The Region secures 113 million in European funds for research and innovation projects
The Region of Murcia secured a total of €113.24 million from European Union programs between 2021 and 2025 to finance research, technological development, and innovation projects.
During this period, companies, universities, technology centers, and other regional entities participated in 351 European projects and coordinated 52 of them, a responsibility that demonstrates their capacity to lead international initiatives.
The Horizon Europe program, the European Union's main instrument for funding research and innovation, contributed €81.08 million to regional entities, representing 71.6 percent of the total.
The Region obtained an additional €16.47 million through the LIFE program, primarily focused on environmental, climate, and ecological transition projects, accounting for 5.54 percent of all funding secured by Spain in this area.
Businesses were the main recipients of these funds, with €42.67 million, followed by universities, with €36.88 million. Together, these two groups received €79.55 million, 70.2 percent of the total. Technology centers obtained €14.91 million; public administrations, €8.7 million; public research centers, €5.94 million; and associations, €3.96 million.
European funding has also remained above €23 million annually since 2022. After reaching a peak of €32.42 million that year, the Region received €24.2 million in 2023, €25.61 million in 2024, and €23.74 million in 2025. In addition to Horizon Europe and LIFE, the Region also received funds from the Digital Europe Programme, the Innovation Fund, and the European Defence Fund.
The Regional Minister for Business, Employment, and Social Economy, Luis Alberto Marín, pointed out that “these figures show that the knowledge generated in the Region is capable of competing in the most demanding European Union calls for proposals and of being transformed into investment, technology, and new opportunities for our companies.”
Marín added that the regional government's roadmap “involves helping more SMEs enter these programs, find international partners, and turn their innovative projects into solutions with economic and social impact.”
Aid for SMEs to compete for European funding
The regional government, through the Institute for Development, has an open call for applications for the Europe Voucher, endowed with €200,000 and co-financed with ERDF funds.
This aid allows SMEs to hire consultants and specialists to help them design their projects, identify the most suitable European call for proposals, prepare the technical and financial documentation, and submit their funding application.
The program subsidizes participation in calls for proposals such as Horizon Europe, LIFE, Digital Europe, EU4Health, and the European Defence Fund. Grants range from €3,000 to €12,000 and generally cover 70 percent of the cost of the contracted service, a percentage that can reach 85 percent for priority activities under the Regional Strategy for Smart Specialisation (RIS4). The application period will remain open on the Info website until December 28.