Spain strengthens its position as a European benchmark in support for startups and innovative entrepreneurship.

Spain continues to strengthen its role as one of the best-positioned European countries for promoting startups and innovative projects. This is reflected in the 2025 annual report of the Europe Startup Nations Alliance (ESNA), which places the country at 93% implementation of the Startup Nations Standards (SNS), two points higher than in the previous edition and above the European average in all standards assessed.

This progress confirms the consolidation of an increasingly competitive entrepreneurial ecosystem, supported by public policies that encourage business creation, access to finance, talent attraction, and regulatory adaptation to new models of innovation. The report highlights, in particular, Spain’s full compliance in areas such as access to finance and inclusion, diversity, and the protection of democratic values, two pillars that reinforce a stronger, more balanced, and more open entrepreneurial environment.

One of the most highly rated aspects is the ease of starting a business. Spain remains among the five European countries where it is possible to establish a company in a single day, at a cost of less than 100 euros, and through a fully digital process. This capacity reflects the high degree of administrative simplification achieved and is also reflected in 98% compliance with the Digital First standard, thanks to the digitalisation of key procedures linked to business activity.

ESNA’s analysis also focuses on Spain’s ability to attract and retain international talent. Among the factors strengthening this position are specific visas for entrepreneurs and highly qualified professionals, which can be processed in less than a month, as well as various initiatives aimed at encouraging talent return and expanding opportunities for priority groups. All of this helps shape a more dynamic, competitive, and internationally connected ecosystem.

At the same time, the report acknowledges the country’s commitment to a regulatory framework that supports innovation rather than holding it back. The application of the “Think Small First” principle and the deployment of sandboxes in sectors such as finance, artificial intelligence, energy, and urban innovation show a clear willingness to facilitate the experimentation of new solutions in controlled environments, promoting their validation and market entry.

Beyond these positive results, the report points to new initiatives that could further strengthen Spain’s position at the European level. Among them, the Bandera Programme stands out, aimed at boosting the international visibility of the Spanish technology ecosystem, as well as the National Quantum Technologies Strategy, which seeks to enhance the country’s presence in one of the emerging fields with the greatest transformative potential.

The data collected by the Europe Startup Nations Alliance confirm that Spain has significantly strengthened its innovative entrepreneurship ecosystem and continues to move towards an increasingly competitive environment, capable of attracting investment, driving new initiatives, and generating growth opportunities. This evolution reinforces its position as one of Europe’s most dynamic and promising innovation hubs.