Spain
CDTI Innovación commits €12.75 million to 19 R&D+I projects
All 19 October approvals are loans. Ten companies get CDTI funding for the first time, 15 are SMEs and 13 operations are co-financed by POPE.
Key facts
- Approved
- October 2026, CDTI Innovación governing council
- Projects
- 19, all in the loan modality
- Total budget
- €17.21 million
- CDTI contribution
- €12.75 million, including a €2.47 million non-reimbursable tranche
- Companies
- 19, of which 10 first-time recipients and 15 SMEs
- EU co-financing
- 13 operations under POPE 2021-2027
The governing council of CDTI Innovación, the public business entity attached to Spain's Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, signed off 19 new business R&D+I projects in October. Their combined budget is €17.21 million, of which CDTI will contribute €12.75 million. Every project takes the form of a loan, and together they carry a non-reimbursable tranche of €2.47 million.
Most of the money sits in the Línea Directa de Expansión, with 13 projects and a CDTI contribution of €8,926,650.13. The Línea Directa de Innovación accounts for four projects and €3,266,716.13, while the two Proyectos de I+D receive €561,233.83 and show the highest financing rate of the three, at 85%.
Thirteen of the 19 operations are co-financed by the Programa Operativo Plurirregional de España (POPE) 2021-2027. That programme lets CDTI offer a non-reimbursable tranche of up to 30% on co-financed projects, whatever the size of the beneficiary. Murcia is the largest region in this round, with five operations and a CDTI contribution of €5,851,458.95.
Why it matters
The profile of this round is encouraging for newcomers: most of the companies are SMEs, and just over half had never received CDTI money before. CDTI's direct lines are therefore a realistic entry point for firms without a funding track record. The POPE rule deserves attention at planning stage, because whether a project qualifies for co-financing can change how much of a loan does not need repaying, and that holds for larger companies as well as SMEs. Applicants should check eligibility for their region and instrument before settling on a financing structure.
Official source
CDTI Innovación — always check eligibility, budgets and deadlines on the official page before applying.