The Science and Technology Park of Castilla-La Mancha (PCTCLM) took part in the workshop “New ESA BICs: National Expansion of the Ecosystem”, held within the framework of the 2nd Annual Entrepreneurship Event organised by the Spanish Space Agency (AEE) at the facilities of the European Space Agency (ESA) in Madrid.
The event brought together key stakeholders from Spain’s space ecosystem and included the official signing ceremony for the new ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha, alongside the newly established centres in Murcia and the Basque Country. The ceremony was presided over by Diana Morant, Spain’s Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities.
New Regional Opportunities
During the workshop, moderated by Cristina Protasio, Head of ESA BIC Barcelona, Irene Sánchez, representing PCTCLM, presented the new regional opportunities arising from the launch of ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha, which will be headquartered at the Science and Technology Park in Albacete.
In her presentation, Sánchez outlined the structure of the team that will manage the incubation centre, the consortium supporting the initiative, and the facilities and resources that PCTCLM will make available to startups and innovative projects within the space sector.
She highlighted the park’s ability to act as a connecting hub between industry, academia and public institutions, fostering the development of high-value technological initiatives and accelerating innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
A Strategic Territory for Space Innovation
Sánchez also highlighted Castilla-La Mancha’s key strengths as a strategic location for the development of the new ESA BIC.
Among the region’s advantages, she emphasised its central geographical position and excellent connectivity with Spain’s main economic hubs, its strong industrial and logistics base, and its highly competitive operating costs, which enable startups to optimise resources and extend their development cycles.
She further underlined the growth of the regional aerospace ecosystem, supported by the presence of leading companies, increasing talent-generation capabilities, and strong institutional commitment to innovation and major industrial projects.
In addition, Castilla-La Mancha offers significant access to funding opportunities, particularly through European programmes, as well as an ideal environment for testing and validating technologies under real-world conditions thanks to the region’s territorial diversity.
Attracting Investment and Talent
Regarding the expected benefits of the initiative, Irene Sánchez stressed the impact that ESA BIC Castilla-La Mancha will have on strengthening the regional business ecosystem, fostering the creation of new technology-based startups, attracting investment and highly skilled talent, and positioning the region as a leading platform for the development and validation of space-related solutions.
PCTCLM’s participation in this forum reinforces its role as a key player in the development of Spain’s space ecosystem and consolidates its position as a strategic infrastructure for technological innovation in Castilla-La Mancha.
