CEEI Asturias is an incubator and a business accelerator in the Spanish region of Asturias. Finding more and better formulas to support entrepreneurs and technology-based companies is what keeps its director, Cristina Fanjul, awake at night.

What Problem Does CEEI Asturias Solve

“At CEEI Asturias, we believe that our centre is unique, first of all, because we have a complete and integrated range of services,” tells us Ms. Fanjul.

The range of services covers the entire value chain – from the diffusion of entrepreneurial culture in the University and Technological Centres to the help and support in the start-up and growth stages. CEEI Asturias is also specialised in providing access to financing.

“We are specifically proud of the open innovation programmes, involving corporates linked to digitalisation, industry 4.0, and the Asturias Digital Innovation Hub, as well as sectorial acceleration programmes in emerging areas, such as Bio & Health, Sustainable Mobility, and Creative Industries that we have implemented in 2020,” says Cristina Fanjul.

This growing community represents the most effective way of stimulating innovative businesses: by offering high-quality services and building entrepreneurial networks that deliver solutions for local industries and beyond. It is a community that often shares practices and collaborates to help each other improve.

In 2020, CEEI organised the National Meeting ″Entrepreneurial Regions, Keys of the Future″ with their fellow EU|BICs in Spain.

How It All Started

CEEI Asturias was launched 25 years ago, but it has evolved a lot over time. The organisation is a good example of how a public service with strong links to both the public and private ecosystem can adapt to the changing, dynamic needs of its many customers.

“Our ambition is to reinforce growth and scaling-up services, and better support innovative entrepreneurs in our region, Asturias,” says Ms. Fanjul.

Success Stories and Biggest Achievements

CEEI Asturias takes great pride in 300+ success stories every year. They include 1,710 created businesses, an attendance of 13,000 entrepreneurs, and €31 million obtained in funding.

“Quantitatively, the 5-year survival rate of companies in our community is 30 points higher than the Spanish average. Qualitatively, we are proud to experience increasing organisational trust and prestige vis-à-vis customers, partners, and stakeholders,” proudly shares Cristina Fanjul who’s also the vice-president of the national association of BICs- ANCES, and the EBN- European BIC Network.

This is crucial to deliver added-value services in such a complex and interconnected global context.

Connection with InvestHorizon

Several people from the CEEI team have had the opportunity to interact with the InvestHorizon project:

• as project mentors;
• as members of the steering committee;
• as a part of a seminar on the EIC Accelerator.

“It allows us to get to know good practices, update ourselves on new trends, as well as provide a more updated and innovative service in an international context to our clients,” concludes Cristina Fanjul.