The Government of Castilla-La Mancha has approved the regulatory framework for the ESA BIC (European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre) programme funding scheme, paving the way for future calls aimed at supporting startups and innovative projects linked to the space sector and its technological applications.
Regional Government spokesperson Esther Padilla highlighted that the initiative reflects the Government’s determination to “continue gaining ground in the sectors that will shape the economy of the future, creating opportunities here in our region, attracting talent and investment, and creating the right conditions for new innovative companies to be established, grow and consolidate in Castilla-La Mancha.”
Padilla recalled that Castilla-La Mancha joined the European Space Agency’s network of Business Incubation Centres last April. ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha is the ESA business incubation centre for the region and is based at the Castilla-La Mancha Science and Technology Park in Albacete.
Over the next five years, the programme will support the incubation of at least 12 technology startups. Each will receive a minimum of €60,000 in funding, combining European and regional resources, as well as specialised mentoring and access to international innovation networks.
“They will become part of an ecosystem that will help them transform an idea or research project into a company capable of attracting investment and competing both within and beyond our region,” Padilla said.
The spokesperson stressed that the programme “goes far beyond a funding call”, as it represents another step towards strengthening the position Castilla-La Mancha aims to occupy in the economy of the coming years, while enhancing its ability to create highly skilled jobs and attract high-growth technology projects.
Space technology with applications across the region
Padilla pointed out that, although the concept of space technology “may seem distant”, many of its applications are already part of everyday life and are particularly relevant to a region such as Castilla-La Mancha.
These include tools to improve the management of crops, water and natural resources, strengthen wildfire prevention and provide a deeper understanding of the territory.
“For example, these technologies can help make our agri-food sector more competitive,” Padilla explained.
Turning knowledge into companies and jobs
Another of the programme’s key objectives is to increase knowledge transfer between universities, research centres and the business community.
“We want the ideas developed in our universities and research centres not to remain confined to a laboratory or a scientific publication, but to take the next step and become companies, economic activity and highly skilled jobs here in Castilla-La Mancha,” the spokesperson said.
She also explained that the Regional Government wants to ensure that companies based in Castilla-La Mancha have access to an environment that encourages innovation, the adoption of new technologies and increased competitiveness.
“The aim is to connect research and business and ensure that all this knowledge has a genuine impact on our economy, translating into more opportunities for people.”
Castilla-La Mancha joins the international ESA BIC network
Padilla emphasised that the programme is being developed in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) and the Castilla-La Mancha Science and Technology Park Foundation, placing the region within the international network of ESA Business Incubation Centres.
According to the Regional Government, Castilla-La Mancha’s selection to host an official European Space Agency business incubator also represents recognition of the growth of the region’s innovation ecosystem, particularly the technology and aerospace sector that has developed around Albacete.
In just five years, the Castilla-La Mancha Science and Technology Park has grown from around 40 companies and approximately 600 professionals to nearly 70 companies and more than 1,600 people working in science- and technology-related activities.
“So we are not starting from scratch,” Padilla stressed. She noted that this growth has also led to the expansion of the Park’s facilities with a sixth building, whose foundation stone will be laid this Thursday by the President of Castilla-La Mancha, Emiliano García-Page.
Padilla concluded that ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha will help strengthen an ecosystem that is already demonstrating the region’s ability to compete in sectors that, for many years, have been concentrated elsewhere.
“We have talent, projects with enormous potential and universities conducting first-class research. It is the responsibility of public administrations to connect these capabilities so that they can continue contributing to economic development,” she concluded.
