Investment in R&D by Spanish science and technology parks and their entities grows by 24% in 2024

The Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks (APTE) has presented the activity data for 2024 for the companies and entities located in the 53 parks that make up the association. The presentation took place during its second annual General Assembly, held at GEOLIT, a science and technology park located in Jaén, as part of the park’s 25th anniversary celebrations.

The figures reflect sustained growth in all indicators compared to the previous year, consolidating the role of these spaces as drivers of innovation and economic development.

One of the most notable figures for 2024 is the significant increase in investment in Research and Development (R&D), which reached 2,116.89 million euros, 24% more than in 2023 and approximately 9.5% of the national total. Likewise, the turnover of companies and entities located in the parks stood at €31.576 billion, with growth of 9.2%, demonstrating solid economic activity.

The number of companies and entities located in the parks rose to 6,000, representing an increase of 1.6% over the previous year. This positive development reflects the parks’ ability to attract and retain talent and innovative projects.

In terms of employment, the parks registered a total of 168,462 professionals, an increase of 4.4%. Within this group, 42,170 people are engaged in R&D activities, representing growth of 9.1%, highlighting the growing concentration of specialised talent in these environments.

Gender equality is also gaining prominence: 790 companies are run by women, representing 24.5% of the total, according to data provided by 40 parks. In addition, 1,175 companies have equality plans, equivalent to 26.3% of the total, according to data from 35 parks.

In terms of activity, the sectoral diversity of the parks continues to be one of their strengths. The information, IT and telecommunications sectors lead with 24% of activity, followed by engineering, consulting and advisory services (17%) and medicine and health (7%).

These results reaffirm the key role of science and technology parks in the Spanish business and innovation ecosystem, acting as true catalysts for economic and social development.

APTE also took advantage of its Assembly to hold a round table discussion on actions that parks can take within the framework of the new Industry and Strategic Autonomy Law. The participants were: Carles Fillat, head of the business campus at Fundación Tecnocampus Mataro Maresme, Belén Talavera, project manager at FUNDECYT-PCTEx, and Javier Taibo, general director of the Parque Tecnolóxico de Galicia – Tecnópole.

During the debate, the role of parks as facilitators of the transition to a more sustainable, innovative industry that is prepared for energy challenges was highlighted. From Galicia, the importance of moving towards energy independence through renewable sources was emphasised. In Extremadura, energy storage infrastructure is being promoted, which is key to attracting new energy-intensive industries.

In Catalonia, projects such as Reimagine Textil were presented, which promote the circular economy and connections with local suppliers, as well as other initiatives linked to environmental and social sustainability. Experiences were also shared, such as the Almería Science and Technology Park (PITA) project, which promotes synergies between companies in the circular economy (energy, water, materials).

Participants agreed that parks can be spaces where good practices that can be replicated by the industrial fabric are generated and shared, such as collective self-consumption solutions, sustainable mobility, and resource reuse.

Training and attracting talent emerged as another key area. The gap between the training on offer and the real needs of industry was highlighted, as well as how parks can serve as a bridge between companies and universities to define new professional profiles in areas such as digitalisation. Málaga TechPark, for example, has working groups in which companies define the required profiles and collaborate with the university in the design of tailored training programmes.

In addition, the association has announced the incorporation of a new Affiliate member: the La Rioja Science and Technology Park (TECHRIOJA), bringing the total number of members to 61, and has presented the APTE 2025 Directory, a publication that offers a detailed overview of the impact and contributions of these ecosystems to the Spanish economy and society.