Sodercan

What Sodercan does

Sodercan is the Society for Regional Development of Cantabria, a public entity wholly owned by the Government of Cantabria and attached to the regional Ministry of Industry, Employment, Innovation, and Trade. Founded in 1990 and headquartered at the Cantabria Science and Technology Park in Santander, it functions as a regional development agency rather than a commercial enterprise, employing 51-100 staff and operating five physical offices across Cantabria (Santander, Los Corrales de Buelna, Potes, Reinosa, Torrelavega) through the Red Acte Territorio Empresa network.

The organization's core activities revolve around distributing government subsidies, grants, and venture capital to the regional business ecosystem. Its portfolio includes the EiBTS program for technology company creation, the Tech FabLab prototyping facility, the Xtela open innovation program (now in its 3rd edition with 52 corporates and 175 startups participating), the ASFITEC R&D program, Emprecan Plus entrepreneurship training, Start Up Capital Cantabria (convertible participatory loans of €25K-€250K and equity participations up to €250K capped at 10 years and 45% ownership), and the Investin Cantabria investment attraction platform. Recent funding allocations include €176K for six circular economy R&D projects, €97.9K for 12 Xtela open innovation projects, and a €30K first EIBTs award to Manfacter. The agency also manages European collaborative projects (GRANDIS, Blue Point, Galactea Plus IX, Clean Energy Transition Partnership) and runs the I Internationalisation Plan of Cantabria (2025-2028).

Sodercan's business model is non-commercial in the conventional sense: rather than generating revenue from customers, it is funded through regional government budgets and European sources, then channels those funds outward as grants, subsidies, and equity-like instruments to entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies in Cantabria. Customer-facing services include R&D subsidies, digital transformation support, internationalization assistance via the Enterprise Europe Network, cybersecurity support (CIBERREG project), and recent infrastructure initiatives such as the Cantabria Cybersecurity Centre (C3) launched in 2025 and a Data Center Technology Campus project valued at over €3.6 billion. GTM motion is event-driven (Start In Cantabria Summit, DemoDays, sector conferences, trade missions) supported by owned digital channels and a media partnership with Europa Press (CANAL INNOVA).

Name

Sodercan

Legal name

Sociedad para el Desarrollo Regional de Cantabria S.A.

Website

https://sodercan.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Sodercan is a publicly-owned regional development agency of the Government of Cantabria that administers grants, subsidies, and venture capital programs to support entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies in Cantabria, Spain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development Services

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ)

Keywords

• Regional development services
• Business support programs
• Innovation funding
• Entrepreneurship support
• Subsidy administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Santander

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Subsidies and Grants Administration: SODERCAN operates as a public development agency that distributes government subsidies, grants, and financial aid to businesses in Cantabria rather than generating commercial revenue. The organization manages various funding programs including R&D subsidies, startup capital, and innovation grants funded by regional and European sources.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Sodercan is the Society for Regional Development of Cantabria S.A., a public entity of the Government of Cantabria that administers and distributes business support programs, subsidies, grants, R&D funding, seed capital, and internationalization services to entrepreneurs and companies operating in Cantabria, Spain. The agency manages an interconnected portfolio of programs including EiBTS for technology company creation, Tech FabLab for prototyping, Xtela for open innovation between corporates and startups, Start Up Capital Cantabria for venture capital, and ASFITEC for R&D, supported by physical offices across the region.

Product overview

Sodercan operates as a regional development agency offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services supporting the Cantabrian innovation ecosystem. The core offerings include the EiBTS Program for technology company creation, the Tech FabLab for advanced manufacturing access, and the Xtela Business Acceleration Program for open innovation between corporations and startups. Funding support is provided through Start Up Capital Cantabria (venture capital) and various subsidy programs. Additional services include Investin Cantabria for investment attraction, the Cantabria Digital Agenda for digital transformation, internationalization support through the I Internationalisation Plan, and participation in European projects. The agency also facilitates entrepreneurship through Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs and maintains regional offices through the Red Acte Territorio Empresa network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Xtela: Business acceleration program pairing large regional companies with tech startups
• Emprecan Plus
• Start Up Capital Cantabria
• EiBTS
• ASFITEC
• Tech FabLab
• Invest in Cantabria

