Direct industry subsidies for three organizations for 2026

The Government has approved Royal Decree 724/2026, dated September 9, which regulates direct industrial subsidies for the 2026 budget year. The regulation was published in the Official State Gazette (Boletín Oficial del Estado) number 224, on September 10, 2026, and includes grants for three beneficiary organizations for reasons of public, social, and economic interest. The decree was signed by Jordi Hereu Boher, Minister of Industry and Tourism.

These subsidies are granted under article 22.2.c) of Law 38/2003, of November 17, the General Law on Subsidies, which allows for direct granting when there are reasons of public interest. The regulation governs three subsidies and distributes a total of 2,975,000 euros among three beneficiary organizations, each being the only one in its field.

Three beneficiary organizations and amounts

The decree identifies three beneficiary organizations, each performing specific functions in its field of activity:

• Asociación Española de Normalización, notified as the national standardization body to the European Commission, will receive 1,500,000 euros for standardization activities, participation in international bodies, and promoting the work of Technical Committees.
• Entidad Nacional de Acreditación (ENAC), the sole national accreditation body, will receive 175,000 euros to digitalize the accreditation infrastructure and integrate into international agreements.
• Fundación para el Fomento de la Innovación Industrial (FFII), a non-profit foundation, will receive 1,300,000 euros for market surveillance and safety verification of industrial products.

These three organizations are the only ones performing their functions, which justifies the direct grant, as a public tender is unfeasible. FFII has collaborated with the Ministry of Industry and Tourism since 1994 in implementing market surveillance plans.

Financing and procedure

The subsidies are financed by the budget line of the General State Budget for 2023, extended to 2026. The granting procedure begins ex officio upon the decree entering into force, and beneficiaries have a period of seven days to submit their application through the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.

Payment is advanced, prior to justification, and no deposit or guarantee is required. Expenses must be incurred between January 1 and December 31, 2026, and the justification must be submitted before April 1, 2027. The application requires a report, declarations of responsibility, and other documentation.

Obligations and deadlines

Beneficiaries must comply with the obligations of article 14 of Law 38/2003 and submit to control and inspection activities. Justification is carried out with expense-supporting documents, and if personnel costs are financed, signed monthly hour-sheets must be submitted.

Failure to comply with the requirements may lead to the repayment of the grant, in accordance with the principle of proportionality. If less than 75% of the activity is completed, a full repayment will be applied. Furthermore, the decree modifies Real Decreto 609/2026, which regulates the Auto+ program, by adding a new provision regarding the conditions for beneficiaries.

The decree was issued on September 9 and entered into force the day after its publication in the BOE. This regulation strengthens the quality and safety infrastructure of the industrial sector and is essential to ensure the competitiveness of Spanish industry and market confidence.

Fuente: Boletín Oficial del Estado, núm. 224, 10 de septiembre de 2026, Sec. I, Pág. 120820-120832 (referencia oficial: BOE-A-2026-18902).