Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI)

What Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) does

CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico e Industrial / Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology) is a Spanish Public Business Entity (Entidad Pública Empresarial) established in 1978 and operating under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Headquartered in Madrid with 251–500 employees, CDTI is the principal public agency financing industrial research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) projects across Spain.

Its core activity is the allocation and management of public capital through a multi-instrument platform: partially refundable loans, direct grants, and equity investments via the Innvierte programme. CDTI also administers European structural funds (ERDF/FEDER, FEMPA) and Next Generation EU / RRF resources, and channels commitments into venture capital funds targeting strategic sectors — KIBO Ventures Fund IV (€73.5M, deep tech / AI / cybersecurity / robotics), Aleos Fund I (€37.5M, biosciences), and SC Net Zero Ventures (€20M, climate tech) — alongside direct equity positions in firms such as Ona Therapeutics and ARTHEx Biotech.

CDTI does not generate commercial revenue; its operating model depends on Spanish national budget allocations and European Union framework programmes. In 2019 it committed €7,831 million across 1,666 R&D&I operations. It participates in international networks including the MIT Industrial Liaison Program, Taftie, SPRIN-D, COTEC, ENAC and IGL, and in April 2026 signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with the Philippines' technology innovation ecosystem to extend Spanish R&D internationalisation into Southeast Asia.

Name

Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI)

Legal name

Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación, E.P.E.

Website

https://cdti.es

Company type

Public

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

CDTI is a Spanish Public Business Entity founded in 1978 that allocates and manages public R&D&I financing — partially refundable loans, grants, Innvierte venture capital, and fund-of-fund commitments — supporting Spanish industrial research, deep tech, biosciences, and climate-tech ventures.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public R&D and Innovation Financing

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Deep Tech / R&D Commercialization CVC (FSANAHAL)

Keywords

• R&D funding instruments
• Innovation grants
• Venture capital co-investment
• Technology development financing
• European framework programmes

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CDTI provides public funding instruments and support services for Spanish companies and research institutions conducting R&D and innovation projects. Its portfolio includes partially refundable loans (Préstamos), grants (Subvenciones), the Neotec program for innovative startups, the Innvierte venture capital co-investment program, public procurement innovation (CPI), and management of European funds (ERDF/FEDER, MRR, EMFAF/FEMPA). It also acts as Spain's national contact point for EU framework programmes and facilitates international R&D cooperation through overseas offices and bilateral technology agreements.

Product overview

CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación) is a Spanish public entity under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities that supports R&D+I projects and technological development in Spain. CDTI does not offer commercial products; its portfolio consists of public funding instruments and support services including partially refundable loans (PRéstamos), grants (Subvenciones), venture capital investments under the Innvierte programme, and the Neotec programme for innovative startups. Additional services include innovation projects, technology transfer initiatives, international R&D support through its network of international offices, public procurement innovation, and access to European Framework Programmes. The entity also manages co-financing from European funds including the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Mechanism (MRR), the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF/FEDER), and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF/FEMPA).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Innvierte: Venture capital investment program by CDTI for risk capital investments in innovative Spanish companies.
• SICC Innvierte