Products and services

• EiBTS Program Program for the creation of innovative technology-based companies in Cantabria, supporting high-potential deep tech startups through the EIBTs award (including a €30,000 prize) and related incubation services.
• Tech FabLab A technology fabrication laboratory providing access to advanced manufacturing equipment and prototyping resources for entrepreneurs and startups in Cantabria.
• Xtela Business Acceleration Program An open innovation program pairing large regional companies with tech startups to solve technological challenges in advanced industry, logistics, energy, health, sports, mobility, data analytics, and artificial intelligence.
• ASFITEC Program A program to foster R&D in Cantabria, supporting innovation projects and research initiatives through dedicated R&D funding calls.
• Emprecan Plus Comprehensive business creation program offering support from idea definition through business plan development, company formation, and initial consolidation phases for new entrepreneurs in Cantabria.
• Start Up Capital Cantabria Venture capital program using participatory convertible loans ranging from €25,000 to €250,000, and equity participation up to €250,000 for up to 10 years (never exceeding 45% equity), to support startup growth in Cantabria.
• Investin Cantabria Investment attraction service to attract foreign investments and facilitate company establishment in the Cantabria region, including NZIA single contact point for net-zero industry projects.
• CIBERREG Project Cybersecurity project supporting regional cybersecurity initiatives and ecosystem development for companies in Cantabria.
• I Internationalisation Plan of Cantabria Strategic plan for 2025-2028 to support Cantabrian companies in international markets through trade missions, export consortia, and international client search services.
• Cantabria Digital Agenda Regional digital transformation strategy to promote digitalization and technological adoption in Cantabrian companies.
• European Projects Portfolio (GRANDIS, Blue Point, Galactea Plus IX, Clean Energy Transition Partnership) Portfolio of European collaboration projects including GRANDIS, Blue Point, Galactea Plus IX, and Clean Energy Transition Partnership for cross-border cooperation and access to EU funding programs like Horizonte Europa.
• Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs EU-funded exchange program allowing new entrepreneurs to learn from experienced business owners in other countries, with Sodercan as the local contact point in Cantabria (contact: [email protected]).

Quantifiable outcome

• 52 corporates and 175 startups connected through Xtela open innovation program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2026INCIBE funds the ciberEmprende cybersecurity entrepreneurship program, now in its 5th edition, which concluded with a DemoDay in Tenerife featuring startup pitches and investor presentations. INCIBE provides the award category (INCIBE award) for the Pitch Combat competition.
• mentorDaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnermentorDay promotes the ciberEmprende cybersecurity entrepreneurship program, providing mentorship and support to cybersecurity startups in the Canary Islands ecosystem.
• Xtela Program Partners (52 regional corporations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLarge regional companies partner with tech startups through the Xtela open innovation program (3rd edition, 52 corporates, 175 startups participated) to solve concrete technological challenges in advanced industry, logistics, energy, health, sports, mobility, data analytics, and AI.
• Xtela Program Partners (175 startups)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTech startups collaborate with large regional companies through the Xtela open innovation acceleration program to develop solutions for real technological challenges.
• Enterprise Europe NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network providing internationalization support services including search for international clients, export consortia, and cross-border business matching for Cantabrian companies.
• Cámaras de ComerciominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Commerce partnership for organizing trade missions and internationalization support programs.
• CDTIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación - participates in SODERCAN-organized events on European funding opportunities (Horizonte Europa) for R+D+i projects.
• Centro Tecnológico CTCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology center participating in SODERCAN-organized events on European funding opportunities (Horizonte Europa) for R+D+i projects.
• AcordeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany participating in SODERCAN-organized events on European funding opportunities (Horizonte Europa) for R+D+i projects.

Scale indicators7 records

Direct peers

• SPRI (Basque Government): SPRI is the Basque Country's regional development agency providing subsidies, R&D support, and internationalization services — the most established and well-funded Spanish regional counterpart to Sodercan.
• IVACE (Generalitat Valenciana): IVACE is Valencia's regional development agency offering grants, innovation support, and internationalization services comparable in scope to Sodercan's mandate.
• IGAPE (Xunta de Galicia): IGAPE is Galicia's regional development agency providing financial aid, R&D grants, and business support programs to Galician companies, structurally analogous to Sodercan.
• IDEA (Junta de Andalucía): IDEA is Andalucía's regional development agency managing grants, innovation incentives, and business creation programs for the region's SMEs — directly comparable to Sodercan in role and function.
• INFO (Región de Murcia): INFO is Murcia's regional development institute offering R&D subsidies, startup support, and internationalization services to regional companies — peer agency to Sodercan.
• IDEPA (Principado de Asturias): IDEPA is Asturias's regional development agency providing subsidies, R&D support, and competitiveness programs to regional SMEs — structurally similar in mandate and tools to Sodercan.
• Institut Català d'Empresa i Competitivitat (ICEC / ACCIÓ): ACCIÓ is Catalonia's competitiveness agency providing innovation grants, internationalization support, and startup acceleration programs — a large and well-resourced regional peer comparable to Sodercan.

Broad incumbents

• CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación): CDTI is Spain's national R&D funding agency that Sodercan partners with on European funding events. It is a larger, broader-incumbent player operating nationwide with overlapping R&D grant capabilities.
• ENISA (Empresa Nacional de Innovación): ENISA is Spain's national SME innovation financing entity providing participatory loans nationwide. It is a broader-incumbent peer to Sodercan's Start Up Capital Cantabria offering.
• ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones: ICEX is Spain's national trade and investment agency providing internationalization support. It overlaps with Sodercan's Internationalisation Plan and Enterprise Europe Network activities at a national scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DirComSodercan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Sodercan1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gruposodercan
• Instagraminstagram.com/sodercan.es

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments10 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Sodercan