It is a 4.0 incubator, 85% co-financed by Feder Funds, which aims to complement the incubator by generating the blue economy pole in southern Europe.
This new aid, managed through Incyde, validates the Consortium's role as a promoter of its environment and efficient execution of projects carried out with European Funds
Javier Collado, general director of Incyde, and Fran González, special delegate of the State for the Free Zone, have signed today the document that establishes the financing conditions
The Free Trade Zone of Cádiz is going to develop a new project linked to the blue economy: ZF Blue Core, a 4.0 incubator that has an investment of 10.3 million euros and that aims to complement Incubazul to form the blue economy pole of the south of Europe. To this end, the Cádiz institution will receive new aid from European Funds that amounts to 85% of the total, thanks to the selection of the initiative as a unique project given the potential for economic and business development in the area and with the endorsement of the management carried out in the previous funds and the economic and social impact obtained by Incubazul.
This new fund will be managed again through the Incyde Foundation, and precisely its general director, Javier Collado, together with the delegate of the Free Trade Zone, Fran González, have signed the document that validates the operation and generates the financing conditions of the same, which represents the formal start of the new nursery that will receive 8.75 million from Europe in the Multiregional Program of Spain FEDER 2021-2027 within the framework of Priority: P1A. of the Program, aimed at promoting a digital and intelligent Transition and, within it, in Specific Objective 1.3 "Strengthening the sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and the creation of employment in them, also through productive investments."
ZF Blue Core aims to serve as a boost and consolidation of innovative companies linked to the Blue Economy, whether or not they have gone through the acceleration program of the Free Zone incubator, Incubazul, although its vocation is to serve as a bridge for those initiatives that They receive personalized advice in the incubator and need a new framework before becoming a real part of the province's blue economy ecosystem. It is a 4.0 incubator where companies can finish consolidating and advance throughout the entire digital framework of the project thanks to a technological laboratory and specialized mentoring.
This new aid from Europe confirms the work that the Cádiz Free Trade Zone is doing as a promoter of its environment and how its role in the development and execution of previous projects carried out with Feder financing has been carried out successfully. In fact, at the end of last year, the Cádiz Free Trade Zone exceeded 100% of the degree of execution of the allocations granted through the Incyde Foundation in the Spanish Pluriregional Operational Program FEDER 2014-2020.
It must be remembered that the start-up of the Blue Economy high-tech incubator, Incubazul, obtained a subsidy of 2.5 million euros in March 2020 for a total investment of 3.15 million (80% subsidy). , while in November 2022 a new provision of Feder Funds for the incubator of 1.5 million euros was made effective for a total investment of 1.9 million, which ratified the trust placed in the Free Trade Zone.
The Cádiz Free Zone has created a powerful Blue Economy ecosystem around the Incubazul incubator and its acceleration program, but it is also betting on a new industry 4.0 model, more innovative, sustainable and committed to the environment. In this context, its marketing actions are aimed at attracting innovative companies linked to the blue sector within the framework of sustainability. In fact, currently of the 113 companies that operate in the tax area of the city of Cádiz, 80 are linked to the Blue Economy and 24 of them are directly related to innovative and technological projects.
In this entire ecosystem, the ZF Blue Core project acquires special relevance, which will not only provide continuity, strengthen and accommodate those companies that emerge from the Incubazul acceleration program but will also make it available to any innovative and technological company linked to the Economy. Azul quality services and equipment will contribute to the development of companies and job creation.
With this project, the Cádiz Free Trade Zone will offer companies with these characteristics spaces to carry out their work, with the support and ideal conditions so that they can also fully develop their digital and innovative potential.
The 4.0 ZF Blue Core incubator will be distributed in two locations around the fiscal precinct of the city of Cádiz and the Blue Economy centers already formed. One next to the current Incubazul headquarters in the Europa Building and the other next to the final headquarters, which will be the recycled maritime container building in the Base Zone, in the outer polygon of the Free Trade Zone. The buildings, which have a total surface area of more than 7,000 square meters, will have a modern construction and design that allows the modulation of the spaces depending on the needs expressed by the companies. In addition, they will have a technological laboratory available to them and all the accessibility needs to complete the digitization process.
The ZF Blue Core business incubator will allow the Cádiz Free Trade Zone to continue working in the business ecosystem around the Blue Economy and innovation and reinforce its commitment and work for the new industry 4.0 model, within the framework of sustainability and commitment to the environment.
About the Incyde Foundation of the Chambers of Commerce
The INCYDE Foundation (Chamberal Institute for the Creation and Development of the Company) is an institution created in 1999 at the initiative of the Chambers of Commerce, dedicated to the promotion and training of the entrepreneurial spirit, the improvement of the qualifications of the business community and the creation and business consolidation.
It is an effective instrument in generating employment and in the innovation and adaptation of SMEs to new markets, which has contributed to achieving excellence in INCYDE's training programs, as well as the opening of new business projects, since it facilitates a space where entrepreneurs can develop their business ideas.
Since 2000, the Foundation has invested 400 million euros in promoting, supporting and consolidating entrepreneurs and companies throughout the national territory, always betting on innovation and training as key tools.
Of the 4,000 programs carried out (with more than 985,400 hours of training), 187,000 people have benefited, who have contributed to the creation of 32,117 companies and the consolidation of another 42,000. As a result of the creation and consolidation of companies, more than 150,000 jobs have been generated.
The Foundation has also managed to launch the largest Network of Incubation Centers in Europe, developing 143 business incubators, 26 sectoral High Technology Incubators and 42 Digital Coworking/4.0 business incubators. This Network has incubated and digitized 23,342 entrepreneurs and companies.
The activities of the INCYDE Foundation are framed in the programs of the community funds ESF (European Social Fund) and ERDF (European Regional Development Fund).
