The projects taking part in the 7th edition of Business Factory Aero (BFAero) visited the atlanTTic research centre as part of an event aimed at fostering collaboration and creating synergies between start-ups and the research community.
The event was opened by Luis García Santalla, President and CEO of Fundación CEL, and Luis Sabucedo, Deputy Director of atlanTTic, who highlighted the importance of fostering links between the entrepreneurial sector and the research ecosystem as a catalyst for the development of innovative projects.
The day began with a session entitled “Taxation of Innovation”, led by José María Pina Sánchez-Mariscal, Managing Partner at APTKI, during which participants were able to learn about the main tax incentives for innovation and their practical application in R&D&I projects.
The BFAero teams then took part in a project presentation session for atlanTTic staff. Using a streamlined format, each start-up provided an overview of its initiative and outlined the areas where it required external support, with the aim of identifying potential avenues for collaboration with the research centre.
This exercise enabled participants to share their technological needs, development challenges and areas of focus, thereby helping to identify points of connection between the projects and atlanTTic’s capabilities.
Understanding the environment and building connections
The day continued with a guided tour of the atlanTTic laboratories, where participants were able to see first-hand the facilities, capabilities and main areas of research in the field of telecommunications technologies.
The programme concluded with a networking session, which facilitated direct dialogue between start-ups and research staff, building on the collaboration opportunities identified during the session and fostering new connections between the participating organisations.
atlanTTic, a strategic partner in innovation
atlanTTic is a research centre at the University of Vigo specialising in telecommunications technologies, which carries out its work in areas such as communications, digital services, cybersecurity and technologies applied to various strategic sectors. Its approach combines cutting-edge research with knowledge transfer, actively collaborating with companies and institutions to drive innovation.
Furthermore, its involvement in international initiatives such as the Artemis II mission – in which the Aerospace Technology Group at the University of Vigo is monitoring the Orion spacecraft – highlights the high standard of its technological capabilities and its leading role in cutting-edge projects within the space sector.
Initiatives of this kind reinforce BFAero’s role as a catalyst for connections within the aeronautical and technological ecosystem, bringing start-ups into contact with key players in the research sector and facilitating their access to specialist knowledge and technological resources.
Creating synergies between start-up projects and centres such as atlanTTic helps to accelerate the development of innovative solutions, driving the growth of start-ups and strengthening the ecosystem.
As part of its ongoing commitment to providing entrepreneurs with specialised tools to help them drive their projects forward, Business Factory Aero (BFAero) has added a new course to its programme: “Taxation of Innovation”, delivered by José María Pina Sánchez-Mariscal, Managing Partner at APTKI.
The session, which took place at the atlanTTic research centre, enabled participants to gain an understanding of the main tax incentives for innovation and their practical application in technology start-ups.
Training delivered by an expert in innovation and funding
During the 90-minute training session, attendees were able to gain a deeper understanding of the main tax incentives for innovation and how they apply in the context of a start-up. The topics covered were:
Tax incentives for innovation: which activities and expenses are eligible for funding?
Key instruments for funding R&D&I and how to monetise it
Requirements and best practices:
Key considerations in the preparation of financial statements
Traceability of expenditure and the consequences of poor financial planning
Traceability of expenditure and the consequences of poor financial planning
ENISA certification. Tax benefits for the start-up and the investor
Other sources of funding for R&D&I
This training enables entrepreneurs to identify opportunities to optimise the tax treatment of their projects and improve financial planning, thereby strengthening the financial sustainability of their start-ups.
An added bonus for the BFAero programme
The inclusion of this session marks a further step in BFAero’s commitment to providing specialist content that strengthens entrepreneurs’ capabilities and facilitates the growth of innovative projects in the aeronautical and aerospace sector.
Thanks to initiatives such as this, programme participants gain practical and strategic insights to manage the tax aspects of innovation more efficiently and maximise the potential of their start-ups.
The success of a start-up’s fundraising efforts does not depend solely on the project’s innovation; trust between partners and the protection of strategic information are crucial to attracting investment.
The event, aimed at entrepreneurs from the Business Factory Aero (BFAero), focused on two key areas: partnership agreements and business confidentiality, and provided an opportunity to examine how these mechanisms strengthen relationships with investors and protect sensitive information relating to their projects.
The session was led by Ana Lorente Berges, co-founder of A2 Estudio Legal, who explained the importance of establishing clear agreements between partners and mechanisms to protect each start-up’s strategic assets.