Products and services

• Partially Refundable Loans (Préstamos / Ayudas parcialmente reembolsables) Subsidized loans for individual R&D and innovation projects conducted by Spanish companies, repayable under favorable terms with below-market interest rates. Covers R&D projects, Innovation projects, DANA innovation projects, LIEE infrastructure projects, Cervera technology transfer projects, joint ISCIII-CDTI biomedical actions, and FEMPA fisheries projects.
• Grants (Subvenciones) Non-refundable subsidies supporting Spanish companies and research institutions conducting qualifying R&D+I activities. Disbursed through competitive application calls listed in CDTI's calendar of convocatorias.
• Neotec Grants (Ayudas Neotec) Non-refundable subsidies targeting newly created or recently established innovative technology startups in Spain, funding the development of their technology-based business plans. Recent awards include a €325,000 grant to Lessthan3 and a €300,000 Neotec loan to TetraxAI.
• Innvierte Venture Capital Co-investment Programme Risk capital co-investment programme in which CDTI invests pari passu with private venture capital and private equity funds in innovative Spanish companies across deeptech, biotech, climate tech, AI, cybersecurity, and B2B SaaS sectors. Includes SICC Innvierte sub-vehicle for direct co-investments and fund-of-fund investments in vehicles such as KIBO Ventures, Aleos Fund I, 4Founders Capital, and SC Net Zero Ventures.
• Public Procurement of Innovation (Compra Pública de Innovación / CPI) Instrument supporting public administrations in procuring innovative solutions from Spanish companies, including CPI initiatives and a participation portal for innovative suppliers.
• European Framework Programme Support (Horizon Europe, EU Defence, EU Partnerships) Advisory and co-financing support for Spanish entities participating in EU-level R&D frameworks, including the Horizon Europe framework programme, European Defence programmes, co-funded European Partnerships (Pillar 2 and Innovative SMEs), and access to Large Scientific Infrastructures.
• International R&D Cooperation Programme (PCTI) Programmes funding international technological cooperation projects between Spanish entities and partners abroad, including bilateral cooperation agreements and international R&D+i support through CDTI's network of overseas offices.
• European Fund Co-financing Management (MRR, ERDF/FEDER, EMFAF/FEMPA) Management and disbursement of European structural funds co-financing Spanish R&D+I projects, covering the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (MRR), the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (FEMPA).
• Red PIDI Advisory Service Free advisory service offered through CDTI's national network of PIDI advisors, providing guidance to companies and research institutions on national and European R&D+I funding instruments, application procedures, and project structuring.
• Tax Incentives: Motivated Reports (Informes Motivados) Certification service issuing motivated reports (informes motivados) that support Spanish companies' application of R&D and innovation tax deductions and credits.
• Innovation Ecosystems Support (Ecosistemas de Innovación) Support programme fostering innovation ecosystems and technology-based entrepreneurship in Spain, complementing Neotec and Innvierte instruments.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Philippine Trade and Investment Center, MadridcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 April 2026Bilateral cooperation in R&D, digitalization, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, and SME support between Spain and Philippines. Bilateral trade between the two countries is estimated at US$590-650 million annually.
• Spanish Research InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDTI has supported nearly 300 R&D projects since 2018 with over €230 million allocated for advancing cancer detection and treatment technologies through partnerships with Spanish universities and research centers.
• MIT Industrial Liaison ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational cooperation program facilitating technology transfer and innovation collaboration between Spanish entities and MIT-affiliated institutions.
• Taftie (European Innovation Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network of innovation agencies enabling cooperation and best practice sharing among European public innovation support organizations.
• SECPHOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SECPHO (Photonics Spanish Technology Platform) for cooperation in photonic technologies.
• SPRIN-DminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with SPRIN-D, Germany's federal agency for breakthrough innovation, for joint technology transfer and startup support initiatives.
• COTEC FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with COTEC Foundation for promoting innovation and technology development in Spain.
• Innovation Growth Lab (IGL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal innovation policy experimentation network helping CDTI access cutting-edge methodologies for innovation policy design and testing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vinnova: Sweden's innovation agency funding R&D and innovation through competitive calls and programme investments. Comparable public agency mandate, similar scale and instrument mix.
• Innosuisse: Swiss Innovation Agency promoting science-based innovation through funding of R&D projects, start-ups, and innovation partnerships between academia and industry. Direct functional peer to CDTI's R&D+I mandate.
• Bpifrance: France's public investment bank and innovation funding agency. Closest peer to CDTI: provides partially refundable loans, grants, CVC co-investments, and fund-of-funds commitments targeting French R&D and deep-tech companies — analogous instruments and mandate.
• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency under UKRI, funding business-led R&D through grants, loans, and Catapult programmes. Comparable government-backed R&D funding mission and similar grant plus co-investment model.
• Israel Innovation Authority: Israeli government authority funding R&D and innovation through conditional grants and equity. Operates a comparable mix of grants, conditional loans, and program-based funding aimed at technology commercialisation.
• European Innovation Council (EIC): EU-level innovation funding body under Horizon Europe providing grants, blended finance, and equity investments to deep-tech and scaling companies. CDTI acts as Spain's national contact point for EIC, making them complementary but partially overlapping funders.
• Enterprise Ireland: Irish state agency supporting Irish enterprises through funding, equity, and advisory services for R&D and internationalisation. Similar mandate, size, and funding instrument mix as CDTI.
• National Research Council of Canada – IRAP: Canadian government's Industrial Research Assistance Programme providing advisory services, funding, and innovation support to SMEs. Similar advisory + co-investment model supporting national industrial R&D.

Broad incumbents

• SBA – Small Business Administration: US federal agency supporting small businesses through loan guarantees, grants, and innovation programmes (e.g., SBIR/STTR). Broader mandate than CDTI, but overlaps significantly on R&D funding instruments and innovation support for SMEs.
• CDP (Cassa Depositi e Prestiti): Italian state-owned financial institution supporting national economic development through financing and equity investments, including innovation and infrastructure. Comparable state-backed development finance role in a neighbouring economy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cdtioficial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CDTIoficial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdti
• Facebookfacebook.com/CDTIoficial.ES

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments209 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI)