CDTI grants: funding for R&D&I projects in Spain

The Spanish CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación) will mobilise €1,817 million in 2026 to fund the full innovation cycle in Spain (cdti.es, 2026). That record figure includes €407 million in competitive grants, €545 million in partially repayable aid and €75 million in innovative public procurement. For companies with technology projects, CDTI is one of the most accessible and stable funding routes in the Spanish innovation and R&D&I system.

What CDTI is and what it funds

CDTI is the public body under the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (the Spanish ministry of science, innovation and universities) that funds applied research, technological development and industrial innovation projects. Unlike conventional grants, CDTI aid combines a non-repayable grant tranche (between 10% and 33% of the budget) with a subsidised loan at a reduced interest rate.

What makes CDTI different:

• Permanently open call for the main lines (PID, LIC): there is no need to wait for a specific window
• Assessment of technological risk, not only financial risk: it rewards the technical ambition of the project
• Binding technical report (informe motivado) included: the project is certified automatically as R&D or technological innovation, so tax deductions can be applied
• 25% advance payment with no guarantees in most cases

CDTI programmes running in 2026

The €1,817 million budget is split across several lines. These are the ones that matter most to companies:

Partially repayable aid (€545M)

PID line: for industrial research and experimental development projects. Repayment over 3 years (Euribor +0.2%) or 5 years (Euribor +1.2%). It is the line most used by technology and industrial SMEs.

LIC line: for innovation projects close to market, with medium or low technological risk and short payback periods. Ideal for adapting existing technologies or improving processes.

Competitive grants (€407M)

Does your project fit one of these lines? Request a free assessment and we will help you find the best CDTI funding route.

Who can apply for CDTI grants?

CDTI grants are aimed at companies able to run R&D&I projects:

Eligible beneficiaries:

• Companies of any size and sector with activity in Spain
• Groupings of companies (for collaborative programmes such as Misiones)
• Technology-based startups (Neotec programme)
• Companies taking part in international consortia (Innoglobal, CIIP/Eurostars)

General requirements:

• Being up to date with tax obligations and with Spanish Social Security
• Not being a company in difficulty (as defined by the EU)
• Having a team inside the company dedicated to R&D&I
• Being able to fund at least 15% of the project from own resources
• Meeting the DNSH principle (do no significant harm to the environment)
• Having no outstanding repayments to CDTI from earlier aid

Who cannot apply: individual self-employed workers, civil partnerships, cooperatives (except in specific programmes) and companies with recovery proceedings pending.

How to apply for CDTI funding step by step

For the PID and LIC lines (permanently open call), the process is:

1. Define the project: describe the technological challenge, the R&D&I objectives, the work plan and a detailed budget by heading (staff, materials, collaborations, equipment)
2. Register on the CDTI electronic office (sede.cdti.gob.es) with a digital certificate
3. Complete the online application: technical report on the project, financial plan, information about the company and the research team
4. Technical and financial assessment: CDTI analyses the technological risk, the financial viability and the expected impact. The process takes between 3 and 6 months
5. Decision and formalisation: if it is approved, the loan contract is signed and the advance is paid (25% with no guarantees)
6. Delivery and reporting: run the project according to the approved plan and submit periodic progress reports

Programmes with a specific call (Misiones, Neotec, Cervera, Innterconecta) have set deadlines published in the BOE and on cdti.es.

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Submitting projects with no real technological component (CDTI does not fund incremental improvements without technical risk)
• Underestimating the technical report: it is the key document in the assessment
• Failing to document the state of the art or to justify the technological novelty
• Forgetting to apply for the informe motivado that the tax deductions need

The informe motivado: the tax advantage few companies use

One of the most valuable benefits of running a project with CDTI funding is the Informe Motivado Vinculante (IMV), the binding technical report. This document, governed by Real Decreto 1432/2003 (BOE, 2003), officially certifies that the activities carried out are R&D or technological innovation.

Why does it matter so much?

• It is binding on the Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT): the tax authorities cannot challenge how the project has been classified
• It allows the tax deductions under article 35 of the LIS to be applied: 25–42% for R&D and 12% for technological innovation
• According to CDTI data (2023), 6 out of every 10 completed PID projects use the informe motivado to reach tax incentives
• It is compatible with the Social Security contribution reductions for research staff (40–50%)

For companies holding the Sello PYME Innovadora (the Spanish innovative SME certification), combining CDTI aid, tax deductions and Social Security contribution reductions can return more than 60% of the R&D&I investment.

Did you know that the CDTI informe motivado gives you full legal certainty when you apply tax deductions? See how to maximise your tax saving →

What grant programmes does CDTI offer in 2026?

CDTI will mobilise €1,817 million in 2026. The main lines are PID and LIC, partially repayable, with a permanently open call and a minimum budget of €175,000. Alongside them sit the competitive grants Misiones Ciencia e Innovación, Neotec (technology-based startups), Cervera, Innterconecta-STEP and Innoglobal.

Are CDTI grants compatible with R&D&I tax deductions?

Yes. Running the project with CDTI funding gives access to the Informe Motivado Vinculante, which certifies to the Spanish Tax Agency that the activity is R&D or technological innovation and allows the deductions under article 35 of the LIS to be applied (25–42% for R&D, 12% for innovation). Those deductions are in turn compatible with the Social Security contribution reductions for research staff.

How to maximise funding by combining CDTI aid

CDTI grants do not work in isolation. The most effective strategy combines them with other incentives:

1. CDTI aid (PID/LIC): funds up to 85% of the project with a subsidised loan plus a non-repayable tranche
2. R&D&I tax deductions: 25–42% deducted from Impuesto sobre Sociedades (Spanish corporate income tax), secured by the informe motivado
3. Reductions for research staff: 40–50% off Spanish Social Security contributions
4. CDTI aid and grants: complementary programmes from ACCIÓ (Catalunya), SPRI (Basque Country) or IVACE (Valencia)

In Catalunya, companies can combine CDTI funding with ACCIÓ programmes to cover different stages of the same innovation project. The Cupons d'Innovació run by ACCIÓ, for example, complement CDTI funding by paying for the technology consultancy needed to define and validate the project before the national application is filed.

Sectors with the most CDTI opportunities in 2026:

• Green transition and clean energy (Misiones, STEP)
• Semiconductors and microelectronics (Innterconecta-STEP)
• Biotechnology and health (Misiones, Cervera)
• Artificial intelligence and deep learning (Cervera, PID)
• Advanced manufacturing and Industry 5.0 (PID, LIC)
• Sustainable agrifood (Misiones, PID)

Do you want to fund your R&D&I project? At Tecnocim Innova we work with you from the definition of the project to the final reporting, combining CDTI grants with tax deductions and Social Security contribution reductions. Contact us for a review with no obligation.