EU Dual-Use Funding for Spanish Companies: Programmes and NCPs

Spain has a growing deep-tech ecosystem with particular strength in photonics, quantum, cybersecurity, and autonomous systems. Spanish companies are increasingly active in EU-funded dual-use projects, supported by CDTI and a network of regional innovation agencies.

EU programmes

Programme	Funding	Spanish NCP / Contact
European Defence Fund	Up to €5M (100%)	Ministerio de Defensa / INTA
Horizon Europe	€500K to €4M (70-100%)	CDTI NCP network
EIC Accelerator	€2.5M grant	CDTI
Digital Europe	50-75%	SEDIA

Spanish national programmes

CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico e Industrial): Spain's main innovation agency. Funds R&D projects, supports EU proposal preparation, and provides soft loans for technology development. The primary gateway for Spanish SMEs to EU funding.

INTA (Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial): Spain's aerospace and defence research institute. Partners with SMEs in EU consortia, provides testing facilities, and connects companies with defence end-users.

INCIBE: Spain's national cybersecurity institute. Runs innovation programmes, connects cyber startups with public sector buyers, and supports participation in EU cybersecurity calls.

Regional agencies: ACCIÓ (Catalonia), SPRI (Basque Country), and IVACE (Valencia) provide additional funding and support for deep-tech companies.

Spanish strengths in dual-use

• Barcelona: photonics, quantum, AI, cybersecurity
• Madrid: aerospace, cybersecurity, AI
• Basque Country: advanced manufacturing, materials, energy
• Valencia: robotics, AI, materials
• Andalusia: aerospace (Airbus ecosystem), maritime

How to start

Contact CDTI for general EU funding support. For EDF, reach out to the Ministerio de Defensa innovation office. Regional agencies can co-finance your participation in EU projects. Check eligibility across all programmes.