Catalunya Exporta programme: the ACCIÓ programme helping Catalan SMEs start exporting
Discover the Catalunya Exporta programme by ACCIÓ: grants of up to €10,500, training and expert guidance to help your Catalan SME start exporting in 2026.
If you run an SME in Catalonia and have been thinking about selling outside Spain, here’s some news worth your attention: the Catalunya Exporta programme by ACCIÓ, the Agència per la Competitivitat de l’Empresa, is the most powerful public initiative currently available to help Catalan businesses make the leap into international markets. At Barcelona Export we explain everything you need to know to make the most of this opportunity.
¿What is the Catalunya Exporta programme?
The Catalunya Exporta programme is a public-private initiative driven by the Government of the Generalitat de Catalunya through ACCIÓ. It runs for three years (2026–2028), has a budget of over €3 million and an ambitious goal: to help 2,000 Catalan companies start exporting for the first time or consolidate their presence in foreign markets. It forms part of the Catalan Economy Internationalisation Strategy 2026–2030, which aims to reach 19,000 regular exporting companies across Catalonia.
The Catalunya Exporta programme does not work alone. It is developed jointly by ACCIÓ and a network of leading business organisations: the Consell General de Cambres de Catalunya, Foment del Treball Nacional, PIMEC, Secartys, TecnoCampus, Amec, the Fundació Cecot Innovació, Texfor, FITEX, the Centre Metal·lúrgic and the AEGP. A coalition that guarantees broad sectoral coverage and genuine on-the-ground support.
What does the Catalunya Exporta programme offer your business?
The Catalunya Exporta programme is not just training: it is a complete roadmap that accompanies the company from the initial diagnosis through to the execution of the export plan. The main pillars are:
1. Specialist training sessions Workshops and sessions on international training, export financing, building an export department, how to find international distributors, adapting your product to foreign markets and much more. Sessions are scheduled every two weeks, allowing businesses to keep pace without disrupting day-to-day operations.
2. Personalised export diagnostic Each company receives an analysis of its real starting point: the product’s export potential, the most suitable markets, the optimal entry channel and the resources required. The outcome is an actionable initial plan with specific tasks, responsibilities and deadlines.
3. Access to ACCIÓ tools and resources Participating companies gain access to ACCIÓ’s full service portfolio: market intelligence and opportunities, support for tariff barriers, resolution of international trade obstacles and, above all, the internationalisation vouchers described below.
The ACCIÓ Vouchers: direct funding to start exporting
Within the Catalunya Exporta programme ecosystem, the ACCIÓ Vouchers are the most direct funding instrument available to Catalan SMEs. The 2026 call — now open — offers two options:
- Vouchers to start exporting: up to €10,500 grant (100% of the budget). Aimed at companies that do not yet export or whose foreign sales do not exceed 25% of turnover.
- Vouchers for internationalisation plans: up to €8,000 grant (100% of the budget). For companies with some export experience that want to structure and scale their strategy.
In both cases, the voucher is redeemed with an ACCIÓ-accredited Internationalisation advisor — such as BarcelonaExport — who designs and executes the internationalisation project alongside the company.
Basic requirements to access the vouchers:
- Be an SME with operational headquarters in Catalonia
- Have invoiced a minimum of €250,000 in the previous financial year
- Have a website in at least one foreign language
- Be up to date with tax and Social Security obligations
One important point: vouchers are awarded in strict chronological order of application and tend to run out within a few weeks of the call opening. In 2026 the call opened on 14 May. If you are reading this now, don’t leave it until tomorrow.
Why trust an accredited adviser like Isabel Garcia at BarcelonaExport?
Working with an ACCIÓ-accredited Internationalisation adviser makes a real difference. Not only because the voucher itself requires it, but because the export process — finding distributors, negotiating contracts, adapting to local regulations — has a steep learning curve that can prove very costly without expert guidance.
At BarcelonaExport we have spent years supporting Catalan SMEs in their internationalisation journey: from market selection through to signing the first contract with an international distributor. Within the Catalunya Exporta programme, we can help you apply for the vouchers, design your export plan and execute every step with a proven methodology.
The time to export is now
Catalonia is Spain’s leading exporting region, with over €74 billion in exports and a presence in more than 180 markets. Yet 42% of those exports are concentrated in large companies. The Catalunya Exporta programme exists precisely so that SMEs — the true engine of the Catalan economy — can also benefit from international growth.
If your company has a strong product, productive capacity and a vision for the future, the Catalunya Exporta programme by ACCIÓ could be the catalyst you have been waiting for. The question is not whether you should export, but when you start.
Want to know whether your company can access the Catalunya Exporta programme and the 2026 ACCIÓ Vouchers? Get in touch and we will provide a free diagnostic within 48 hours.