“The sap that feeds innovation in every corner” is a tour of the main accelerators and incubators in Spain by the newspaper ABC, based on the FUNCAS ranking. Among the initiatives highlighted, it focuses on the Business Factory Aero (BFAero), recognized for the second consecutive year as the best accelerator in the country.

Since the first edition, in 2019, through BFAero, 39 technological solutions have been developed, five companies have been set up, another eleven have been attracted to Galicia, 220 high-quality jobs have been generated and in editions 4 and 5, sales of 1.9 million euros were achieved. “The Xunta is the driving force but the management of the accelerator is in private hands. The different editions are carried out through collaboration agreements between the two. We have an incubation, acceleration and consolidation phase; depending on the project and its maturity, it enters one or another phase,” explains Isaac Rosón, director of innovation at IGAPE.

Fifty percent of the projects presented come from abroad. All have tutoring, mentoring, specialized training (both for business management and for the technical solution they propose), networking and “connection with potential clients and investors specialized in the sector,” adds Rosón. “The Xunta also provides a direct grant to develop ideas. In the incubation phase they support three projects with 40,000 euros each to develop small prototypes and validate them. In acceleration, it helps 5 projects with 60,000 euros each and in consolidation 3 projects with 30,000 euros,” stresses the IGAPE innovation director.

Currently, the BFAero promotes projects as diverse as high-precision super-light mirrors for space telescopes, biomimetic drones for bird control in airports, electric propulsion drones with hydrogen fuel cells or marine drones for water rescue operations. This Galician aeronautical ecosystem has more than 55 entities that cooperate with the aim of responding to the needs of entrepreneurs in the aerospace, aeronautics and unmanned vehicles industry.

The BFAero participated together with the startups of the accelerator Vig-Sec Drone, AGUIA Analítica, Kreios Space and Fly-Fut in The Way Startup Summit, the event of entrepreneurship, innovation and investment in the northwest of the peninsula.

The projects shared their personal experiences of entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as the strengths of the Galician aeronautical ecosystem that provides them with a dynamic and enriching environment. The participation has been positive for the entrepreneurs who have made contact with public and private institutional investors.

Impacto Business Factory Aero

BFAero is an accelerator promoted by the Xunta de Galicia, managed by the CEL Foundation, which has been incubating, accelerating and consolidating aeronautical, aerospace and unmanned vehicle projects in Galicia for 6 editions.

Since 2018, it has contributed to the creation of an industrial footprint in Galicia with the start-up of 5 new companies, the attraction of 11 companies in the aeronautical sector and support for 46 innovative projects.

BFAero, for the second consecutive year the best accelerator in Spain according to the Funcas ranking, has mobilised close to 7.8 million euros in investment and achieved a combined turnover of 9.2 million euros in the projects of the last two editions.

In addition, the programme has led to the creation of 221 new jobs, 73% of them with a high level of professional qualifications.

Finally, in terms of technological impact, BFAero has driven the development of 39 solutions for the sector and has led to an average increase of 1.2 levels in TRL, significant progress that demonstrates the effectiveness of the programme as a driver of technology transfer and applied innovation.

Support for entrepreneurs

In the Incubation phase, entrepreneurs have access to funding of up to 40,000 euros through the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (Igape) on a non-repayable basis. Acceleration projects will have Igape funding of up to 60,000 euros non-refundable and the possibility of an equity participation through an equity loan of up to 50,000 euros, with the option of capitalisation through Xesgalicia, the investment vehicle of the Xunta de Galicia.

Companies in the consolidation phase will be able to access up to 30,000 euros through the Igape as a non-repayable grant. In the event that the company so requests, and within the framework of a financing round, a direct participation in the company’s capital of up to 250,000 euros may be valued.

In addition, the projects have at their disposal a team of 110 mentors and experts in the aeronautics, aerospace and unmanned vehicles sectors. From the perspective of the entrepreneurs, it is worth noting that the entire ecosystem has given them access to 50 potential customers or ‘early adopters’ and 7 potential investors.

