The Provincial Council of Bizkaia is significantly increasing its financial support for businesses, allocating €63 million in aid for the current year – a 22.6% increase from 2025. This boost in funding reflects a commitment to strengthening the regional economy and fostering innovation, according to officials.
Ainara Basurko, the Provincial Councilor for Economic Promotion, and Joseba Mariezkurrena, Director General for Entrepreneurship, Talent and Business Competitiveness, detailed the plan, emphasizing a broad range of services, strategic projects, and investment funds alongside direct financial subsidies available to businesses in the Bizkaia region. “We are coming from a year in which the activated aid has worked, as it has supported 1,341 business projects that have generated impact,” Basurko stated. “That is why, we are taking a further step in 2026, strengthening resources, refining instruments and creating new ones.”
The aid package encompasses 18 subsidy programs, 22 services, 8 strategic projects, and 7 investment funds. Supporting these initiatives are three key entities: Beaz, Seed Capital Bizkaia, and Bizkaia Talent, providing businesses with comprehensive support throughout their lifecycle.
Focus on Innovation and R&D
A substantial €31.18 million – a 16% increase year-over-year – is earmarked for direct grants, structured around four key areas: innovation, entrepreneurship, internationalization, and talent. The largest portion, €26.17 million, will be dedicated to stimulating business innovation. Notably, the Technology Transfer program has seen its budget increased by €2 million to €4.6 million, with a new provision allowing direct aid to R&D units for their innovative projects. This marks a shift towards directly funding corporate R&D to bolster the transfer of knowledge to the market.
The Digitalization program is also being adjusted, lowering the employee threshold for basic-level support to companies with between 5 and 50 employees. This adjustment is based on data from the Barrixe Observatory, which indicates that larger companies are already largely digitized, focusing resources on smaller businesses with greater need. The maximum project amount eligible for advanced digitalization subsidies has been increased to €120,000.
Supporting Startups and Entrepreneurship
Aid for entrepreneurship totals €3.36 million. A key new initiative is the Startup Acceleration Program Activation program, allocating up to €150,000 to attract established accelerators to Bizkaia. The goal is to bolster the local entrepreneurial ecosystem by attracting talent, investment, and startups. €400,000 is allocated to this program.
Bizkaia Creativa, which promotes entrepreneurship in creative industries, will see its funding increase by 30% to €650,000. The program is expanding its scope to include music, video games, fashion, industrial and graphic design, and significantly broadening its support for the audiovisual sector, encompassing screenwriting, directing, casting, subtitling, dubbing, set design, location scouting, lighting, sound, cameras, wardrobe, and makeup. The application period for these grants will open in April.
Investment Funds and Strategic Projects
To provide financial backing to startups, SMEs, and business projects at various stages of growth, seven investment funds will be utilized. These include the Start Bizkaia Fund for newly established companies, the Fund I for businesses up to 5 years old, the BI Fund for SMEs, the FEIS Fund for social impact projects, the Konfekoop Fund for expanding cooperatives (with 80% backing from the European Investment Fund), the Bizkaia Anchor Fund for investing in other venture capital funds, and Crowdfunding Bizkaia for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Businesses also have access to eight strategic projects spearheaded by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, in collaboration with public and private entities. These include the BAT International Entrepreneurship Center, Bizkaia with Talent, the Energy Intelligence Center (EIC), the Automotive Intelligence Center (AIC), the Advanced Manufacturing Center in Aeronautics (CFAA), 42 Urduliz Bizkaia, the Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub, and the Biqain quantum strategy within the Basque Quantum framework.
Internationalization and Talent Development
€2.2 million will be allocated to internationalization aid, while €1 million is designated for initiatives focused on attracting, developing, and retaining talent. Basurko emphasized the Council’s commitment to maximizing the impact of public funds. “We want every public euro to have an impact. That is why we adjust the programs, increase amounts where there is demand and greater impact, and open new lines where we detect opportunities to strengthen the economic fabric of Bizkaia.”
The overall strategy aims to create a dynamic and robust business environment, supporting innovation and strengthening the ecosystem through targeted financial assistance and strategic partnerships. The increased funding and expanded program scope signal a proactive approach to economic development in the Bizkaia region.
