ATIGA strengthens its technological leadership after securing over €33 million for R&D&I in 2025

The technology centres belonging to the Galician Intersectoral Technology Alliance strengthened their position as a major driver of innovation in Galicia in 2025, securing over €33 million through competitive national and regional R&D&I programmes. The figures were reviewed at a meeting held this Tuesday in Santiago between representatives of the six Galician technology centres and Román Rodríguez, the Xunta de Galicia’s Regional Minister for Education, Science, Universities and Vocational Training.

The meeting highlighted the Galician technology centres’ ability to compete in highly demanding calls, attract strategic funding and transfer knowledge to Galicia’s business and industrial sectors. Representatives of AIMEN, ANFACO-CYTMA, CETIM, CTAG, GRADIANT and ITG attended, alongside Carmen Cotelo, Director of the Galician Innovation Agency, and María José Mariño, Director of the agency’s Talent and Transfer Department.

€10.3 million through the Cervera Programme

One of the Galician technology centres’ main achievements in 2025 was securing €10.3 million through CDTI’s Cervera Programme. This places Galicia third among Spain’s autonomous communities for funding obtained under this strategic call, which aims to strengthen collaboration between Spanish technology centres. The amount secured is also three times that obtained in the previous round, consolidating the Galician centres’ growing participation in high-impact national programmes.

This funding enabled the technology centres to advance ten strategic projects in priority areas for Europe and Galicia’s industrial competitiveness. These include dual-use defence technologies, artificial intelligence applied to security, quantum computing, advanced materials, smart energy systems and omics technologies for developing functional foods. One of these projects also received the highest score nationwide.

Record funding from European programmes

The Galician technology centres’ activity extends beyond national programmes. Between 2021 and 2025, ATIGA’s member centres secured over €50 million through the European Horizon Europe programme, already exceeding the total European funding obtained under Horizon 2020 between 2014 and 2020.

This growth reflects the strengthening of Galicia’s R&D&I ecosystem and its increasingly solid position in strategic areas such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, security, the energy transition and smart industry. Galician technology centres now account for 26.6% of all Horizon Europe funding secured by Galicia, compared with 23.1% under Horizon 2020.

A workforce of nearly 1,900 skilled professionals

Alongside the financial and scientific results, the figures presented at the meeting demonstrate the technology centres’ significant contribution to employment and industrial competitiveness in Galicia. ATIGA’s member centres currently employ nearly 1,900 professionals of 36 nationalities and undertake over 500 R&D&I projects each year.

In 2025, the technology centres advertised 123 job vacancies and maintained high levels of employment stability, with 98% of contracts being permanent. Women account for 45% of the workforce, while 64% of employees have more than three years of service, reflecting the consolidation of a stable, highly skilled innovation ecosystem.

The Galician technology centres also continue to strengthen their role as key technology transfer partners for businesses. They currently work with nearly 2,000 clients and hold 175 active patents, contributing to the development of innovative solutions for strategic sectors such as food, automotive, energy, aeronautics, security and advanced industry..

Almost €118 million in revenue in 2025

The centres’ combined revenue has reached €117.8 million, supported by a model based on business collaboration and participation in competitive regional, national and international programmes.