This budget, a 2.5% increase from 2026, was presented yesterday afternoon by the Department of Economic Promotion at a commission meeting held at the headquarters of the General Assemblies of Bizkaia in Bilbao. As explained by the provincial deputy Ainara Basurko, advanced entrepreneurship is one of the main budgetary priorities for 2027.
Her department will allocate €13.4 million, an 18% increase from the previous year, to programs and services supporting the creation, consolidation, and growth of innovative companies. Direct aid to entrepreneurs and startups will rise by 24%, reaching €4.7 million. Additionally, €2.7 million is reserved for BAT, B Accelerator Tower, Bizkaia's International Entrepreneurship Center, and €2.4 million to continue developing financing instruments that facilitate business creation and growth.
The Innovation area will have €30.8 million, a 15% increase from 2026, to boost the competitiveness of advanced industry and services. Of this amount, €24.1 million will be allocated to direct aid programs for companies, a 7.3% increase. These grants will support projects in innovation, internationalization, digitalization, research and development, decarbonization, circular economy, and management improvement.
A notable increase of 35% is seen in the Technology Transfer program, which will support R&D+i projects and investments in companies' own research and development units. Likewise, the budgets for basic and advanced digitalization programs will increase by 12%.
The budget of the Provincial Department of Economic Promotion also includes strengthening Bizkaia's network of competitive excellence and technological development centers, which will receive €5.7 million, a 70% increase. These resources will advance the development of BIQAIN, Bizkaia Quantum Industrial Hub, Energy Intelligence Center (EIC), Automotive Intelligence Center (AIC); BIKE, Global Smart Grids Innovation Hub, the Aeronautical Advanced Manufacturing Center (CFAA), or the Bilbao Bizkaia Audiovisual Hub.
To reduce the gap between the professional profiles needed by companies and available talent, the Provincial Council plans to allocate €7.06 million to the development, attraction, and retention of qualified and STEM talent. Through the collaborative strategy Bizkaia with the Talent, specialized training, digital skills development, and the attraction of international professionals will continue to be promoted, via initiatives such as 42 Urduliz Bizkaia, Smart Grids Academy, TUMO Bilbao Bizkaia, Bizkaia Euskaltel Digital Center, and collaboration programs with companies and educational institutions.
Furthermore, the budget allocates €5 million to regional development, of which €4.09 million correspond to the Bizkaia Orekan Sakonduz strategy and projects in collaboration with local and regional agents. Resources for regional competitiveness and the modernization of industrial estates are consolidated.
The budget also includes €545,600 to promote the modernization, digitalization, and professionalization of local commerce, and €384,400 to support Bizkaia's artisan sector.
Finally, €3.15 million will be allocated to the external promotion of Bizkaia, through international positioning actions, the organization of strategic sectoral events, and the attraction of high-value-added investments.
With these priorities, the 2027 budget places SMEs in advanced industry and services at the center of Economic Promotion policies, combining direct support to companies with investments in talent, technology, and strategic projects that contribute to the competitiveness and economic development of Bizkaia as a whole.
This budget is part of the General Budgets of Bizkaia for 2027, which amount to €12,110.1 million. Of this amount, €2,351.6 million correspond to the accounts managed by the provincial institution, while the departments' available funds, after deducting personnel expenses, debt service, and global payment credit, amount to €1,806.7 million.
