SODERCAN will directly subsidize freelancers and new companies with up to 67,600 euros

The Governing Council of Cantabria approved Decree 68/2026, of September 17, which regulates the direct granting of subsidies from SODERCAN, S. A. to self-employed individuals and newly created companies within the framework of the EMPRECAN and EMPLEA programs. The provision is published in the Official Gazette of Cantabria (BOC) No. 184, of September 24, 2026, with the reference CVE-2026-7365. The regulation enters into force the day following its publication, that is, September 25, 2026.

The decree replaces the competitive bidding procedure with that of direct granting, with the aim of streamlining management and gathering all support measures for entrepreneurs promoted by SODERCAN, a public company attached to the Ministry of Industry, Employment, Innovation, and Trade. The text is based on letter c) of article 22.3 of Law 10/2006, of July 17, on Subsidies of Cantabria, which allows for direct granting for reasons of public, social, or economic interest. The measure repeals Order IND/35/2023, of May 5 (Emprecan Plus) and Order IND/13/2023, of February 15 (Emplea).

The grants are de minimis in nature and are subject to Regulation (EU) 2023/2831, which sets a maximum limit of 300,000 euros per company over three years. The decree is signed by the president of the Governing Council, María José Sáenz de Buruaga Gómez, and by the Minister of Industry, Employment, Innovation, and Trade, Eduardo C. Arasti Barca.

EMPRECAN: up to 67,600 euros per beneficiary

EMPRECAN supports investments by self-employed individuals and companies whose activity began within the two years prior to the application. The maximum aid is 67,600 euros per company or self-employed person, divided into four lines:

• Line 1, specialized training expenses: 60% of the expense, with a maximum of 2,100 euros.
• Line 2, incorporation expenses: 100%, with a maximum of 500 euros (excluding self-employed individuals).
• Line 3, start-up expenses: 60%, with a maximum of 15,000 euros.
• Line 4, fixed assets: 50%, with a maximum of 50,000 euros.

Activities based on ecommerce, as well as companies and public entities, are expressly excluded. Applicants must have a registered social or tax address and a workplace in Cantabria and be up to date with SODERCAN, the AEAT, the ACAT, and the General Treasury of the Social Security.

EMPLEA: up to 16,000 euros for permanent hiring

EMPLEA subsidizes the permanent hiring of workers by self-employed individuals and newly created companies, with activity started within the previous four years. The amounts for full-time positions are:

• Contribution groups 1 and 2: 16,000 euros.
• Groups 3 and 4: 14,000 euros.
• Groups 5, 6, and 7: 12,000 euros.
• Groups 8, 9, 10, and 11: 10,000 euros.

The amounts are reduced to 50% when the hiring is part-time. Each applicant may be the beneficiary of a maximum of two grants, and the contract must be maintained for 24 months from the date of registration with the Social Security system.

Deadlines, processing, and control

In EMPRECAN, applications are submitted starting from the day following the full payment of expenses; if all expenses were incurred before the entry into force, the deadline is three months from that date. In EMPLEA, the deadline is three months from the registration of the indefinite contract, and for hirings carried out between July 1, 2025, and the entry into force, three months from the effectiveness of the decree.

Processing is carried out through the SODERCAN Grant Manager (ayudas.sodercan.es). The resolution is the responsibility of the CEO of SODERCAN, with a maximum period of three months, and may be appealed via an administrative appeal (recurso de alzada) before the head of the department competent in industrial matters.

The regulation seeks to ensure that all projects meeting the requirements can access the grants without being subject to rigid call deadlines or budgetary limitations, in a context of the industrial sector’s declining weight in the GDP and a drop in the budgetary execution of these lines.

Source: Official Gazette of Cantabria, no. 184, of September 24, 2026, Governing Council, pp. 46609-46636 (official reference: CVE-2026-7365).