FEDERACION ASTURIANA DE EMPRESARIOS

Their core work

FADE is the main employers' federation in Asturias, Spain, serving as a regional business association that represents and supports local companies. Within H2020, their role has been exclusively focused on delivering innovation management services to SMEs through the Key Account Manager (KAM) framework under the SME Instrument. They provide innovation diagnostics, assessment tools, and capacity-building support to help small businesses in Asturias and surrounding Spanish regions access EU innovation programmes. Their work is essentially that of a regional innovation intermediary connecting SMEs with European support structures.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

FADE's focus has been remarkably consistent rather than evolving — all four projects are successive editions of the same GalacteaPlusKam initiative running from 2015 to 2021. Early projects (2015-2018) carried a full set of keywords around innovation diagnostics, KAM methodology, and assessment tools. The later editions (2019-2021) show a slight simplification in scope, with the final project dropping specific methodology terms in favour of broader "Innovation" and "SME" keywords. This suggests the programme matured and became more routine rather than expanding in scope.

FADE has operated in a single programme niche for six years; expect continuity in regional SME support rather than diversification into new technical domains.

How they like to work

FADE has never coordinated a project, always joining as a participant — consistent with their role as a regional business association delivering local services within a larger national framework. With only 10 unique partners all from 1 country (Spain), they operate within a tight, domestically focused network. This suggests they are a reliable local delivery partner for nationally coordinated SME support programmes rather than a connector to diverse European consortia.

FADE's network is small and entirely domestic, with 10 consortium partners all based in Spain. They function as one node in a network of Spanish regional organizations delivering the same KAM programme across different autonomous communities.

What sets them apart

FADE's value lies in its deep roots as Asturias' main employers' federation — they have direct relationships with the regional SME base that outside organizations cannot easily replicate. For anyone building a consortium that needs credible SME outreach in northern Spain, FADE offers an established channel to local businesses. However, they are not a technical or research partner; their contribution is access to and support of regional companies, not domain expertise.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GalacteaplusKam
  The inaugural 2015-2016 edition that established FADE's role as a regional KAM delivery partner for SME innovation services in Asturias.
• GalacteaPlusKam (2020-2021)
  The final iteration spanning into 2021 demonstrates sustained commitment to the programme across four consecutive funding periods.