European Innovation Funding in Castilla y León: Positioning, Key Data and the Role of León in Horizon Europe

Castilla y León and the challenge of european innovation funding

Figure 1: Prepared by Fundación ICAMCyL

As shown in Figure 1, the distribution of European innovation funding in Spain is highly concentrated territorially. Regions such as Catalonia, Madrid and the Basque Country lead the return from major EU programmes like Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 (H2020).

Within this national context, Castilla y León ranks as the eighth autonomous community in terms of European funding attracted, with a total return of €327.5 million. This figure reflects the region’s strong capacity to compete successfully in highly demanding European calls for research, development and innovation (R&D&I).

How Does Castilla y León Compare with the Rest of Spain?

According to data from the Horizon Dashboard of the European Commission, Castilla y León is among the top eight Spanish regions in terms of European funding return, achieving a success rate of 16%, in line with the average of the most competitive regions in Spain.

Figure 2: Prepared by Fundación ICAMCyL

A closer look at the provincial level reveals a diverse distribution of European funding returns.

Provinces such as Valladolid, Burgos, Salamanca and León stand out for their ability to attract financing for projects related to innovation, research and the energy transition.

León: A Non-Metropolitan Territory with a Strong European Projection

At the provincial level, León emerges as a particularly relevant case. With more than €33 million in European funding secured, the province demonstrates a highly significant return when assessed in relation to its territorial and demographic structure.

This positioning is supported by:

• The presence of key anchor organisations with a strong European focus
• An ecosystem closely linked to energy, innovation and just transition policies
• A solid track record in EU-funded research and innovation projects

Leading Organisations in the Attraction of European Funds in León

Within the province, organisations such as Ciudad de la Energía Foundation (CIUDEN), the University of León, and Fundación ICAMCyL account for a significant share of European funding returns. Their performance demonstrates that Europe is also built from non-metropolitan territories.

The participation of these entities in programmes like Horizon Europe and H2020 highlights León’s ability to integrate into high-level international consortia and contribute to strategic European research and innovation agendas.

Figure 3: Prepared by Fundación ICAMCyL

The Role of ICAMCyL in Attracting European Innovation Funding

At ICAMCyL, we work to strengthen the participation of companies and institutions from Castilla y León in European projects. Our activities focus on facilitating access to funding, supporting the creation of international consortia, and developing competitive proposals aligned with European priorities in innovation, sustainability and competitiveness.

Source: Horizon Dashboard – European Commission (Horizon Europe and H2020)