Dec 19, 2025
Kreios Space and Vig-Sec Drone, companies incubated and accelerated at Business Factory Aero (BFAero), have been selected to take part in NATO’s DIANA accelerator, one of the most demanding and prestigious international programmes in the field of dual-use innovation, defence and security.
A milestone that reinforces BFAero’s positioning as a leading platform for boosting startups with high value-added technologies, capable of competing and collaborating within the main international innovation ecosystems in defence, security and aerospace. A further recognition of the talent, vision and capabilities of the companies that are part of BFAero to transform the present and build the future of the sector.
The DIANA accelerator (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) promotes technological solutions with high potential impact for the Atlantic Alliance, selecting each year a very limited number of companies from among thousands of international applications.
Vig-Sec Drone: dual-use technology for a safer airspace
The Galician company Vig-Sec Drone approaches this new stage as a decisive step in its international expansion strategy and in the validation of its dual-use technology in real operational environments.
Over the coming months, the company will work on an ambitious challenge: to demonstrate that it is possible to safely manage medium- and low-altitude airspace by integrating manned and unmanned aircraft within the same airspace, even in complex and isolated contexts.
Participation in DIANA will allow Vig-Sec Drone to collaborate in exercises, tests and validations with NATO units, specialised agencies and armed forces, taking its technology to the environment where its value is truly put to the test: real operations. This progress represents a significant leap in the company’s maturity and strengthens its commitment to innovation in the service of those operating on the front line.
Kreios Space: Very Low Earth Orbit as a new strategic domain
For its part, Kreios Space has been selected for the NATO DIANA 2026 Challenge Programme, within the Resilient Space Operations challenge.
The company is working on the development of space missions in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO), at altitudes close to 200 kilometres, a key domain for the future of space observation and defence. Its differentiating technology, based on Air-Breathing Electric Propulsion (ABEP), makes it possible to sustain prolonged operations in these ultra-low orbits, overcoming one of the sector’s major technical challenges.
This selection recognises VLEO as a strategic reality and offers Kreios Space the opportunity to collaborate over the next six months with DIANA test centres, mentors and end users, accelerate the development of its technology with the programme’s financial support, and align it with the real needs of NATO and its allies.
Nov 21, 2025
Over the past few weeks, several BFAero startups have earned recognition both nationally and internationally within the aerospace innovation ecosystem. These awards and distinctions are proof of the effectiveness of their projects, which address civil or military challenges through an innovative approach.
VALAR has been selected as one of the winners of the 2024 CASSINI Challenges, organized by the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA).
This is a major acknowledgment of the company’s commercial track record and a validation of its vision to make space operations more accessible, reliable, and efficient for the entire European space ecosystem.
Aguia Analítica Avanzada has received the 2025 Aeronautical Innovation Award – COIAE, in recognition of its work in developing advanced technologies for the intelligent inspection and management of infrastructure.
In addition, it has been recognized as one of the 101 outstanding companies in the second edition of the Top 101 Spain Up Nation Awards, an event that celebrates high-impact entrepreneurial talent in Spain.
It is also worth noting that Vig Sec Drone was likewise recognized as a Top 101 Spain Up Nation in this year’s edition.
The team at 3top traveled to the German city of Hanover after being selected for the first edition of Desafía Agrotech Germany 2025, a program designed by Red.es, ICEX Spain Trade and Investment, and the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain to support the internationalization of Spanish startups applying technology to the agri-food sector.
Finally, congratulations are also due to Kreios Space, which achieved great success in Korea by winning the “Most Disruptive Startup” award at South Summit Korea 2025.
All these recognitions also offer valuable opportunities to expand networks and connections for the development of future projects. Congratulations to everyone involved.
Nov 12, 2025
The Business Factory Aero, the business incubator and accelerator promoted by the Xunta de Galicia through the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (Igape) and XesGalicia, has closed the project recruitment phase for its 7th edition with 14 international projects, three times more than in the previous edition.
With this figure, BFAero has achieved its goal of expanding its reach beyond the national sphere, strengthening its position as a European benchmark in aeronautical and aerospace entrepreneurship.
Origin of the Projects
International projects: Seven come from European Union countries (including Italy, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, and Bulgaria), while the rest come from Argentina, Malaysia, Turkey, India, and Switzerland.
National projects: The call also sparked significant interest, with 78 Spanish proposals, 61% of which came from regions such as Catalonia (12), Madrid (11), Andalusia (9), the Basque Country (3), and the Canary Islands (2). Galician projects account for 39% of the total, with 30 applications.
Main Thematic Areas
The submitted initiatives fall into four thematic areas:
Development of unmanned vehicle applications for specific markets, such as emergency and civil protection services or industrial infrastructure inspection (56%).
Technologies applied to the satellite sector (20%).
Creation of platforms and their components, including structures, energy, propulsion, systems, navigation, and piloting (15%).
Projects involving onboard or ground-based equipment and systems (10%).
BFAero Itineraries
The program includes three tracks, tailored to each project’s maturity level:
Incubation phase (early stage): 40% of the projects registered.
Acceleration phase (projects with a developed Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and first sales): 45% of the projects.
Consolidation phase (for companies with defined products or services and actual sales, looking to scale): 15% of the entries.
Spain’s Best Accelerator
Recognized for the second consecutive year as the best accelerator in Spain by the national FUNCAS ranking, BFAero has become a strategic driver of business creation and acceleration within the Strategic Initiative in Security, Defense, and Aerospace 2025–2030, promoted by the Regional Ministry of Economy and Industry.
The program has had a strong economic and industrial impact in Galicia. Since its launch in 2018, it has supported 58 projects, created 15 new technology companies, facilitated the relocation of 13 firms to Galicia, and generated over 270 skilled jobs. Projects from the 5th and 6th editions have attracted more than €14 million in investment.
