The Association of Science and Technology Parks in Spain (APTE), which includes the Science Park of the University of Valencia (PCUV) and the National Innovation Company (Enisa) have signed a new agreement to develop the fourth edition of the APTenisa business design and acceleration programme, which will encourage competition for 126 projects, of which will accelerate to the top 42 and also support another 30 startups in their investment processes
The APTenisa programme focuses on facilitating the creation of new science and technology-based enterprises and reducing the barriers they face during their growth, thus supporting the development of a size that makes them more competitive, In clear line with the objectives of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the Government of Spain, with the Law on the Creation and Growth of Enterprises, the Law on the Promotion of the Ecosystem of Emerging Enterprises and the Strategy Spain Up Nation.
During 2025, APTenisa will expand up to 42 projects the support of early-stage entrepreneurship through a common framework based on the methodologies Candy Innovation Model and Lean Launch Pad, implemented by La Salle Technova Barcelona, who participates in the programme as a tractor fleet. As a novelty, to select these 42 projects, will be developed a preliminary phase called APTenisa Competition which will participate 126 projects.
In addition, also as a novelty of this edition and in its work to support the development and growth of startups, APTenisa 2025 will accompany another 30, through its initiative APTenisa Investment Readiness, by which those with the greatest investment potential will be prepared to succeed in investment forums. In total, the APTenisa 2025 program will drive the growth of 72 startups.
APTenisa, a partnership to strengthen entrepreneurship
In APTenisa 2025 participate 9 science and technology parks located in 5 autonomous communities: La Salle Technova Barcelona, Malaga TechPark, Science Park of Madrid, Parc Bit (Palma de Mallorca), Science Park of Alicante, Science and Agri-food Park of Lleida, Research and Innovation Park Foundation University of Girona and Tecnoparc Technological and Innovation Park (Reus).
APTenisa also takes into account the territorial gap, connectivity and gender perspective, focusing on promoting initiatives that promote digitization or the implementation of technologies in different sectors, as well as female entrepreneurship.
This collaboration between Enisa and APTE began in 2022 with the launch of APTenisa’s pilot program, which has been consolidated during the last editions and has led to more than 300 new business ideas and accelerated 99 startups.
"I want to express my satisfaction for a program that is allowing our association to structure the national entrepreneurship ecosystem around Spanish science and technology parks and support the growth and development of new startups, that they are essential to improve the level of innovation and competitiveness in our country", Felipe Romera, president of APTE
The National Innovation Company values this collaboration very positively and so has pointed out Borja Cabezón, CEO of this public company: "The APTenisa programme, now in its fourth edition, is a good tool for entrepreneurs to have the tools and support necessary to get their projects going. The work that APTE and the Science and Technology Parks of Spain are developing, together with Enisa, enables these essential partnerships to boost and strengthen entrepreneurship in our country and, in particular, in the field of technology".
Felipe Romera, president of APTE, added: "I want to express my satisfaction for a program that is allowing our association to structure the national entrepreneurship ecosystem around Spanish science and technology parks and support the growth and development of new startups, that they are essential for improving the level of innovation and competitiveness in our country".
With the opening of the call, from 3 June, projects will be able to register in the pre-selection phase for the acceleration called APTenisa COMPETITION, during which projects will be selected to move into the acceleration phase called APTenisa LAUNCH. The registration period will be open from 3 June to 3 July 2025.
The Association of Science and Technology Parks of Spain (APTE) and the National Innovation Company (Enisa) sign a new agreement to develop the fourth edition of the APTenisa program. Photo: APTE
About the APTE
The Association of Science and Technology Parks in Spain was created in 1989 as a non-profit association whose main objective is to collaborate through the development and dissemination of science and technology parks, the renewal and diversification of productive activity, technological progress and economic development. It currently has 60 member parks spread throughout Spain. 52 of them are Partner parks, that is fully operational, 4 are Affiliates in the process of development and finally 4 members Collaborators. In 2023, these parks hosted 5,908 entities with a turnover of 28,917 million euros. These firms employ more than 161,435 people, of whom 38,656 are engaged in R & D work.
Source: APTE