The Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI Innovación) has approved €1.49 million in funding for a project led by CTA (Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía) to develop actions to stimulate sustainable innovation in the municipalities within the area of influence of the Doñana Natural Space, recognized as a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve.

The project led by CTA is entitled ‘Doñana Terra Innova: Innovation and Technology for the Socioeconomic Revitalization of Doñana. Technology and Cooperation in the Service of the Territory’ and involves the participation of Asaja-Huelva, the Huelva Business Federation (FOE), the cooperatives OnuCoop SCA and Seprocoop SCA, and the University of Huelva (UHU). Its aim is to position itself as a key instrument for turning the area of influence of Doñana into a benchmark for sustainable socioeconomic development and innovation, while protecting and making the most of its natural and territorial resources.

CTA encourages companies and other organizations interested in taking part in sustainable innovation projects in the Doñana area of influence to contact the foundation (donanainnovacion@corporaciontecnologica.com / +34 954 461 352).

An active local innovation ecosystem

The project will run for two years and will carry out analyses and diagnostics to prepare entrepreneurial business plans, innovative business projects and Public Procurement of Innovation tenders; to foster university–industry collaboration and the innovation ecosystem; to provide training in innovation management; and to develop innovation capabilities in SMEs. In addition, actions will be undertaken to design and support the deployment of the Doñana 2030 Scientific and Technological Observatory, the UHU Doñana University–Industry Chair, the Doñana 2030 Living Lab, the Doñana Sustainable Agriculture advanced testing and experimentation center, and the Doñana Sustainable Innovation incubator and accelerator.

Among the project’s main objectives are supporting an active and stable local innovation ecosystem, helping to increase the number of innovative companies (especially SMEs), promoting Public Procurement of Innovation (PPI) initiatives, strengthening the environmental sustainability and resilience of the territory (by fostering the green, blue and circular economy), and promoting collaboration between companies, universities, public administrations and social agents.

The project will combine open-topic initiatives proposed by participating companies with other predefined initiatives driven by the consortium in critical areas for the Doñana territory, such as water management, sustainability in agriculture (especially in the berries, vineyards, cereals and olive sectors), and decent housing for agricultural workers.

CTA, a partner in CDTI’s actions in Andalusia

This initiative in the Doñana Natural Space is CTA’s first action in 2026 as an ally and partner in CDTI’s activities in Andalusia. CTA is a public–private collaboration entity for accelerating innovation processes and works with public administrations to promote innovation.

In addition, CTA is the National and International Support Entity of CDTI’s PIDI Network, which is designed to address advanced enquiries from its members and from the scientific and business community regarding funding programmes for R&D&I activities.

CDTI Call for Proposals

The CDTI Innovación call for the award of grants for ‘Actions to Stimulate Innovation in the municipalities within the area of influence of the Doñana Natural Space and the Biosphere Reserve’ has a budget of €4 million under the 2024–2027 State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research and has approved a total of five proposals, including the one led by CTA.

The aim of the programme is to fund innovation-boosting projects to promote innovation in traditionally low-innovation environments, focused on identifying, diagnosing and implementing innovative actions in the municipalities within the area of influence of the Doñana Natural Space, specifically:

Cádiz: Sanlúcar de Barrameda
Huelva: Almonte, Bollullos Par del Condado, Bonares, Hinojos, Lucena del Puerto, Moguer, Palos de la Frontera and Rociana del Condado
Seville: Aznalcázar, Isla Mayor, La Puebla del Río, Pilas and Villamanrique de la Condesa.