Adigital, AESEMI and AseBio drive a joint proposal to position Spain at the forefront of deep technologies

The Digital Economy Association, Adigital, together with the Spanish Association of the Semiconductor Industry, AESEMI, and the Spanish Bioindustry Association, AseBio, the main representatives of the digital, semiconductor and biotechnology sectors respectively, have submitted a joint document to the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities with 13 strategic proposals to guide the future Spanish Deep Technologies Strategy.

Through this submission, the three main associations representing the strategic areas recognised by the European Commission as critical for security and competitiveness—artificial intelligence, biotechnology, semiconductors and quantum technologies—seek to position Spain at the forefront of these disciplines.

In the document, the associations highlight the need for a comprehensive and cross-cutting approach that combines science, training, investment and entrepreneurship, and promotes the effective transfer of knowledge to the market. According to the three associations, the future National Deep Technologies Strategy must ensure interministerial coordination, public–private governance and flexibility to adapt to technological developments, ensuring that scientific research translates into business innovation and industrial leadership in response to social and global challenges.

Specific proposals

Among the proposed measures, the associations highlight the importance of defining clear objectives and a solid regulatory framework, establishing public–private governance mechanisms such as a High Commissioner and an Advisory Council, ensuring strategic funding and agile procedures, and promoting industrial coherence and economic security, including dual-use and defence dimensions. They also emphasise the need to strengthen talent, technology transfer and entrepreneurship, building a comprehensive innovation ecosystem capable of generating start-ups and cohesive value chains in Spain and Europe.

“Europe must approach deep technologies from a perspective of economic security and open strategic autonomy. We need to reinforce our national capabilities with agile funding instruments, one-stop-shop mechanisms and fast-track procedures that promote scalable projects, without giving up open and trusted international cooperation. Only then can we ensure resilience and leadership in the global innovation ecosystem,” says Raquel Jorge, Director of European Affairs and Head of the Brussels Office at Adigital.

“The deep tech strategy is an opportunity to boost Spain’s strategic sectors—an opportunity we cannot let pass. We need distinct measures for distinct sectors, as well as institutional mechanisms that provide visibility and access to resources to compete in highly competitive global markets. The collaboration with ASEBIO and ADIGITAL shows that there is strong consensus across the ecosystem on which measures are needed and how they should be implemented to strengthen the sector,” explains Alfonso Gabarrón, Manager of AESEMI.

“Spanish biotechnology is driving new diagnostics and treatments, safer food and innovations for the green transition, generating employment and economic value. At AseBio, we advocate for a Spanish Deep Technologies Strategy that strengthens the entire value chain—from research to market—to transform knowledge into social impact and reinforce the country’s strategic autonomy,” says Ion Arocena, General Director of AseBio.

The document also proposes the creation of a national Deep Tech ecosystem that integrates science, training, investment, mentoring and infrastructure, promoting the effective transfer of knowledge to the market. To achieve this, the associations highlight measures for the scalability of scientific development, structured around two main axes: prioritising cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum technologies and semiconductors, and translating research into viable products, supporting both established companies and startups and scaleups.

Overall, with this proposal, Adigital, AESEMI and AseBio encourage the State Secretariat for Science, Innovation and Universities and institutional partners to steer the Spanish Deep Technologies Strategy towards a model that combines scientific vision, business ambition and European leadership, consolidating Spain as a global benchmark through the strengthening of these disciplines as pillars of the country’s and the European Union’s technological and economic autonomy.