The Business Factory Aero (BFAero) the incubation, acceleration and consolidation programme for companies in the aerospace sector promoted by the Xunta de Galicia and managed by the CEL Foundation, once again occupies first place in the national ranking of accelerators prepared by the Fundación de las Cajas de Ahorro (Funcas) and the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in 2025.

A total of 57 accelerators from all over Spain participated in the analysis that places BFAero as number one in the category of Advanced Accelerators as well as in the global ranking of acceleration programmes for the period 2025/2026. This is a new recognition of the commitment to innovation, talent and qualified employment within the framework of the Aerospace Pole of Galicia, and consolidates BFAero as a state reference in supporting technological entrepreneurship.

According to the general director of IGAPE, Covadonga Toca, this recognition is a ‘further endorsement of the Xunta’s model’ in its efforts to ‘strengthen the Galician aerospace ecosystem, attract talent and generate skilled employment in our community’. In this sense, Covadonga highlighted the driving role played by the BFAero to position Galicia as a pole of technological innovation and ‘promote the transfer of knowledge between companies, research centres and the Administration’.

A benchmark ecosystem in the aerospace sector

For its sixth call, which closed the registration period at the end of March and is starting these days, the BFAero managed to attract the interest of 110 projects: 57% of them came from national and international entrepreneurs, including countries such as Germany, Holland or the United Kingdom, while the remaining 43% corresponded to Galician proposals.

The applications were distributed among the three itineraries of the programme: 48% of the registered projects opted for the Incubation phase, 37% for the Acceleration phase and 15% for the Consolidation phase. Each phase is designed to accompany the startups from the initial idea to internationalisation, with technical support, specialised mentoring and access to public and private funding. Thus, through the Igape and Xesgalicia, and depending on the itinerary, the projects are eligible for direct aid of up to 60,000 euros and participation in investment rounds of up to 250,000 euros.

Since its launch in 2018, the Business Factory Aero already supported 46 business projects that mobilised nearly €7.8 million in investment and achieved a combined turnover of €9.2 million in the last year. The impact of the programme is also reflected in the creation of a dynamic industrial ecosystem, with more than 55 collaborating entities and international success stories such as Aeromedia, Kreios, FuVex or Fly-Fut as well as the creation of more than 220 jobs of which more than 73% are qualified (PhD/Masters).

Full report

The Business Factory Aero has consolidated itself nationally and internationally as an acceleration and consolidation programme for the aeronautical, aerospace and unmanned vehicles sector by attracting 110 projects in the sixth call. 57% of the proposals registered, whose period has just ended, correspond to entrepreneurs and companies with national and international origin, including countries such as the Netherlands and Great Britain. 43% of those registered are entrepreneurs based in Galicia.

Of the more than 110 projects registered, 48% belong to the Incubation itinerary, which for 12 months will support unincorporated or recently created companies with an idea and the development of a minimum viable product (MVP). 37% of the registered proposals are Acceleration, where for 8 months, they will receive mentoring and support to systematise their business model, develop and validate their product or service, achieve recurring sales and penetrate new markets. Finally, in the Consolidation phase, 15% of the proposals submitted were registered, and for 6 months they will receive support to scale and internationalise their company.

The Business Factory Aero, a programme of incubation, acceleration and consolidation of companies in the aerospace sector of the Xunta de Galicia, supported over its five previous editions a total of 46 business projects, which mobilized an investment of about 7.8 million euros and recorded a combined turnover of 9.2 million in 2023.

Funding up to 280.000 euros

In the Incubation phase, startups will have access to funding of up to 40,000 euros through the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (Igape) on a non-repayable basis. Acceleration projects will have Igape funding of up to 60,000 euros non-refundable and the possibility of an equity participation through an equity loan of up to 50,000 euros, with the option of capitalisation through Xesgalicia, the investment vehicle of the Xunta de Galicia.

