What ICEX Next does

ICEX Next is a Spanish government internationalization support program operated by ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones, a public entity under the Vicepresidencia Primera del Gobierno y Ministerio de Economía, Comercio y Empresa. The program targets Spanish small and medium enterprises with annual billing above €300,000 that maintain a corporate website and dedicated internationalization personnel, as well as Spanish technology-based startups with a commercialized product. ICEX Next combines a direct non-repayable subsidy of up to €24,000 with 30 hours of personalized advisory delivered by ICEX-certified national and international consultants to help companies design an International Business Plan, identify target export markets, and execute entry strategies. Participants also gain access to Club ICEX Next, an exclusive alumni network supporting ongoing international expansion.

The program is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and Spain's Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. Service delivery runs through the ICEX digital portal, ICEX-certified consultant network, Ventana Global customer service, and the Spanish Economic and Commercial Offices in over 80 foreign markets. Beyond the core program, the broader ICEX ecosystem includes ICEX Campus (online training and MOOCs), Servicios a Medida (customized consulting such as Personalized Meeting Agendas and partner identification, fee-based at €500–€900 per service), the OEPM industrial-property co-funding partnership (€5.3M subsidy pool), and the ICEX.ia AI search intelligence tool. There is no commercial revenue model; ICEX Next is a public-policy subsidy and consulting program, not a venture-backed or revenue-generating company.

Name

ICEX Next

Legal name

ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones

Website

https://icexnext.es

Company type

Public

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ICEX Next is a Spanish government program that provides SMEs and tech startups with up to €24,000 in subsidies, 30 hours of consulting, and Club ICEX Next networking to design and execute international expansion strategies, funded by FEDER and Spain's Recovery Plan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidies for Internationalization: ICEX Next provides direct financial subsidies of up to €24,000 to Spanish SMEs and startups to finance their international business plans. The subsidy covers expenses related to market prospecting, promotion, commercial network development, and hiring specialized internationalization personnel. This is a non-repayable grant funded by European funds (FEDER) and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ICEX Next is a Spanish government internationalization program that provides subsidized strategic consulting (up to €24,000) and 30 hours of personalized advisory from ICEX-certified consultants to help Spanish SMEs and tech startups design an International Business Plan, identify target export markets, and access the Club ICEX Next networking community. Complementary paid services include tailored market research, partner identification, personalized meeting agendas, and an industrial-property protection partnership with OEPM offering €5.3 million in IP subsidies.

Product overview

ICEX Next is a comprehensive internationalization support ecosystem operated by ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones, a Spanish government agency. The core offering is the ICEX Next Program, which provides Spanish SMEs and technology startups with subsidized consulting (up to €24,000), 30 hours of personalized advisory services, and access to the exclusive Club ICEX Next networking platform. The portfolio includes ICEX Campus, an educational platform with free online courses, MOOCs, and training content covering internationalization, trade, sustainability, and digital transformation. Additional services include Customized Services (Servicios a Medida), Personalized Meeting Agendas, partner identification, financial advisory, and a partnership with OEPM for industrial property protection. The ecosystem integrates with ICEX's broader infrastructure including ICEX VIVES, DigitalXBorder e-commerce support, and Spain Global Startup Hub initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Club ICEX Next: Exclusive network of ICEX Next participating companies providing ongoing networking and specialized services for continued international expansion.
• ICEX APIEm

Products and services

• ICEX Next Program A Spanish government internationalization program offering subsidized strategic consulting (up to €24,000 per company) and 30 hours of personalized advisory from ICEX-certified national and international consultants to help Spanish SMEs and tech startups design their International Business Plan, identify target export markets, and access the Club ICEX Next networking community. Eligible SMEs must have prior-year billing above €300,000, a corporate website, and dedicated internationalization personnel; tech startups need a commercialized product but no minimum revenue.
• Servicios a Medida (Customized Services)

Quantifiable outcome

• Subsidy of up to €24,000 per SME for internationalization expenses
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• European Union (FEDER)coreOthersICEX Next is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, providing the financial resources for the subsidies and program operations.
• Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas (OEPM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement to promote industrial property protection for Spanish companies in international markets. OEPM provides patent, trademark, and design registration support. ICEX refers companies to OEPM services for international intellectual property protection, with €5.3 million in subsidies available for patent and utility model filings.
• Spanish Economic and Commercial Offices AbroadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish government offices in foreign markets that provide local market intelligence, assist with international business development, and support ICEX Next participants with on-the-ground guidance in target export markets.
• Foods and Wines from SpainminorGTM or Marketing PartnerICEX promotional portal for Spanish food and beverage exporters. Companies in the agri-food sector authorized under the customs authorization program gain access to the Foods and Wines from Spain database, reaching 300,000+ global professionals annually.
• AEAT (Agencia Estatal de Administración Tributaria)OthersSpanish Tax Agency provides ICEX with foreign trade data of participating companies (with their authorization) for statistical purposes, enabling ICEX to offer intelligence services tailored to company export profiles.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI): Germany's federal agency for international market entry and investment promotion. Provides market intelligence, consulting, and government-backed support to German SMEs for internationalization, directly comparable to ICEX Next's advisory and market intelligence offerings.
• Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE): Swiss official trade and investment promotion agency with a global network supporting Swiss SMEs in internationalization. Comparable structure to ICEX Next: government-backed mandate, global office network, and consulting services for SME exporters.
• JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization): Japan's government-affiliated trade and investment promotion organization supporting Japanese SMEs in international expansion. Comparable in structure: government-backed, global office network, and consulting/subsidy programs for SME exporters.
• Export Development Canada (EDC): Canadian Crown corporation providing trade finance, risk management, and internationalization support to Canadian companies. Comparable as a government-affiliated entity offering financial and advisory services for SME international expansion.
• UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT): UK government department overseeing export promotion, investment, and trade policy. Comparable as a national government entity providing SME internationalization services through overseas networks and support programs, analogous to ICEX Next's structure.
• Bpifrance: French public investment bank and SME support agency providing financing, guarantees, and export/internationalization support to French businesses. Closely mirrors ICEX Next's government-backed SME internationalization mandate with subsidy and advisory offerings.
• Enterprise Ireland: Irish government agency supporting Irish businesses to start, grow, and internationalize. Comparable to ICEX Next in providing direct subsidies, advisory services, and networking support for SME internationalization from a national government mandate.
• Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO): Dutch government agency supporting Dutch entrepreneurs with subsidies, financing, and internationalization programs. Directly comparable to ICEX Next as a national government entity providing subsidies and advisory services for SME international expansion.
• ICE - Italian Trade Agency: Italy's national agency for the promotion of international trade, investment attraction, and SME internationalization. Most directly comparable to ICEX Next given the shared name (ICE) and the analogous government-backed internationalization mandate serving Italian SMEs.
• Business France: French national agency supporting international development of the French economy, providing export advisory and consulting services to French SMEs. Closely mirrors ICEX Next's mandate of supporting SME internationalization through government-funded consulting and market entry services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ICEX_
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/icex
• Facebookfacebook.com/icex.es
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icex-next
• Instagraminstagram.com/icex_

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 ICEX Next