The Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism announced a 44.3 million euro program to boost the competitiveness and sustainability of industrial SMEs across the Valencian Community. This funding supports multiple sectors during 2023 as part of a dedicated call for proposals.
The 2023 call, pre-published in the Official Journal of Generalitat Valenciana last December, is designed to back investment projects that strengthen the industrial edge of small and medium enterprises in the Valencian Community. It targets investments that improve tangible assets and do not require repayment, along with intangible assets such as patents, licenses, industrial developments, and inventoriable information, as well as measures to upgrade machinery and equipment.
In total, 976 applications were submitted. After project evaluation, subsidy decisions were issued to 651 companies, distributing a total of 44,399,301.42 euros among them. The allocation reflects a sectoral mix, with plastics receiving 17 percent of aid, metals and machinery 14 percent, textiles 14 percent, containers and packaging 9 percent, wood, furniture and lighting 9 percent, paper and graphic arts 9 percent, chemicals 8 percent, ceramics, glass and building materials 7 percent, and leather and footwear 7 percent.
Geographically, Valencia hosts 46 percent of beneficiary companies, Alicante 45 percent, and Castellón accounts for the remaining 9 percent of recipients. This distribution highlights the regional focus on strengthening industrial capacity across the three provinces of the Valencian Community. The initiative is part of broader efforts to modernize the regional economy by supporting investments that raise productivity and sustainability across key manufacturing sectors.
The Diputación de Alicante has announced a separate aid package totaling 9 million euros to support small and medium enterprises and self-employed individuals. The program targets several strategic sectors, including automotive, aerospace, aviation, biotechnology, audiovisual production, video game development, animation, and augmented or virtual reality. It also covers ceramics, glass, and non-metallic building materials, leather and footwear, packaging, toys and sporting goods, wood and furniture, marble and natural stone, metal mechanics, paper and graphic arts, plastics, and chemical and textile industries, as well as material recovery activities.
A reserve list exists for applicants who could not receive subsidies due to budget constraints. If additional funds become available, decisions may be extended to those on the reserve list in a prioritized order and pending new budget approvals, through October 13 or until funds permit. This approach ensures a flexible response to changing fiscal conditions while maintaining a commitment to broad regional support. The information reflects decisions and allocations as published by regional authorities and is intended to inform stakeholders about current grant activity and its sectoral and geographic distribution. For verification, cited details originate from the Official Journal and subsequent official updates.