technological, and green transformation of the automotive and mobility industries. According to Jaume Baró Torres, Secretary for Business and Competitiveness and CEO of ACCIÓ, the three instruments are intended to support companies throughout the entire innovation process.
We are presenting three complementary instruments that allow us to deploy the new model of public support for business innovation, accompanying companies throughout the entire innovation process: from the exploration and validation of new technologies, through the development of new products and services through R&D projects, to the incorporation of advanced technologies into the company.
Strategic Goals: 3,000 Startups and 2% R&D Investment by 2030
The broader strategy sets ambitious targets for 2030, including raising business investment in research, development and innovation (R&D&I) to 2% of GDP, supporting over 12,000 innovative companies, and exceeding 3,000 startups and scale-ups. The government also aims to attract more than 250 technological hubs from multinational firms. Public investment of 78 million euros in 2026 is expected to mobilise around 300 million euros in private investment, according to government calculations. This represents a 30% increase in public aid compared to previous years. Companies can apply for the grants through the official ACCIÓ portal, which provides full details on eligibility and application deadlines.
Primary sources: accio.gencat.cat. Reported by thenewbarcelonapost.com, Alberto Prieto, Jordi Serra Martínez, punttic.cat, David Expósito J, europapress.es, Lluís Pellicer.