Attendees explored how these tools not only prevent conflicts but also instil confidence in investors, a key factor in driving innovative projects forward.
Confidence to secure investment
In an ecosystem where public and private investment seeks out start-ups with growth potential, having a solid legal foundation becomes a decisive factor.
Through these initiatives, BFAero provides entrepreneurs with practical tools to navigate investment processes and consolidate their projects in the aeronautical and aerospace sector.
Entrepreneurship does not depend solely on private investment. Public funding is a key route to growth for any start-up, particularly for those developing innovative projects with high potential.
However, accessing this type of support requires knowing where to find the relevant calls for applications and what the funding bodies’ requirements are.
With this aim in mind, participants in the 7th edition ofBusiness Factory Aero (BFAero) explored these issues in depth during the first part of the programme’s final in-person session, held on 26 February.
Key points for accessing public funds
The session was led by Iliyana Zongova, an expert in European funds and projects at NTT DATA, who provided project leaders with a practical insight into how public funding works.
During the event, entrepreneurs were able to learn more about:
The types of initiatives that typically receive support through public funds.
Who is eligible to apply for this type of funding.
Where to find information on funding opportunities.
How to prepare suitable proposals to apply for this funding.
The session enabled participants to better understand how to structure their projects and access new funding channels that can help accelerate their development.
The role of institutional support in business development
Sessions such as this highlight the importance of institutional support in driving and revitalising the business sector, particularly in strategic sectors such as the aeronautical and aerospace industries.
Through training initiatives such as this, BFAero continues to support the start-ups in its ecosystem by helping them build their capabilities and identify opportunities to drive their growth.
Several companies linked to the Business Factory Aero(BFAero) ecosystem, including Binarial Automatización y Robótica, Ventilation Lab, Kreios Space, and Lupeon, have been selected as recipients of the NEXOS grant program, a funding initiative by the Regional Government of Galicia aimed at promoting collaborative R&D&I between SMEs and knowledge centers in strategic sectors. With a budget exceeding 20 million euros, NEXOS seeks to boost competitiveness, sustainability, and digital transformation by mobilizing significant investments in areas such as the circular economy, agri-food, and advanced manufacturing.
In total, four companies affiliated with BFAero are participating in projects selected under this call for proposals, out of a total of 138 supported companies—representing nearly 3% of the total—which underscores the ecosystem’s presence in the program and its contribution to collaborative innovation in Galicia.
The NEXOS call for proposals will support 37 R&D&I projects in collaboration with knowledge centers, with the aim of promoting initiatives in industrial research, experimental development, and organizational and process innovation. The total budget is €22.6 million, and it is expected to mobilize approximately €39.8 million between 2026 and 2028.
Participating BFAero companies
Among the beneficiary companies are several firms involved in projects spearheaded by BFAero:
Kreios Space, S.L. and Lupeon, S.L., participants in the MANA project (Advanced Manufacturing for the New Space Age), which focuses on advanced manufacturing applied to the space sector.
Ventilatio Lab, S.L., a participant in the XIADA project, which focuses on developing solutions for smart air management and environmental disinfection in the field of health and well-being.
Binarial Automatización y Robótica, S.L., a member of the SENSOMARE project, which focuses on researching new solutions in advanced sensor technology and artificial intelligence for the fishing industry.
Binarial Automatización y Robótica, S.L., a member of the SENSOMARE project, which focuses on researching new solutions in advanced sensor technology and artificial intelligence for the fishing industry.
Promoting collaborative innovation
The funded projects will be carried out by consortia consisting of a minimum of three and a maximum of six SMEs, with the aim of promoting collaborative work and the effective transfer of results.
In this context, the participation of companies affiliated with BFAero reinforces the ecosystem’s role as an active driver of innovation, fostering connections between companies and knowledge centers and contributing to the development of technological solutions that have an impact on strategic sectors.
Strategic Projects for Galicia
The selected initiatives fall within the strategic areas defined in the Galician R&D&I Plan 2025–2027, notably the circular economy and energy, advanced manufacturing, agri-food, and health and well-being.
The NEXOS call for proposals is part of the Activa I+G+i program, which supports collaboration between companies and the effective transfer of research results; the Galician government has allocated more than 40 million euros to this program through four major calls for proposals.
The participation of companies affiliated with BFAero in this call for proposals highlights, once again, the ecosystem’s ability to drive innovation and engage in high-impact collaborative projects, thereby helping to strengthen Galicia’s technological and industrial base.
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