Spain advances industrial R&D and health technology investment strategies

Spain is implementing various strategies to strengthen its industrial and technological sectors, with a particular focus on health technology and regional development in the Basque Country (Euskadi).

The Spanish Federation of Companies in Health Technology (Fenin) has proposed a national strategy to enhance the international protection and valuation of R&D in health technology. This includes an ‘investment readiness’ methodology to prepare scientific projects from universities, hospitals, and startups for capital acquisition, aiming to bridge the gap between research and specialized investors.

In the Basque Country, several initiatives are driving industrial growth. A new ‘Basque Hub for Biofabrication in Advanced Therapies’ has been formed by seven companies, including VIVEbiotech and Viralgen, to create an integrated value chain for gene and cell therapies. Additionally, the TKgune network is facilitating digital transformation for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by connecting vocational training centers with industrial needs in areas like automation and cybersecurity.

Efforts are also being made to decentralize investment, which is currently concentrated in mature ecosystems like Catalonia, by promoting regional policies and strengthening specialized technology transfer offices.