CIEM Zaragoza

What CIEM Zaragoza does

CIEM Zaragoza is a public-private innovation center and business incubator located in Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain, founded in 2016 as part of the Milla Digital ecosystem and operated by INIT SERVICES FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION, S.L. (Grupo Init) under the institutional umbrella of the Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. The center provides physical workspace services — coworking, private offices (despachos), and meeting room rentals — together with business consulting, structured acceleration programs, and event programming targeted at entrepreneurs, startups, and mature innovative companies in the region.

Its core technology positioning is that of an open innovation ecosystem facilitator rather than a proprietary software platform. The product portfolio includes the eHealth Acceleration Program in Aragón, the Horizonte Factoría industrial open innovation laboratory co-run with BStartup Banco Sabadell, the Red Meic network program, the Laboratorio de Innovación Abierta en Igualdad (LIAI), and the Diversity at Work LGBT+ congress. These programs function as repeatable engagement vehicles connecting startups, corporates (Fersa Bearings, DKV Seguros, Grupo Hospitalario Hernán Cortés, CerTest Biotec), academic institutions (Universidad San Jorge), public bodies (Instituto Aragonés de Fomento, Instituto Aragonés de la Mujer, Aragón Exterior), and financial partners (BStartup Banco Sabadell, CaixaBank Day One, Bantierra, ENISA, Clave Capital). The center has accelerated more than 200 projects over its operating history.

CIEM generates revenue through service fees for workspace rentals, consulting engagements, and program participation, alongside what appears to be substantial institutional funding routed via the Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza and regional government partners. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; no venture capital or external funding rounds have been identified. The legal operating entity, INIT SERVICES FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION, S.L., is registered in Bilbao, and operational control rests with management, with the city council functioning as institutional sponsor. The center remains a single-region operation focused on Aragón.

Name

CIEM Zaragoza

Legal name

INIT SERVICES FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION, S.L.

Website

https://ciemzaragoza.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CIEM Zaragoza is a Zaragoza-based public-private innovation center operated by Grupo Init under the Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza, providing coworking, offices, consulting, and sector-specific acceleration programs (eHealth, industrial) to startups and established companies in Aragón, Spain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Zaragoza

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Incubation and acceleration services: CIEM Zaragoza provides incubation services, coworking spaces, office rentals (despachos), meeting room rentals (alquiler de salas), and business consulting (consultoría para empresas) to entrepreneurs and startups. Revenue is generated through service fees for these facilities and programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CIEM Zaragoza is a physical business incubator and open-innovation hub in Zaragoza that provides coworking spaces, private offices (despachos), meeting room rentals, and business consulting to entrepreneurs and startups. It also runs sector-specific acceleration programs (notably the eHealth Acceleration Program in Aragón and Horizonte Factoría for industrial innovation) and curates community events such as the Laboratorio de Innovación Abierta en Igualdad (LIAI) and Diversity at Work LGBT+. The center connects startups with mature companies, universities, financial institutions, and public-sector partners to drive open innovation across Aragón.

Product overview

CIEM Zaragoza is an innovation center and incubator managed by Init Services for Social Innovation on behalf of the Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. It operates as an Open Innovation Factory providing physical workspace services (coworking spaces, private offices, and meeting room rentals), business consulting, and various innovation programs. The portfolio includes the eHealth Acceleration Program in Aragón, the Horizonte Factoría industrial innovation ecosystem, the Red Meic network, and the Laboratorio de Innovación Abierta en Igualdad (LIAI) focused on gender equality. The center has accelerated over 200 projects throughout its history and serves as a hub connecting startups, established companies, educational institutions, financial entities, and civil society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• eHealth en Aragón: Aceleración eHealth en Aragón - An acceleration program for health technology startups in Aragon
• Horizonte Factoría
• Laboratorio de Innovación Abierta en Igualdad (LIAI)
• Diversity at Work LGBT+

Products and services

• Coworking Shared workspace facilities for entrepreneurs, startups, and innovative projects providing flexible office solutions at the CIEM Zaragoza facility.
• Despachos (Private Office Spaces) Private office spaces for businesses and entrepreneurs requiring dedicated work environments at the CIEM Zaragoza facility.
• Alquiler de Salas (Meeting Room Rentals) Rental of meeting rooms and event spaces for business meetings, workshops, and presentations at the CIEM Zaragoza facility.
• Consultoría para Empresas Business consulting services for companies seeking innovation, entrepreneurship support, and strategic guidance.
• Programa de Aceleración eHealth en Aragón Acceleration program for health-technology startups in Aragón, organized by Instituto Aragonés de Fomento through Grupo Init, focused on developing innovative projects in the eHealth sector and culminating in a Demo Day held at CIEM Zaragoza.
• Horizonte Factoría Open industrial innovation ecosystem and laboratory organized by Grupo Init and BStartup Banco Sabadell, focused on connecting technology startups with industrial companies to foster innovation in Industry 4.0 technologies including AI, IoT, virtual reality, and 3D printing.
• Red Meic Network program connecting innovation and entrepreneurship resources and stakeholders within the CIEM Zaragoza ecosystem.
• Laboratorio de Innovación Abierta en Igualdad (LIAI) Open innovation laboratory focused on gender equality, organized by the Servicio de Igualdad y mujer del Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza and Grupo Init through CIEM Zaragoza, currently in its third edition.