Oct 27, 2025
The Regional Minister for Economy and Industry, María Jesús Lorenzana, accompanied by the territorial delegate of the Xunta, Javier Arias, announced that the province of Lugo will play a leading role in the Strategic Initiative for Security, Defense and Aerospace (IESDA), which will have a budget allocation of €14.8 million in the Xunta’s accounts for next year to launch its first actions.
She made this announcement during a meeting with representatives of the CEL Foundation, which collaborates with the Xunta in the BFAero accelerator, and with the promoters of some of the projects that participated in the latest edition. Lorenzana emphasized that the aim of the new strategy is to foster technological and business development in a sector with great potential for creating wealth, attracting talent, and generating high-quality employment.
As part of this commitment to Lugo, the Rozas Industrial Park will host Spain’s first testbed for the “European Digital Sky”, Lorenzana announced, recalling that a memorandum of cooperation has already been signed with Sesar JU, the joint undertaking behind this program designed to unify European airspace. Through this agreement, Galicia will become the first test site in Spain.
The Regional Minister explained that Rozas will be key to the IESDA and that the goal is to “evolve what we already have here today in Rozas and turn the new industrial park into a European benchmark in the aerospace sector,” as it is a flagship example of Galicia’s capabilities in the aeronautical field and will be essential to the region’s industrial development.
Driving Companies
Among the main measures to be implemented under the new budget, María Jesús Lorenzana mentioned the awarding of the first major technological development contracts with driving companies that will become the Xunta’s strategic partners. She also noted that, at the beginning of the year, the funding line for investments in dual-use technologies (civil-defense) will be launched, giving higher scores in the evaluation criteria to projects located around the Rozas industrial park.
In addition, she announced the creation of a dedicated accelerator for space projects based in Rozas, adding that there is growing demand among Galician space sector companies for Galicia to position itself to host a European accelerator in this field. “We are going to create a specific accelerator focused solely on space, complementary to the existing one, and we will work so that this accelerator can become part of a major European project to strengthen the technological and industrial capabilities of this park,” Lorenzana stated, referring to her department’s intention to submit Galicia’s candidacy to host the European Space Agency’s Business Incubation Centre (ESABIC).
Furthermore, Lorenzana expressed the Xunta’s intention that all the work carried out so far at the Rozas Industrial Park will serve as the foundation for this Strategic Initiative for Security, Defense and Aerospace, which, by 2030, will involve €183 million in public investment and is expected to mobilize €900 million in total. “Lugo,” the Regional Minister stressed, “will play a leading role in this strategy as far as the aerospace sector is concerned, and we will strengthen it through this new budget.”
Oct 23, 2025
The projects from the sixth edition of the Business Factory Aero presented their funding needs to a group of public and private investors led by Xesgalicia. The session also included representatives from CaixaBank DayOne, Unirisco, Zubi Capital y Torsa Capital.
During the event, the startups outlined the key aspects of their Business Plans and had the opportunity to learn in detail about the investment strategies and the specific conditions that each investment entity establishes for the different program tracks.
The Investor Day concluded with a networking session where the projects expanded their network of contacts within the BFAero ecosystem.
Tracks and Funding
The BFAero program offers three tracks, adapted to each project’s stage of maturity, providing access to specific funding options.
Acceleration, Aimed at projects with a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) already developed and initial sales, lasting 8 months. Projects in this phase may access up to €60,000 in non-repayable funding from Igape, and an additional participating loan of up to €50,000, with the option of equity conversion through Xesgalicia, the investment arm of the Xunta de Galicia.
Consolidation: Designed for companies with a defined product or service and actual sales that are seeking to scale their business, lasting up to 6 months. Companies in this stage can obtain up to €30,000 in non-repayable funding from Igape. Additionally, as part of a funding round and upon request, a direct equity investment of up to €250,000 may be considered.
Oct 23, 2025
Kreios Space, Airbus, Telespazio, Avincis and Tecnobit took part in various sessions of the program promoted by the Xunta de Galicia, aimed at bringing the aerospace sector closer to young people and to Galicia’s industrial network.
World Space Week was held in Galicia from October 7 to 10, featuring a full schedule of activities organized by the Regional Ministry of Economy and Industry within the framework of the Strategic Initiative in Security, Defense, and Aerospace. For the first time, the region hosted its own public program, aligned with this year’s international theme: “Living in Space.”
Promoting Talent and Innovation
Throughout the different sessions held at the university campuses of Lugo, Santiago, Vigo, Nigrán, and Ourense, participants explored the opportunities the aerospace sector offers in fields such as research, engineering, and technological entrepreneurship.
The startup Kreios Space, part of the BFAero accelerator, shared its experience in deep-tech entrepreneurship and satellite propulsion during a session at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Santiago de Compostela.
Meanwhile, BFAero’s leading partner companies — Airbus, Telespazio, Avincis, and Tecnobit — played a prominent role in various events, showcasing their cutting-edge projects and technologies in space communications, defense, navigation systems, and drone-based solutions.
Inspiring Future Careers
The program included technical talks, round tables, a hackathon, and educational workshops with the participation of secondary, high school, vocational training, and university students. These activities highlighted how space exploration contributes to scientific and technological progress, as well as to improving life on Earth.
World Space Week also served to strengthen ties among universities, government institutions, and companies, while showcasing Galicia’s potential as an emerging hub in the aerospace field.
BFAero: Driving Force of the Galician Aerospace Ecosystem
The participation of startups and companies linked to BFAero in this event reinforces the role of Business Factory Aero as a cornerstone of Galicia’s aerospace ecosystem, promoting innovation, talent, and public-private collaboration around a strategic sector for the region’s future.
