Zabala Innovation Consulting, S.A.

What Zabala Innovation Consulting, S.A. does

Zabala Innovation Consulting, S.A. is a privately held, family-owned Spanish consultancy founded in 1986 in Navarra, specialising in helping organisations access European and national public funding for research, development and innovation. The firm serves a horizontal client base spanning start-ups, SMEs, large corporates, research centres and public administrations, operating from 13 offices across Spain, Belgium, France, Portugal and the United Kingdom with a workforce of more than 600 professionals, over 60 of whom hold doctoral degrees. Its service portfolio centres on proposal writing for European funding programmes (Horizon Europe, EIC, Interreg, LIFE, CEF, Innovation Fund, and national aid instruments including Next Generation EU), end-to-end European project management, strategic positioning, consortium structuring, innovation strategy consulting, and studies and diagnostics for public administrations.

The firm's primary technology asset is Kaila, a proprietary digital platform that aggregates European funding call databases, funded-project intelligence, innovation trend analysis and partner-matching capabilities. Kaila is positioned as an internal productivity and client-engagement tool rather than a standalone commercial product, and is complemented by the firm's deep institutional knowledge of EU programme rules and evaluation criteria. According to company-reported metrics, Zabala has secured more than €5.3 billion in funding for clients since 2021, submitted over 800 proposals in the same period, and maintains a 37-40% success rate across European programmes — significantly above typical baseline rates.

The business model is professional services: bespoke, quote-based consulting engagements priced against hours, deliverables and outcome-linked success fees where applicable. Revenue is generated through proposal writing, project management retainers, strategic positioning work, and innovation-strategy consulting, with the Brussels office serving as the hub for EU-level engagement. The firm holds ISO 9001 and ISO 56001 certifications, is wholly bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional investors, and operates country-specific subsidiaries in Belgium, France and Portugal to deliver localised services under each jurisdiction's legal structure.

Name

Zabala Innovation Consulting, S.A.

Legal name

ZABALA INNOVATION CONSULTING, S.A.

Website

https://zabala.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Zabala Innovation Consulting is a family-owned Spanish consultancy, founded in 1986, that advises start-ups, SMEs, large companies, research centres and public administrations on accessing European R&D&I funding across 13 offices in five countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation Consulting and R&D&I Funding Advisory

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Management Consulting Services (54161), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Innovation, Product & R&D Consulting (BPAHACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Strategy & Corporate Development Consulting (BPAHACAA), Corporate & Voluntary Procurement Policy (PPAs, Green Tariffs, 24/7 CFE) (EUAMANAH)

Keywords

• Innovation consulting
• R&D funding advisory
• Horizon Europe consulting
• Proposal writing services
• European project management

Headquarters

HQ city

Mutilva Alta

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Consultancy and Advisory Services: Zabala Innovation provides expert consultancy services in innovation strategy and R&D&I financing. Services include proposal writing for European projects, European project management, project support activities, positioning, EU platforms and initiatives, innovation strategy, and studies and diagnostics. The firm charges for professional consulting engagements with clients including start-ups, SMEs, large companies, research centres, and public administrations across Europe.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zabala Innovation Consulting is an international consultancy firm that advises start-ups, SMEs, large companies, research centres, and public administrations on accessing European and national public funding for research, development and innovation projects. Core deliverables include proposal writing for European projects, full-cycle European project management, strategic positioning in EU projects, innovation strategy consulting, EU platforms and initiatives advisory, and studies and diagnostics for public administrations. The proprietary Kaila digital platform complements these services by providing real-time visibility into European funding opportunities, funded projects, and partner networks.

Product overview

Zabala Innovation Consulting, S.A. is an international consultancy firm specialising in innovation strategy and R&D&I financing. The company offers a portfolio of consulting services centred around European public funding for innovation projects. The core offering is complemented by Kaila, a proprietary digital platform that facilitates innovation management by providing access to European funding opportunities, innovation trend analysis, and partner discovery. Services span the entire project lifecycle from proposal writing and strategic positioning to project management and impact measurement, supporting clients including startups, SMEs, large companies, research centres, and public administrations across multiple EU funding programmes including Horizon Europe, EIC Accelerator, Interreg, LIFE, and Innovation Fund.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kaila: A digital platform developed by Zabala Innovation to facilitate innovation management for all types of organisations. The platform helps identify European funding opportunities, analyse innovation trends, map competitors, explore funded projects, and find potential partners across Europe.