Companies in the consolidation phase will be able to access up to 30,000 euros through the Igape on a non-repayable basis. In the event that the company so requests, and within the framework of a financing round, a direct participation in the company’s capital of up to 250,000 euros may be valued.

A dynamic innovation ecosystem

BFAero projects will have a team of mentors and experts in the aeronautics, aerospace and unmanned vehicles sectors, as well as early adopters and customers, and the possibility of access to public and private investment entities.

In the last five editions, Galicia has been able to consolidate a dynamic and robust innovation ecosystem with the participation of more than 55 entities that cooperate with the aim of responding to the needs of entrepreneurs in the aerospace and aeronautics industry, weaving a network of collaboration for the promotion and scaling of disruptive technologies that solve the challenges of companies and society.

The industrial footprint generated by the BFAero translates into three areas. Along with the creation of new companies, 46 in total since 2018, the programme has driven the consolidation of a benchmark operator in the sector, as is the case of Aeromedia, and has also led to the transfer to Galicia of the headquarters of startups such as Kreios Space and FuVex.

The Director General for Industrial Strategy and Business Land, Margarita Ardao, highlighted today in Silleda the competitiveness of Galician companies in accessing the market for dual technologies for civil and defence use.

During her visit to the exhibition space of the Galician Aerospace Pole at the International Security, Defence and Emergencies Fair (SEDEXPO), which is being held at the Galician Exhibition Centre, Ardao pointed out that the Galician business fabric has demonstrated its capabilities in the aeronautical, aerospace, security and emergency sectors. In this sense, he insisted that the experience in the development of these technologies places it in a privileged position to increase its competitiveness by developing dual-use technologies.

From 26th to 28th March, Silleda hosted the third edition of SEDEXPO, a meeting point for companies, professionals, public bodies and institutions to learn about the opportunities in this industry, exchange experiences, generate business and find out about the latest developments in the sector.

Aerospace, aeronautics and unmanned vehicles were the protagonists of this edition, in which the Galician Aerospace Pole had its own stand with the participation of companies and technology and knowledge centres such as  Aertec, Airbus, Avincis, Tecnobit, Telespazio Ibérica, Cuatro Digital, UARX Space, Kreios Space, Arzeos Aircraft, Aguia Analítica Avanzada, Beagle Technology, Ventilatio Lab, H2Dron Energy and Net2Fly.

In addition, a monographic conference was held on the Aerospace Pole of Galicia, which addressed topics such as the role of the Rozas Airborne Research Centre (CIAR) as a strategic centre for defence and technological innovation; intelligent services on air mobility; the present and future of drones; rapid mapping for emergency management; digitalisation in the fight against forest fires; the brain behind the drones; and the application of mathematics to the service of firefighting. The Business Factory Aero, Xunta de Galicia’s incubation, acceleration and consolidation programme for start-ups in the aerospace sector, also had its own space in the SEDEXPO conference programme.

Business Factory Aero – BFAero

The Business Factory Aero – BFAero is an initiative of the Xunta de Galicia that provides infrastructure, funding and expert support to provide personalised support to aerospace, aeronautics and unmanned vehicles projects. BFAero’s work has enabled the creation of a dynamic and fruitful innovation ecosystem, making it the best accelerator in the Funcas 2024 global ranking.

The Business Factory Aero (BFAero), the leading accelerator in the aerospace, aeronautics and unmanned vehicles (UAVs) industry, has opened the call for its 6th edition with a commitment to focus all the programme’s resources on internationalisation. Promoted by the Xunta de Galicia, this new edition opens its doors to entrepreneurs and startups from all over the world, offering them the opportunity to develop their projects in a unique acceleration ecosystem. In addition, BFAero reinforces its support for the international expansion of participating companies, facilitating their entry into global markets and creating new business opportunities in the sector.

Differential aspects of BFAero

The 6th edition of BFAero is distinguished by a number of key aspects that make it a unique accelerator within the aeronautics and aerospace sector. Its specialised approach, the resources available and its connection with the global market differentiate it from other similar initiatives, offering entrepreneurs an ideal environment for the development and consolidation of their projects.

Among the most differential aspects we find:

1. Aeronautical and aerospace vertical offering an adapted environment with mentors, resources and synergies between projects.

2. Market focus, the projects are oriented towards solving real problems in the sector, which allows them to find a commercial outlet.

3. Wide range of advanced means and resources, which facilitate the agile development of technological solutions.

4. Support from an open innovation ecosystem. Collaboration with public and private agents in the aerospace sector and unmanned vehicles favours synergies between projects and institutions.

5. Support for the complete cycle of entrepreneurial projects. BFAero offers three types of support (incubation, acceleration and consolidation), covering all stages of entrepreneurship, from ideation to business consolidation.

6. International scope. It receives projects from all over the world and supports their internationalisation, helping them to access global markets.

7. Investment attraction. Promotes the approach of projects to public and private investment entities, which can provide them with additional development capacities, as well as access to partnerships and new markets.

What does the 6th Edition offer?

In the last two editions, BFAero has focused its efforts on offering projects a set of expert mentors in areas such as aeronautics, UAV regulations, intellectual property, business management or marketing, and on increasing the number of sessions for the benefit of the projects, reaching more than 157 in the fifth edition of the programme

The 6th edition of BFAero comes with a renewed proposal to transform startups into innovative, viable and scalable companies within the aeronautical and aerospace sector. The accelerator offers participants a unique ecosystem with specialised training, expert advice, networking, access to investors and two workspaces in the Pazo de Feiras de Lugo, near the Rozas aerodrome and the Centro de Investigación Aeroportada de Rozas (CIAR). In addition, it provides financial support through grants, equity loans and possible equity investments, thus ensuring the sustainable growth of the projects.

The programme will also provide personalised advice tailored to each project through technical and management mentoring, collaborations in the sector and visibility and dissemination in the media and social networks, as well as through the different events and events organised within the framework of the programme.

An accelerator with global impact

With almost 50 success stories and a track record of national and international recognition for accelerated projects, the Business Factory Aero has established itself as the ideal platform to promote a project in the sector. Since its launch in 2018, it has generated a global impact, accelerating 46 startups and consolidating a dynamic ecosystem that has crossed borders. Companies such as FuVeX, which participated in the 4th edition, have achieved significant milestones, such as the signing of the largest civil drone contract in Spain with Naturgy. In addition, the programme has contributed to the expansion of the sector in Galicia, consolidating Aeromedia as a benchmark operator and attracting start-ups such as Kreios Space and FuVex.

BFAero has been recognised as the best accelerator in Spain in the Funcas–Universidad Rey Juan Carlos 2024-2025 Ranking, consolidating its position as a benchmark in the promotion of startups in the aerospace sector.

The Galician aeronautical ecosystem, made up of more than 55 entities, has become a benchmark for the development and scaling of disruptive technologies in the aerospace industry. Thanks to this collaborative network, the entrepreneurs have gained access to 31 potential customers or ‘early adopters’ and 7 potential investors, strengthening the role of BFAero as an accelerator with global impact.

Key dates and phases of the programme

The 6th edition of BFAero follows a timetable structured in different key phases, starting with the call for applications and the registration process, which will be open until 20 March 2025 at 15:00 (UTC+1). Only applications submitted according to the rules, by the deadline and through the appropriate channel, and which have fully completed the questionnaire will be considered. After the closing date for applications, the selection phase will begin, in which the applications will be evaluated and the projects that will enter the programme will be selected.

Those selected will move on to the entry phase, in which they will have 1 month to provide the required documentation, sign the necessary agreements and complete other formalities related to their entry into BFAero. Once their access has been formalised, the incubation, acceleration and consolidation phases will begin according to the schedule established in the Framework Agreement.