Cajamar Innova, Cajamar's technology-based business accelerator, is launching a triple call for projects related to efficient water management, agricultural production technologies and, for the first time, startups specialising in new food technologies. Applications can be submitted via the website www.plataformatierra.es/startups, where interested parties can access the requirements and rules for each category, as well as the criteria and selection procedure for the proposals.
The deadline for applications will remain open from 24 March to 23 April for the Agrotech call; until 30 April in the case of Water, and until 7 May for Foodtech projects.
Cajamar's business boosting programmes began in 2018 with Cajamar Innova Agua, with the aim of providing entrepreneurs with training, advice and practical tools to make their business plans related to Water resource use and management viable and competitive, promoting a positive impact on the territory. More recently, in 2024, the acceleration offer was expanded to agricultural production technologies with Cajamar Innova Agrotech, including robotics, mechanisation, precision agriculture and livestock farming, agricultural management platforms, new production systems, biotechnology, circular economy and the bioeconomy. And, in 2025, Cajamar Innova Foodtech has been launched, aimed specifically at initiatives that take advantage of new technologies to transform the way food is produced, such as personalised nutrition, innovative food, technological innovation in food processing, reduction of food waste, logistics, traceability and safety in the food chain.
After the application deadline, up to 10 startups will be selected for each of the three acceleration programmes – Water, Agrotech and Foodtech. Selections will be made from proposals offering disruptive technological solutions with strong market differentiation and high growth potential.
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On the occasion of this new call, Ricardo García Lorenzo, Director of Cajamar Innova, underlined the purpose behind these business promotion programmes: ‘We should ask ourselves why innovation has created more value in the last 50 years than in the previous 5,000. Perhaps it has something to do with the ecosystems created and the innovative talent. And that is precisely what we want to promote at Cajamar Innova: innovative talent’.
A unique offer in Spain
Cajamar Innova offers a distinctive model for driving technological innovation across the entire agri-food value chain, based on comprehensive and personalised support for the design of viable business plans and the development and validation of technological innovations. To this end, participants have the support of professionals from Cajamar's innovation ecosystem, which allows them to come into contact with strategic partners in the field of water and the agri-food sector from all over the world, and to gain visibility by participating in top-level professional meetings and forums. In addition, startups have the opportunity to carry out pilot trials together with strategic partners and validation tests at its experimental centres in Almeria and Valencia, specialising in intensive Mediterranean agriculture, as well as to make use of its work and laboratory facilities.
This nine-month programme combines online and in-person participation, and is divided into two phases – mentoring and pilot/validation testing — with a strong emphasis on online interaction to ensure accessibility for entrepreneurs regardless of their location. Throughout the process, participants will receive individualised, personalised support tailored to the life cycle of their business project. The programme is offered at no cost to entrepreneurs and features top-tier methodology, expert-led training, and continued support beyond the initial phases.
Accumulated experience
This marks Cajamar Innova’s fifth call for Water projects, the second call for Agrotech, and the first time a call has been issued for Foodtech. In 2023, it was recognised by the Ministry of Finance and Public Administration as the best Spanish project co-financed with European funds. Since 2021, more than 500 national and international startups have applied to Cajamar’s Business Acceleration Programmes, with 73 entrepreneurial projects successfully completing the process. Additionally, Cajamar Innova’s activities have contributed to the creation of 210 jobs, while over 12,000 professionals and students have taken part in its training and knowledge transfer events across Spain.
