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Spain in Review: 10–20 October 2026 (18–28 Mehr 1405)

The latest edition of Spain in Review provides a weekly overview of the Spanish economy for the period from 10 to 20 October 2026. Covering 38 news items, this issue examines export support programmes and digital transformation, the automotive, healthcare, plastics and energy industries, investment in real estate and hospitality, and research and development opportunities.

Export Support and International Business Expansion

• ICEX Next: Spain’s trade and investment agency has allocated €3.6 million to support 150 SMEs and start-ups, with the possibility of adding another 75 companies and €1.8 million in funding. Each company can receive up to €24,000 in assistance and 30 hours of consultancy. Since 2012, the programme has supported 4,792 companies.
• Cybersecurity: Fifty international buyers from Europe, the United States and Latin America will meet Spanish companies at the ENISE event in León (21–23 October), organised jointly by ICEX and the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE).
• Pisces submarine cable: Equitix, MDM and Orange have established a joint venture to develop a submarine cable connecting Ireland, France, Spain and Portugal, with a landing station in Sopelana in the Basque Country. Installation of the 16-fibre-pair cable is scheduled for 2028.
• Zaragoza logistics: GLS has inaugurated its €21 million automated logistics centre in the PLAZA logistics area, with the capacity to process 16,000 parcels per hour.

Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Economy

According to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), 33.6% of companies with at least 10 employees used artificial intelligence technologies in the first quarter of 2026. The report also provides updated insights into cloud computing, social media presence and online sales among Spanish businesses.

Strategic Industries: Automotive, Food and Healthcare

• SERNAUTO’s Automotive Industry Commission, attended by 35 representatives of automotive component manufacturers, examined vehicle production forecasts for Spain, Portugal and Morocco for 2026 and 2027, the Santana project in Linares and the European Union’s Industrial Accelerator Act.
• ANFAC and SERNAUTO called for the automotive industry to be placed among Spain’s national priorities and for the development of a long-term industrial strategy.
• Madrid hosted ALIBETOPÍAS 2026, a gathering of innovators from Spain’s food and beverage industry.
• Spain’s healthcare industry, under the slogan “Innovation cannot happen in isolation”, emphasised cooperation among hospitals, businesses and research centres.

Investment, Energy and Industrial Opportunities

• Investment in Spain’s logistics sector increased by 16% to €1.34 billion during the first nine months of 2026, according to JLL.
• Endesa is investing €36.3 million to modernise a wind farm in A Coruña. Forty older turbines will be replaced by four new units, increasing electricity generation by 78.5%.
• Spain’s medical technology industry association (FENIN) called for the expansion of domestic production and increased industrial investment.
• Other developments included an international agricultural machinery buyers’ trade mission in Aragon and cooperation between business organisations in Madrid and León on industrial projects.

Chemical Industries, Export Development and International Trade Training

• Plastics industry: According to ANAIP, the sector comprises 3,171 companies, 98% of which are SMEs. Despite record investment, the trade deficit in manufactured plastic products rose from 446,000 tonnes in 2016 to 810,000 tonnes in 2025, while imports from China increased by more than 130%.
• Chemical company Oxaquim exports 90% of its production to 85 countries and plans to expand its capacity by 2028.
• Cantabria approved a €2 million support programme for the international expansion of regional companies, while the University of Cádiz is offering seven free online courses in international trade.
• The Almería Chamber of Commerce invited agricultural technology companies to join a trade mission to China. The Spanish Chamber of Commerce announced an export development programme for SMEs, while ICEX is promoting Spain’s tile and ceramics industry in the United Kingdom.

Investment in Technology, Real Estate and Hospitality

• Record real estate investment: Investment in Spanish real estate increased by 25% to €16.38 billion during the first nine months of 2026, the highest figure recorded for this period in CBRE’s data.
• Hospitality: Hotel investment reached €2.23 billion, with 81% directed towards four- and five-star hotels. Madrid led the destinations with €800 million.
• COFIDES: Spain’s state-owned development finance company invested €40 million in the Bregal Milestone III fund, focused on software, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and €30 million in the Resilience Partners Impact Fund.
• This section also covers the participation of 15 Latin American technology companies in an ICEX programme, industrial cooperation between Spain and Sweden, a Spain–China biotechnology meeting, and trade missions from Alicante to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and from Albacete to Japan.

Sustainable Tourism and Food Industries

• Five new sustainable tourism initiatives in Spain, ranging from regenerative agriculture to support for local businesses.
• Five purchasing challenges faced by independent hotels and the introduction of a procurement platform for equipment and services.
• A European food innovation competition at the SIAL exhibition in Paris.
• Export reports from the Spanish Federation of Food and Drink Industries (FIAB) to help identify target markets.

Research and Development and Technological Cooperation Opportunities

• Funding to support Spanish technology centres increased to €69.55 million (CDTI).
• A joint Spain–Türkiye call for technology development projects in industry, energy, logistics and agriculture.
• A search for a Spanish partner to develop a new generation of flexible solar cells.
• A proposed Spain–Egypt collaboration on treating oily wastewater while generating bioelectricity.

This issue also includes a table entitled “Practical Guide to Trade and Technology Cooperation with Spain”. It identifies relevant Spanish companies and institutions, along with potential areas for cooperation in sectors such as medical equipment, food industries, polymers, automotive manufacturing, energy, information technology and hospitality.

City Identities and Festivals

Consuegra and the Saffron Rose Festival: The town of Consuegra in the province of Toledo will host the Fiesta de la Rosa del Azafrán from 23 to 25 October. Held since 1963, the festival features a saffron stigma-separation competition and the operation of a 16th-century windmill.Magical Autumn in Ambroz: The Ambroz Valley in northern Extremadura will host Otoño Mágico from 23 October to 29 November. Recognised as an event of International Tourist Interest, it brings together nature-based activities, traditional cuisine and the region’s historical heritage, from the Jewish Quarter of Hervás to the Vía de la Plata route.

A Taste of Spain: Saffron-Infused Crema Catalana

The culinary section of this issue introduces a saffron-infused version of crema catalana, Catalonia’s well-known dessert. It features a smooth, chilled custard beneath a thin layer of caramelised sugar, with saffron adding a distinctive aroma and golden colour.Secretariat of the Iran–Spain Joint Chamber of Commerce