The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) play an increasing role in the promotion and development of economies and modern societies. Not only do they represent a strong sector with a high growth potential, but there is little doubt that they have a direct impact in the improvement of the productivity and competitiveness of today’s economy, helping to set the bases of a new growth model based on knowledge.

The development of the ICT sector in our country has been remarkable in the last decade, based on an active process of generating new technologies and services, aimed at meeting the needs of a society and enterprises technologically more prepared, interested in maximizing the potential these new technologies can offer. Factors like the convergence of services, the availability of infrastructures, the intensification on the competition and the fast change in the customers’ needs have forced the industry to innovate in the design and implementation of their strategies and to transform their service offering, in an attempt to seize the great opportunities that this shift in the paradigm opens.

The ICT market has experienced in Spain a strong growth in recent years, being currently the fifth largest market in Europe. Although these activities have not been immune to the global crisis, this industry is worth over €100 billion in 2009, registering an average year-on-year growth rate over 4% in the last seven years. This volume represents roughly a 6% of the national GDP for the year, but it we add up its indirect and induced effects, it benefits other economic sectors that generate an aggregate gross added value over 22% of the GDP.

The ICT industry accounts for more than 418,600 direct jobs in Spain, a figure that rises to 1.5 million if we include the indirect jobs created, around 7.5% of the total employment in the country. Following the pattern of most of the other sectors, this industry is dominated in number by small and medium-sized enterprises, with only 4% of them registering more than 50 employees. The regions of Madrid, Catalonia, Andalusia and Valencia are still home to close to 70% of the ICT companies in Spain, although it’s already possible to find outstanding examples of excellence in any other region.

These companies are responsible for around 40% of the private investment in R&D in the country, having doubled their investment in innovation since 2003.

For further information about the main indicators of Information Society, the Information and Telecommunications Technology sector in Spain, European Union countries and OECD members, visit ONTSI.data.

Why Spain?

• Potential national clients. The existing demand for ICT products and services is mature, but with a high growth expectancy in some areas.
• Experience in the offer. Maturity in technology- and commercial practices, with highly developed local service providers that can act as a catalyst.
• Experience in exporting services, opening interesting collaboration opportunities to access new markets (European Union, North of Africa, Latin America).
• Availability of skilled human resources, at a very competitive cost. More than 33,800 engineers graduate each year in Spain.
• Ability to scale though Latin American resources.
• Modern transport and telecommunication infrastructures, coupled with an extensive network of Scientific and Technology Parks and Higher Education Centres.
• Strong Government support, through specific sectorial plans, to all activities aimed at fostering the development of the Information Society.
• Exceptional value – cost – risk alignment.

For further information, please visit the Business Opportunities tab for this sector. You can also find in the reports section some of the most relevant studies on the sector.

To find Grants & Incentives available for this sector, click here to access our online database and select "ICT and Information Society" under "Project classification", one of our search parameters.