BSC AI Factory Acceleration Programme (First Nationwide Call)

About

A 14-week hybrid, equity-free acceleration programme for up to 100 AI startups across Spain, delivered through launchpads in Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Málaga with mentoring, supercomputing access and investor exposure.

Benefits

• 💰Fully funded / zero equity — The programme is fully funded and equity-free; you retain full equity, with participation available without cost.
• 🧑‍🏫 Business mentoring — 1:1 business mentoring on go-to-market strategy for the Spanish and European market, business model design, pricing and fundraising.
• 🛠️ Technical mentoring — 1:1 mentoring with engineers and infrastructure specialists and the programme’s technology partners on advanced AI model training, distributed systems and optimisation.
• 🖥️ Supercomputing access — Hands-on access to MareNostrum 5 AI Update for top-performing teams, with technical support from BSC AI experts.
• 🏢Physical spaces — Office space and in-person events at the assigned launchpad in Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid or Málaga.
• 🤝Investor & market access — Direct connections to specialised international AI and deep tech VCs through acceleration partners.
• 🎤Demo Day & visibility — Final showcase in front of investors, corporates and the wider BSC AI Factory ecosystem.

Eligibility Criteria

• Mandatory: AI-native startups or high-potential AI projects with intensive use, development or investment in AI as a core part of the business; an existing product with a good level of technological maturity and early commercial validation; a multidisciplinary team with at least a business lead and a product/technical lead; ability to attend key in-person sessions at the assigned launchpad in Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga or Bilbao; teams in the process of incorporation may apply if they incorporate before programme kickoff. The call is for startups across Spain. Preferred/emphasis: any domain, with special emphasis on strategic sectors such as healthcare, finance, legal tech, media, sustainability and climate action. Note: BSC news describes the target as late-stage Spanish startups, while the accelerator page describes early-stage projects validating their product and ready to scale.

Participation Commitments

• No fee or equity — The programme is fully funded and equity-free; participants retain full equity, with no participation cost.
• In-person attendance — Selected teams must be able to attend key sessions at their assigned launchpad in Barcelona, Madrid, Málaga or Bilbao; most work and sessions are remote-friendly, but some in-person events are mandatory.
• Kick-off — The programme begins with an in-person global kickoff in Barcelona on 2 December for all launchpads.
• Demo Day — The in-person final demo day with investors is held in Madrid on 17 March for selected finalists.

Target Region

Spain. The programme is open to startups across Spain and operates through four physical launchpads in Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Málaga. Selected teams must be able to attend key in-person sessions at their assigned launchpad; most sessions are remote-friendly, but some in-person events are mandatory.

Target Sector

Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other