NEOTEC Grants: Who Qualifies and What You Get

The NEOTEC Grants are a financial support mechanism designed to help new, technology-driven businesses scale their operations and advance their business development.

👤Who it's for

This program is specifically targeted at technology-based startups. To be eligible, your business must be relatively new, specifically having been established for less than three years. These are often referred to as "Empresas de base tecnológica," meaning the core of your business model relies on technological advancement rather than traditional service or retail models.

🎁What you get

If your application is successful, you can receive grants to support various aspects of your business development. The funding provided can reach amounts up to €250,000, providing a significant capital injection to help your startup move from the initial stages into a more stable growth phase.

💰What it costs you

There is no direct application fee mentioned for the program; however, the process is not a simple sign-up. You must go through a competitive public tender process. This means you will need to invest significant time and effort into preparing a high-quality proposal to compete against other technology-based startups for the available funds.

⚠️The catch to know

The biggest hurdle in this process is the strict requirement regarding the innovative nature of your product or service. The authorities do not grant these funds to standard businesses; they are looking for genuine technological innovation. If your product is a common solution without a significant technological edge, you likely will not meet the criteria.

📝How to apply

1. Confirm that your startup has been in operation for less than three years.
2. Document the specific technological innovations that define your product or service.
3. Prepare a comprehensive business development plan to present during the tender.
4. Monitor the official CDTI portal for the specific dates and requirements of the public tender process.