Investment in R&D in Spanish scientific and technological parks and their entities grows by 24% on 2024.

One of the most highlighted data of 2024 is the significant increase in investment in R&D, which reached 2,116.89 million euros, meaning a 24% increase from 2023 and approximately 9.5% of the total national. Moreover, the turnover of the companies and entities installed in the parks stood at 31.576 million euros, with a growth of 9.2%, showing solid economic activity. 

The number of businesses and entities located in the parks ascended to 6.000, which represents an increase of 1.6% from the previous year. This evolution reflects the capacity of the parks to attract and retain talent and innovative projects.

When it comes to employment, parks registered a total of 168.462 professionals, with an increase of 4.4%. From this group, 42.170 people work in R&D activities, which means an increase of 9.1%, showing the growing concentration of specialised talent in these environments.

Gender equality is another protagonist of the year: 790 businesses are run by women, which represents 24.5% of the total, according to the data provided by 40 parks. Also, 1.175 businesses have equality plans, 26.3% of the total, from the data of 35 parks.

In terms of activity, the diversity of sectors in the parks is still one of their strengths. The information, computer and telecommunications sectors lead with 24% of the activity, followed by engineering, consulting and advisory (17%) and medical and health (7%).

These results reaffirm the key role of scientific and technological parks in the Spanish business and innovation ecosystems, acting as true catalysts of economic and social development. Also, APTE has taken the opportunity of their Assembly to celebrate a roundtable about actions that parks can develop in the wake of the new Law on Industry and Strategic Autonomy. Three people took part in it: Carles Fillat, head of the business campus at Fundación Tecnocampus Mataro Maresme, Belén Talavera, head of Projects at FUNDECYT-PCTEx, and Javier Taibo, general director of the Parque Tecnolóxico de Galicia - Tecnópole.

 During the debate, the role of parks as facilitators in the process of transition into more sustainable, innovative and ready for energetic roles was highlighted. In Galicia, the importance of advancing towards energetic independence was emphasised. In Extremadura, infrastructure for energy storage is being promoted, which is key to accommodating new consumption-intensive industries.

In Catalonia, projects such as Reimagine Textil were shown, which promote the circular economy and the connection with local suppliers, and other initiatives linked to social and environmental sustainability. Experiences such as the project of the Parque Científico - Tecnológico de Almería (PITA) were shared, which promoted synergies amongst businesses in the circular economy (energy, water, and materials).Participants agreed on the fact that parks can be spaces where good practices, replicable by the industrial fabric, can be generated and shared, such as solutions on collective self-consumption, sustainable mobility, or reutilisation of resources.

Training and attraction of talent emerge as a key axis. Members pointed out the existing gap between formative offers and the real needs of the industry, and how the parks can become the bridges between businesses and universities to define new professional profiles in sectors such as digitalisation. Málaga TechPark, for example, has working groups in which businesses define required profiles, and collaborate with universities in designing training programs accordingly.

Moreover, the Association has announced the incorporation of a new Afiliated member: the Parque Científico Tecnológico de La Rioja (TECHRIOJA), elevating to 61 the total number of members, and has introduced the 2025 APTE Directory, a publication that offers a detailed vision of the impact and contributions of these ecosystems to Spanish economy and society.

Assistents a la segona Assemblea General d'APTE, celebrada a Jaén.