Products and services

• Kaila A digital platform developed by Zabala Innovation to facilitate innovation management for organisations. It enables users to discover European funding opportunities, analyse innovation trends, map competitors, explore funded projects, and find potential partners across Europe. Includes the Horizon Europe Calendar tool and draws on programme databases to show open calls, organisations that obtained European funding, and topics receiving support.
• Proposal Writing for European Projects Expert consultation and support in writing proposals for European funding programmes, helping clients finance the development and market access of innovative projects. For organisations seeking European R&D&I grants.
• European Project Management Comprehensive project management services for European-funded projects, leveraging decades of experience with different EU programmes to manage projects from inception through completion. For beneficiaries of EU funding programmes.
• Project Support Activities Support services including communication and dissemination activities, social innovation strategy definition, and tools to measure project impact. For European project coordinators and partners seeking to maximise project outcomes.
• Positioning Strategic positioning services to help clients establish their business in strategic areas of interest and involve them in EU projects with the most active stakeholders in their sectors. For organisations seeking strategic entry into EU-funded project ecosystems.
• EU Platforms and Initiatives Advisory services for activities that encourage innovation through public procurement, promoting the development of new innovative markets from the demand side. For organisations and public bodies engaging in EU platforms and innovation initiatives.
• Innovation Strategy Guidance for companies in implementing adequate innovation strategies to tackle transformation challenges in a coordinated and effective manner from an integrated perspective. For corporate and public sector clients undergoing innovation transformation.
• Studies and Diagnostics Collaboration with public administrations to promote innovation and assist companies in integrating innovation into their overall strategy. For public sector bodies commissioning R&I studies, diagnostics and policy evaluations.
• Cascade Funding Support services for accessing cascade funding through open calls launched by EU-funded projects, offering a faster and lighter entry point to public funding for startups. For start-ups and SMEs seeking low-friction entry into EU funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over €5.3 billion secured for clients since 2021
• +6 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• FundingBox: A fintech-style platform for cascade funding and open call management for EU-funded projects. Comparable in the cascade funding service line and adjacent in the funding-opportunity-discovery space where Kaila also operates.
• TTOPSTART: Health and life-sciences focused EU funding consultancy. Overlaps with Zabala in proposal writing and project management for European health programmes but specialises in a narrower vertical.

Direct peers

• Idea Consult: Brussels-based consultancy providing EU funding advisory, R&I policy studies, and innovation strategy services. Overlaps with Zabala in EU project proposal support, programme evaluation, and innovation management for public administrations.
• PNO Innovation: One of the largest EU R&D grant and innovation funding consultancies in Europe, with a network of national offices across the EU. PNO Innovation directly competes with Zabala in proposal writing, programme management, and innovation advisory services for Horizon Europe, Interreg, LIFE, and similar programmes.
• EurA AG: A European innovation consultancy specialising in EU R&D funding advisory, project management, and innovation strategy across Germany, Belgium, and other EU markets. Directly comparable to Zabala in serving SMEs, research centers, and large companies seeking Horizon Europe and similar funding.
• RTD Talos: European consultancy specialising in EU R&D project proposal writing, project management, and innovation strategy. Directly comparable to Zabala in offering end-to-end support for Horizon Europe and related funding programmes.
• Steinbeis 2i GmbH: European innovation consultancy supporting businesses, research institutions, and public bodies in accessing EU R&D funding. Overlaps heavily with Zabala's Horizon Europe, EIC, and Interreg proposal writing and project management services.
• Greenovate! Europe: A sustainability-focused European innovation consultancy supporting clients with Horizon Europe, LIFE, and other EU funding opportunities. Comparable to Zabala in delivering proposal writing, project management, and innovation strategy in the environment and climate domain.

Broad incumbents

• PwC (Strategy&): Big Four professional services firm with a broad EU funding advisory practice alongside much wider consulting capabilities. Competes with Zabala for large-company EU funding engagements but also offers broader strategy, tax, and operations consulting.
• Ecorys: European research and consulting firm with strong EU programme evaluation, R&I policy, and impact assessment capabilities. Overlaps with Zabala's public-administration studies and diagnostics practice but operates at broader scale across non-innovation topics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkjodHs_4czqN9lIgb82QGA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10525067
• Instagraminstagram.com/zabala_innovation
• Xx.com/zabala_ic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Zabala Innovation Consulting, S.A.