Innovate

The transfer of knowledge is one of the priority axes of action in the Spanish Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation. The main objective is to place Spain among the countries with the highest level of innovation, making the transfer of knowledge have an impact in terms of generating progress.

To this end, it is necessary to promote the transfer of knowledge and develop two-way links between science and companies (especially SMEs) through mutual understanding of needs and objectives. In addition, it is extremely important to ensure public-private cooperation at the different stages of the value chain: from the initial stages of the development of technologies in which the application of knowledge will be favored, to the arrival on the market of products of interest to society. National R&D&I must prioritize and respond to the challenges of the strategic sectors.

The Public Administration has several instruments to promote business innovation, such as tax incentives for research and development and/or technological innovation activities and bonuses on the Social Security quota for research personnel.

As main fiscal instruments, the Binding Motivated Reports and the Innovative SME seal stand out. The Binding Motivated Reports provide legal certainty in the application of deductions and bonuses for Research, Development and/or Technological Innovation (R+D+I). On the other hand, the creation of the Innovative SME seal and its registration seeks to put these companies in value, promote their identification and formulate specific policies.

These instruments are of a horizontal nature and of free and general application. In addition, they are oriented to encourage the initiative of the private sector without conditioning the innovative field to which the company is oriented.

Public policies aimed at promoting regional innovation ecosystems have evolved in recent years towards a new, more participatory and collaborative approach. This shift in science and innovation policies points to a new model of multi-level governance around shared challenges, with a territory-oriented vision that promotes the efficient use of the capacities of all regions, fosters interregional cooperation and addresses persistent territorial innovation gaps.

The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) is a key instrument for driving the transition to a climate-neutral energy system by developing innovative, low-carbon and cost-competitive technologies. The SET Plan was established in 2007 and, since the creation of the Energy Union in 2015, became one of the main instruments of its fifth pillar dedicated to research, innovation and competitiveness. Spain is a member of the Steering Group and the Bureau, the governance bodies of the SET Plan.

The technological change that our society faces poses enormous challenges for the public sector, not only as a promoter of innovation but as an innovative subject in itself, in a secure and controlled framework.

There are instruments that allow us to promote and accelerate innovation from the public, generating spaces for development to give new answers to existing needs. They are known as sandboxes, living labs and testbeds, which enable public institutions and companies a suitable environment for innovation and experimentation.