The aerospace sector is widely developed in Spain. The Spanish market reached a turnover of 5,577 million € in 2008 and employed more than 36,000 workers. It is characterized by its high growth (an average of 11.6.% in the last 10 years) and its significant investment in R&D, up to 10% of the turnover of the industry.

The aeronautics companies established in Spain stand out in several fields, such as military transport and special mission aircraft, low pressure turbines, MRO activities, air-refueling aircraft and air traffic management. The Spanish industry takes part in the main European aeronautics development, both civil and military.

Why Spain?

• The investment in R&D activities reached 800 M€ in year 2009, which amounts for 13.5% of the industry turnover and 9% of the private investment in R&D in Spain.
• Moreover, the Spanish public sector has created several public R&D centers focused in the aerospace industry.
• Growing importance of Spain in international programs: there are both OEMs (Airbus Military and Eurocopter) and Tier-1 companies, such as ITP, Aernnova and Alestis, working in Spain.
• Regarding space, Spain is a member of the European Space Agency (ESA) and takes part in its main programs (such as Galileo and Kopernikus). Spain also participates in the space programs of the European Union.
• The Spanish Government has developed a Strategic Plan for the Aeronautical Industry. The budget for the R&D support instruments will increase to 550 M€ in 2016, in both loans and grants.
• It has also developed a Strategic Space Plan, by which it is planned to make an average contribution to the ESA of 215 M€ per year.

For further information, please visit the Business Opportunities tab for this sector.

To find Grants & Incentives available for this sector, click here to access our online database and enter the text “aeronautics” under "Text search", one of our search parameters. With the same service, you can also search for transversal grants that might be of your interest.