SPRI increases the support budget for Artificial Intelligen…

SPRI-Basque Business Development Agency has increased the budget of the Artificial Intelligence 2026 aid program by 3 million euros, bringing the total volume of public funds allocated to the program to 14 million euros. The decision was signed by general director Jon Ansoleaga Ugarte on September 18, 2026, and was published in the September 29, 2026 issue of the Official Gazette of the Basque Country, under official reference 2026/4039, in the “Other provisions” section.

High demand prompted the expansion

The reason for the expansion is explained within the text of the resolution itself: the number of applications received since the program’s guidelines were published has been “high.” SPRI did not provide a specific number of applications, but stated that this volume justifies increasing the planned allocation.

The objective of the program is to support projects for applying services and solutions based on Artificial Intelligence in industrial companies within the Basque Autonomous Community, in order to improve company competitiveness. Therefore, the grants are specifically aimed at the industrial sector.

Guidelines approved in February and published in March

The regulatory guidelines of the program were approved by the general director of SPRI on February 26, 2026, and were published on March 23, 2026, in issue 55 of the Official Gazette of the Basque Country. Section 5 of Article 3 of those guidelines specifically provided for the possibility of expanding the maximum budget amount, depending on the applications received and the availability of budget for the same purpose.

Up to a maximum of 16 million euros

The guidelines allow for the maximum amount to be increased by an additional 5 million euros, meaning up to a total of 16 million euros. The current expansion, therefore, is only a part of the planned range: an additional 3 million euros, for a total of 14 million euros. According to the guidelines, the resolution establishing the expansion must be published in the Official Gazette of the Basque Country.

No new application period is opened

The resolution itself clarifies that the publication does not open a period for submitting new applications, nor does it restart the resolution period. That is, the expansion is purely an increase in the budget allocation and does not change the procedure’s calendar.

Data

Organization: SPRI-Basque Business Development Agency.
Signatory: Jon Ansoleaga Ugarte, general director.
Date of resolution: September 18, 2026.
Publication: Official Gazette of the Basque Country, September 29, 2026, reference 2026/4039.
Initial budget: 11 million euros.
Expansion: 3 million euros.
Current total: 14 million euros.
Maximum limit: 16 million euros.
Beneficiaries: Industrial companies in the Basque Autonomous Community.

This extension makes two facts clear: the demand from Basque industry to implement AI solutions has been greater than initially predicted, and the program still has some room before reaching its maximum limit of 16 million euros. Therefore, for industrial companies, this aid line remains active, but under the same conditions and calendar.

Fuente: Official Gazette of the Basque Country, 2026/4039, September 29, 2026, Other provisions (official reference: 2026/4039).