The Spanish Chamber, working with the Minister of Commerce, launched the Mentoring and Support for Internationalization program to help exporting SMEs grow and secure a foothold in new markets. The goal is to expand and strengthen presence in foreign markets in a practical, measurable way.
In 2022, the foreign sector contributed nearly half of Spain’s GDP growth, adding 2.6 percentage points to a total growth of 5.5%. Spain hosts about 57,000 companies that export regularly and another 190,000 that export intermittently. Yet the opportunity remains large, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises, according to José Luis Bonet, president of the Spanish Chamber. He notes that significant progress has been made in recent years, but internationalization remains a critical lifeline during economic downturns. Public institutions and the business community are urged to intensify export efforts together, he adds.
Up to €25,000 to obtain international certifications
The program, financed by Next Generation funds through Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, features two action streams. The first, now available for claim, is the International Certification track. Its aim is to help Spanish companies obtain certification for marketing their products or services outside the European Union.
Each eligible company can receive up to €20,000, with a maximum budget of €25,000. Eligible expenses include:
- Consulting related to certification.
- Shipping, return, or destruction costs for samples.
- Costs for laboratory tests conducted in Spain or abroad.
- Issuance of certificates and homologations.
- Costs for audits.
- Renewal or maintenance of certificates, with priority given to first-year certificates.
- Translation and legalization of documents.
Additional financing may cover expenses arising from the certification process for projects that are already underway or completed, provided that invoices and payment dates fall after January 1, 2023.
Reducing regulatory risk enables a company to access new markets and customers. Although exports have risen across many regions, growth has been strongest among nearby trading partners, where EU markets still account for a large share. Diversifying beyond Europe is advisable to spread risk and reach markets with higher growth potential, notes Julián López-Arenas, Competition Director of the Spanish Chamber.
To qualify, a company must be an SME, have a turnover under a certain threshold, possess a product, service, or own brand, and be an exporter if international certification is requested outside the EU. The Spanish Chamber has launched a website that provides full information and assistance.
Mentoring to help with international expansion
The other branch, with a future opening date for applications, is International Mentoring. In the initial stage, an international mentor is assigned to foster collaboration between large enterprises and SMEs. Mentors are senior leaders from large firms with foreign operations who guide SMEs in redefining their international strategy. In the second stage, SMEs can receive up to €28,000, within a maximum eligible budget of €35,000, to implement actions in the international plan defined by the mentor across five areas:
- Management training or specialized training for departments involved in internationalization.
- Hiring additional staff for the SME’s international department.
- Specific consultancy to develop the action plan.
- International promotion, including marketing, dissemination, and advertising in target markets.
- Commercial execution, planning feasibility studies and the required legal and tax advice for the destination.
Eligible companies must be SMEs, become exporters, and own a product, service, or brand, with annual invoicing above €1 million. For SMEs that have previously participated in state-level internationalization programs, the cap is reduced to €1 million. The mentoring service lasts up to two months, during which the mentor and SME review the internationalization process, priority markets and customers, and the current situation and needs. A joint strategy and detailed investments plan are then agreed upon for the five program components. Finally, the Action Plan is presented to the mentor and a joint review is conducted before approval.
Meanwhile, potential mentors must apply to join the Mentor Catalogue. Requirements include being a large company (250 or more employees), turnover above €50 million, active international operations, and a presence in at least five countries. A bonus of 15 hours is offered for management personnel with extensive experience. The Spanish Chamber will pre-select the beneficiary SME and assign mentors based on the availability of a suitable large company partner.
The Mentoring Program and Internationalization Support will run through December 31, 2024. SMEs should apply via the Spanish Chamber of Commerce’s electronic headquarters. Additional information is available on the organization’s website.