EIT Community RIS Hub in Spain
Accelerating Innovation and Strengthening Collaboration in Spain
According to the European Innovation Scoreboard, Spain is a moderate innovator, with performance at 89.2% of the EU average. Performance is above the average of moderate innovators and is increasing at a rate higher than the EU (8.5 percentage points), reducing the country’s performance gap with the EU.
Advancing Spain’s innovation ecosystem is vital for stimulating economic growth, job creation, and achieving sustainable development. A robust innovation environment encourages the creation of new ideas, products, and services, enhancing the global competitiveness of Spanish businesses. By investing in and supporting local innovators, the country can attract foreign investments, creating a cycle of economic growth.
Moreover, a thriving innovation ecosystem fosters a culture of continuous learning, adaptability, and resilience within the workforce, preparing it to meet future challenges. This not only accelerates the nation’s technological progress but also ensures Spain’s agility and responsiveness to dynamic market demands.
Additionally, a vibrant innovation community can address local challenges through creative solutions, improving both quality of life and societal well-being.
In essence, nurturing the local innovation ecosystem is crucial for Spain’s socio-economic development, positioning the country as a significant player in the global market.
About the EIT Community RIS Hub
The EIT Community RIS Hub in Spain is dedicated to fostering innovation to drive economic prosperity and societal well-being. It catalyses local innovators, offering support and resources to enhance business competitiveness and attract foreign investments. By promoting a culture of innovation and collaboration, the Hub seeks to address local challenges and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development on a global scale.
The Hub comprises all EIT´s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) in Spain: EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Culture and Creativity, EIT Digital, EIT Food, EIT Health, EIT Innoenergy, EIT Manufacturing, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Urban Mobility, each contributing to the country’s sector-specific advancements and Smart Specialisation Strategy. The Hub ensures the representation of all KICs, encourages active participation from a broad group of stakeholders in EIT activities, and aims to strengthen cooperation between companies, institutions, and EIT KICs in the country.
As a central source of information for the innovation community in Spain, the Hub provides insights into various services and opportunities in education, business development, and innovation offered by the EIT community, both via this site and our LinkedIn page.
“Through the newly established EIT Community RIS Hub in Spain, the nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) present in the country will continue to serve as a key link between the education, research, business and government sectors. The hub will reinforce the national innovation ecosystem by strengthening cooperation among these local actors and connecting them with the EIT´s pan-European ecosystem. It will also function as an access point for the local talent and entrepreneurs to benefit from the EIT Community´s opportunities and resources in the fields of education, business creation and innovation across the nine thematic areas of the KICs. As the ECO for Spain, I will represent and raise the visibility of the EIT Community, facilitate cross-KIC coordination and enable connections among the local innovation actors so that impactful collaborations and innovative solutions can be driven”.
LAURA OVIES DIAZ, EIT COMMUNITY OFFICER SPAIN
EIT Funding & Impact
Spain received a total of EUR 56.49 million in EIT grants in 2022. This amount is EUR 13.38 million higher than the funding received in 2021 and was directed to Spanish organisations via eight EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities. The largest share (EUR 22 million) was dedicated to business-related activities. The funding included EUR 14.33 million to support Spanish SMEs, primarily under EIT Urban Mobility and EIT Health.
About the EIT Community Officer
Ms. Laura Ovies Diaz
EIT Community Officer Spain
Ms Laura Ovies Diaz is a dedicated environmental scientist with over 16 years of international experience in sustainability, corporate responsibility, project management, and communications. She has worked across various sectors such as health, food, and energy in large corporations, non-profit organisations, and consulting firms. Throughout her career, innovation has been central to advising organisations on how to operate responsibly and sustainably. As the National EIT Community Officer, Laura’s primary goal is to unlock the full potential of Spain’s innovation ecosystem by fostering collaboration and leveraging the opportunities and resources provided by EIT.
Contact Details
- Email: spain@eitcommunity.eu
- Phone: +34699179791
- Address: Parque Tecnológico de Bizkaia Lekandene. Laida Bidea 214. 48170 Zamudio (Bizkaia) Spain
- LinkedIn: EIT Community RIS Hub Spain
Upcoming Opportunities
Stay updated with the latest opportunities related to Spain’s innovation ecosystem and the activities of the EIT Community RIS Hub.