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INIT SERVICES FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION, S.L. (Grupo Init)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrupo Init es la empresa gestora de CIEM Zaragoza, operando la incubadora en nombre del Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. Desarrolla programas de aceleración como Horizonte Factoría (industrial), eHealth Aragón, y gestiona el ecosistema de innovación abierta.
• Ayuntamiento de ZaragozacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEl Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza es el titular de CIEM Zaragoza, proporcionando respaldo institucional y financiamiento a través de sus departamentos como el Servicio de Igualdad y Mujer.
• Instituto Aragonés de Fomento (IAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganismo del Gobierno de Aragón que impulsa programas de aceleración empresarial como el Programa de Aceleración eHealth en Aragón y el Programa Acelera Startups, gestionados a través de Grupo Init en CIEM Zaragoza.
• Universidad San Jorge (USJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversidad que colabora con CIEM Zaragoza en el programa Startup & Campus: Open Innovation Day, conectando proyectos de eHealth con estudiantes y equipos multidisciplinares.
• Cátedra Talento EmprendedorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCátedra académica que co-organiza eventos de innovación abierta con CIEM Zaragoza y Universidad San Jorge.
• Instituto Aragonés de la MujercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganismo gubernamental aragonés que colabora en programas de emprendimiento y empoderamiento femenino como Coordinadas.
• Gus & FlowersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizador del congreso Diversity at Work LGBT+ @work sobre diversidad en el mundo laboral, co-organizado con Grupo Init y CIEM Zaragoza.
• DKV SegurosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrupo de seguros de salud que participa en el ecosistema de salud digital, con laboratorio de innovación enfocado en investigación y open innovation.
• Grupo Hospitalario Hernán CortésminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrupo hospitalario desde 1982 enfocado en innovación para mejor tratamiento de pacientes, incorporando IA, realidad virtual y teleasistencia.
• Aragón ExteriorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganismo del Gobierno de Aragón para impulsar la internacionalización, ofreciendo programas de mentoring y apoyo a startups tecnológicas.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Wayra (Telefónica): Telefónica's global startup accelerator with significant Spain presence. Offers corporate open-innovation and acceleration at much larger scale; comparable in operating model but with corporate sponsor rather than municipal sponsor.
• Barcelona Activa: Barcelona City Council's economic development agency offering incubation, acceleration, coworking, and innovation programs. Directly comparable municipal-backed innovation ecosystem but at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Lanzadera: Valencia-based startup accelerator founded by Juan Roig (Mercadona). Operates acceleration programs and supports early-stage Spanish startups with similar incubation model, though at larger scale and with private (rather than municipal) backing.
• Innsomnia: Spanish acceleration and venture-building platform running multiple programs across Spain. Comparable in operating acceleration programs and connecting corporates with startups in open-innovation formats.
• Conector Startup Accelerator: Barcelona-based accelerator that combines equity investment with mentoring and acceleration programs. Directly comparable in being a Spanish regional accelerator serving early-stage startups.
• SeedRocket: Barcelona-based startup accelerator with mentor-driven cohort programs. Operates a similar accelerator model focused on Spanish startups in early stages.

Emerging players

• Demium Startups: Spanish early-stage startup incubator with a multi-city presence including Zaragoza. Provides coworking, validation programs, and pre-seed investment — partially overlapping with CIEM Zaragoza's offering.
• Bbooster Ventures: Spanish early-stage investor and accelerator with multiple cohort programs. Comparable as a Spanish-region-focused early-stage capital and acceleration provider, though more investment-led than space-led.

Regional players

• CEEI Aragón (Centro Europeo de Empresas e Innovación): European Business and Innovation Centre based in Aragón providing incubation, acceleration, and coworking services to startups. Most direct regional competitor operating in the same geography with comparable service mix.
• Hubbik (BIC Bizkaia): Bizkaia-based innovation center in the Basque Country providing incubation, acceleration, and open-innovation services. Operates a similar model to CIEM Zaragoza but anchored in Bilbao's BIC ecosystem rather than Aragón's.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CIEMZaragoza
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ciemzaragoza
• Facebookfacebook.com/ciemzaragoza
• Instagraminstagram.com/ciemzaragoza

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

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CIEM Zaragoza