Spain Global Startup Hub 2026: Spain strengthens its position as one of Europe’s most dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems

Spain no longer stands out only for its quality of life, tourist appeal, or geostrategic position. According to the Spain Global Startup Hub 2026 report, prepared by ICEX, the country is establishing itself as one of Europe’s leading hubs for innovation, tech entrepreneurship, and international investment. 

The study paints a picture of an ecosystem that is increasingly mature, internationalized, and specialized in high value-added technologies, with sustained growth both in the number of startups and in its capacity to attract capital, talent, and technology projects.

An ecosystem that keeps growing

One of the report’s most notable findings is that Spain has multiplied the value of its startups by 2.3 over the past five years, making it the only major European ecosystem to maintain a continuously upward trajectory in this indicator. In addition, since the pandemic it has attracted €17 billion in venture capital investment and has managed to keep investment levels stable even in a context of international slowdown.

Currently, the Spanish technology ecosystem exceeds 5,000 startups, includes more than 400 scaleups, and has already produced 17 tech unicorns. The ecosystem’s total value reaches €125 billion, equivalent to 6.5% of national GDP.

Madrid and Barcelona, European benchmarks

The report highlights the role of Madrid and Barcelona as two of Europe’s leading innovation hubs. Both cities rank among the continent’s most relevant entrepreneurial ecosystems and concentrate a significant share of investment, international talent, and entrepreneurial activity. 

According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2025, Madrid ranks eighth among Europe’s leading entrepreneurial ecosystems and Barcelona eleventh. In addition, Barcelona stands out as one of the world’s leading hubs for early-stage funding. 

Alongside these established hubs, cities such as Valencia, Málaga, Bilbao, and San Sebastián continue to gain prominence thanks to the development of ecosystems specialized in deep tech, digital health, Industry 4.0, and sustainability.

Technological innovation gains momentum

The report reflects a growing focus on knowledge- and technology-intensive sectors.

Investment is concentrated in high value-added sectors: 

• Software and AI: €516M (leader by volume). Growth driven by AI integration.
• Biotech and life sciences: €345M. Four times the 2024 figures.
• Business productivity: €321M. Reflects the digitalization of corporate processes.
• Health and wellness: €166M. High activity at early stages.

Particularly noteworthy is the progress of artificial intelligence. Spain ranks third in the European Union by number of AI projects and fourth by investment in startups in the sector, which have attracted more than €3 billion since 2020.

An increasingly international ecosystem

International ambition remains one of the main strengths of Spanish entrepreneurship. The report notes that Mexico is currently the leading foreign market for Spanish startups, followed by the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, France, and Italy. This international presence confirms the ability of Spanish emerging companies to scale beyond their home market. 

In addition, Spain is positioning itself as a strategic bridge between Europe and Latin America, thanks to the cultural, economic, and business ties that connect both ecosystems and facilitate the international expansion of startups and investment players. 

A favorable environment for entrepreneurship

Another factor contributing to the ecosystem’s attractiveness is the existence of a regulatory framework specifically designed for startups.

The Startup Law has introduced tax and administrative measures aimed at facilitating the creation and growth of innovative companies, while public instruments such as ENISA, CDTI, ICO, COFIDES, and SETT complement the private financing available for entrepreneurial projects. 

On top of this, there are more than 200 accelerators, incubators, and support programs spread across the country, as well as a growing network of national and international venture capital funds. 

A clear message: Spain is already playing in Europe’s top league

The report’s main conclusion is that Spain has ceased to be merely an attractive market and has become an innovation platform with global reach. The growth in ecosystem value, the ability to generate unicorns, the consolidation of international hubs, and the development of strategic technology sectors all point to an ecosystem that is increasingly mature and competitive. 

Spain is not only a place to create innovative companies, but also an environment that is increasingly prepared to help them grow and compete internationally. 

If you want to delve deeper into the data, trends, and opportunities driving the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem, we recommend consulting the full Spain Global Startup Hub 2026 report, a detailed snapshot of innovation, investment, and startup growth in Spain.

Access the following link to download the full document.