CDTI Grants 2026: Funding for Innovation and How Barcelona Export Can Help You Secure It
The CDTI grants 2026—managed by the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation, an agency under the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities—will mobilise more than €1.8 billion in 2026 to support the entire business innovation cycle.
If your company develops technology, innovates in processes, or works on new product development, you may be overlooking one of Spain’s most powerful sources of public funding.
The challenge is that accessing these grants without expert support involves a steep learning curve.
At Barcelona Export, we have spent years helping companies structure, write and manage their R&D&I projects. In this article, we explain what the CDTI grants 2026 are, which funding calls will be available in 2026 and, above all, why having an experienced project manager can make the difference between securing funding and missing out.
What are the CDTI grants 2026?
The Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI) is Spain’s leading public body for business innovation funding.
Its mission is to promote research, technological development and innovation among Spanish companies through two main types of financial instruments:
- Partially repayable funding: subsidised loans linked to the EURIBOR interest rate, with long grace periods and repayment terms. Although these are not direct grants, their conditions—up to 10 years for repayment with a 3-year grace period—make them highly attractive.
- Competitive non-repayable grants: through programmes such as NEOTEC, Science and Innovation Missions and the EIC Seal of Excellence, CDTI offers non-repayable funding ranging from 35% to 100% of eligible project costs.
In short, CDTI grants 2026 projects that significantly advance the technological state of the art, including new products, new manufacturing processes, new services, or the integration and adaptation of technological innovations that create a genuine competitive advantage.
Main CDTI grants 2026
CDTI plans to mobilise more than €1.8 billion in 2026, combining competitive grants, partially repayable funding and public-private co-investment schemes, with a strong focus on collaborative R&D, strategic challenges and internationalisation.
These are the most relevant CDTI grants 2026:
R&D Projects (PID) — Permanent Open Call
This is the most widely used funding line for SMEs and large companies. It supports projects lasting between 6 and 24 months, with repayable funding of up to 75% and a non-repayable component of 5%. The interest rate is linked to EURIBOR, with a 10-year repayment period and a 3-year grace period. For many companies, this is the main gateway into the CDTI ecosystem.
Direct Innovation Line (LDI) — Permanent Open Call
The Direct Innovation Line is specifically designed for innovation projects that are smaller in scale and complexity than traditional R&D projects. It enables SMEs to access funding for technology developments that are closer to market deployment. It is ideal for companies that innovate but are not yet ready to undertake full-scale R&D activities.
Science and Innovation Missions 2026 — €60 Million in Grants
The CDTI Missions programme has become one of Spain’s leading instruments for funding large-scale R&D projects with a clear strategic focus. It supports collaborative initiatives designed to address predefined national challenges in areas such as ecological transition, digitalisation, healthcare and security. Funding is targeted at business consortia made up of several independent companies, with mandatory SME participation and business leadership in all cases.
NEOTEC — For Technology Start-ups
NEOTEC is aimed at funding technology-based start-ups and small companies in Spain. Its objective is to support innovative projects based on proprietary technology and knowledge. NEOTEC grants can cover up to 100% of eligible costs through non-repayable funding.
International Cooperation: Eurostars and Horizon Europe
CDTI will allocate €32 million to international technological cooperation initiatives, strengthening the participation of Spanish companies in international R&D consortia through programmes such as Eurostars-3 and Horizon Europe.
The biggest challenge of CDTI grants 2026: technical proposals and reporting
This is where many companies struggle. CDTI grants 2026 are not automatically awarded. Applicants must submit a rigorous technical proposal demonstrating the project’s innovative nature, economic viability and expected impact.
Once funding has been approved, project monitoring and cost justification requirements are equally demanding.
The most common mistakes leading to rejected applications include:
- Poorly substantiated technical proposals: failure to clearly demonstrate the state of the art and the project’s technological advancement.
- Poorly structured budgets: inclusion of ineligible costs, incorrect allocation of personnel expenses or inaccurate overhead calculations.
- Lack of consistency between the technical and financial proposals: the project narrative and budget do not align.
- Reporting issues: inaccurate timesheets, incorrectly allocated invoices or missing supporting documentation.
These mistakes can not only result in an initial rejection but may also lead to the recovery of previously awarded funds during the reporting phase, with significant financial and reputational consequences.
How Barcelona Export manages your CDTI grants 2026 from start to finish
At Barcelona Export, we provide a comprehensive R&D&I project management service for CDTI grants 2026, covering the entire project lifecycle—from the initial assessment to final reporting.
1. Eligibility assessment and preliminary diagnosis
Before drafting a single line of the proposal, we assess whether your project meets the criteria for CDTI funding and identify the most suitable programme. Many companies spend weeks preparing applications for calls that are not the best fit for their projects.
2. Technical proposal writing
The technical proposal is the core of the application. Our team prepares it using a rigorous methodology, including:
- State-of-the-art analysis
- Definition of technological advancement
- Work plan with milestones and deliverables
- Risk assessment
- Results exploitation plan
A well-structured proposal not only increases approval chances but also simplifies future reporting requirements.
3. Financial proposal structuring
CDTI grants 2026 have specific eligibility rules. We define and optimise eligible cost categories—including internal staff, subcontracting, consumables, depreciation and indirect costs—to maximise the project’s eligible budget within regulatory limits.
4. Project monitoring and control
Once the project has been approved, we take operational responsibility for project management:
- Milestone tracking
- Systematic recording of staff hours
- Monitoring actual versus budgeted expenditure
- Regular communication with the assigned CDTI project officer
5. Full reporting and justification management
Reporting is just as critical as the application itself. We prepare all supporting documentation, including:
- Technical progress reports
- Cost certifications
- Timesheets
- Invoices and subcontracting agreements
We also coordinate project audits whenever required.
Why choose Barcelona Export for your CDTI grants 2026?
Managing a CDTI grants 2026 internally without prior experience often requires hundreds of hours from highly qualified staff, diverting them from their core innovation activities.
Working with a specialised external partner such as Barcelona Export provides:
- Lower rejection risk thanks to robust technical and financial proposals.
- Peace of mind during reporting, as we know exactly which documents CDTI requires and how to present them.
- Real time savings for your technical team, allowing them to focus on innovation instead of administrative tasks.
- A strategic perspective, helping you plan not only your current project but also your medium-term R&D&I funding roadmap.
CDTI grants 2026 are among the most powerful innovation funding instruments available in Spain.
With more than €1.8 billion allocated in 2026, there are opportunities for almost any company genuinely committed to innovation.
The question is not whether your company qualifies for these grants, but whether you have the right support to secure them.
Do you have an R&D&I project in mind? Contact Barcelona Export and within 48 hours we will tell you whether your project fits CDTI funding criteria and which programme is best suited to your needs.
Barcelona Export supports companies in the application, management and reporting of public innovation grants, including CDTI programmes, Horizon Europe and regional R&D&I funding schemes.