On 15 June, new applications for the Business Factory Aero (BFAero) opened, with a more international focus and in search of synergies with the Aerospace Pole of Galicia. The Regional Government of Galicia has committed to two new editions, the fourth and the fifth, with a total investment of 7.2 million euros to support 25 companies in the sector.

The objective is to strengthen the technological ecosystem by making the BFAero a benchmark in the European Union for open and disruptive innovation. In its first three editions, the accelerator has already favoured the participation of 19 projects, the creation of eight and an investment of 5 million euros.

BFAero is a business incubation, acceleration and consolidation programme that focuses on the aeronautics and unmanned vehicles sector and aims to attract the best talent to Galicia, providing entrepreneurs with funding, technological infrastructure and support which they can use to develop their business projects.

The aeronautics and unmanned vehicles sector is a sector with great growth potential which, thanks to the policies developed by the Regional government and the support of various institutions and companies, has the perfect platform in Galicia to innovate, develop and serve local, national and international clients.

This accelerator is managed by the CEL Foundation - Initiatives for Lugo and promoted by the Regional Government of Galicia through the Galician Innovation Agency (Gain) -managing body of the Aerospace Pole of Galicia-, the Galician Institute for Economic Promotion (Igape) and the Management Company of Closed-Ended Investment Companies  (XesGalicia).

Participating in the Aerospace Pole of Galicia means having access to more than 50 potential technological partners, benefiting from joint commercialisation actions of products and solutions or being able to participate in international missions at the main UAV shows around the world. In addition, being part of the Civil UAVs Initiative means access to world-leading infrastructure (such as the Rozas Airborne Research Centre) or participating in technical knowledge exchange activities, such as the initiative's annual Technical Forum.

Three types of support

Through its three types of support, incubation (12 months), acceleration (8 months) and consolidation (4 months), BFAero has the capacity to cover the different stages of evolution of any entrepreneurial project in the aeronautical and unmanned vehicle field, from the earliest stages, from ideation, to the most advanced ones. The projects have access, among other means, to the Rozas aerodrome facilities, in addition to other infrastructure and equipment provided by BFAero's collaborating entities. The projects will also benefit from discounted access and use of the Rozas airfield facilities.

The selection phase is the period in which the projects participating in the BFAero are determined in its incubation (maximum 3 projects), acceleration (maximum 5 projects) or consolidation (3 projects) modalities.

This fourth edition, which will support up to 11 projects, has an incubation pathway, aimed primarily at entrepreneurial initiatives in the aerospace sector, spinoffs, startups, and spinouts, an acceleration pathway for companies that already have a minimum viable product, and a new consolidation pathway for companies with a maximum age of up to seven years with a high capacity for international growth.

The projects selected in this fourth edition of the BFAero will receive financial support from the Regional Government of Galicia. Specifically, in the incubation programme, they will have access to 40,000 euros in grants from the Galician Innovation Agency. In the case of acceleration projects, they will be able to access support of up to 60,000 euros from the Galician Innovation Agency and participative loans or venture capital of up to 50,000 euros from Xesgalicia and, in the case of consolidation projects, 30,000 euros of support from Gain and up to 250,000 euros of financing from XesGalicia.

In addition, all selected projects, regardless of whether they participate in the incubation, acceleration, or consolidation modality, will benefit from a bonus of 10,000 euros to use services and infrastructure of the Aerospace Pole of Galicia, including flight hours or support in industry certifications. In addition, they will have a complete training programme and specialised tutors in the aerospace sector.

The applications to participate in this fourth edition of the BFAero close on 15 August at 2:00 p.m.