Up to €24,000 to support the international expansion of SMEs and startups through the ICEX Next programme

Applications are open until 30 October for support in developing or validating an international expansion strategy. ICEX offers SMEs and startups two forms of support: specialist advice on foreign trade and grants covering expenses incurred during the business’s international expansion over a two-year period, up to a maximum of €24,000.

Eligibility requirements include being a Spanish SME or startup, having a proprietary product or service and an own brand, not being a sales or manufacturing subsidiary of a foreign company, not being a company in financial difficulty, having generated turnover of more than €300,000 in 2025 (this requirement does not apply to technology-based startups), having the staff and material resources needed to expand internationally, and having a company website.

As an exception, companies that previously took part in ICEX’s PIPE programme may participate if they joined in 2012 or earlier, provided their turnover exceeded €1.5 million in the most recent financial year.

Tailored advice

Beneficiary companies will receive a minimum of 30 hours of specialist, tailored advice, delivered in person and remotely by an expert consultant selected by ICEX, to develop and implement or review their international business strategy. They will also have access to specialist consultancy in other areas, such as digital transformation, international contracting, international digital strategy and participation in international tenders.

They may also receive grants of up to €24,000 to cover 60% of the expenses associated with activities included in their international business strategy. Eligible expenses include market prospecting and research; international promotion of their brand, products or services; development of a sales network; procurement of technological tools and solutions to support international trade; and implementation of digital marketing strategies.

More information is available on the ICEX website.