FUNDACION PARA EL CONOCIMIENTO MADRIMASD

Their core work

MADRIMASD is the Madrid region's knowledge and innovation foundation, operating as a bridge between research and business. They run two core programs: the European Researchers' Night in Madrid (a recurring public engagement campaign bringing science to citizens, students, and entrepreneurs) and the Enterprise Europe Network's SME innovation support services for the Madrid region. They help SMEs access EU funding instruments (H2020 SME Instrument, FET Open, COSME) through coaching, innovation management training, and business advisory services.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In 2014-2018, MADRIMASD focused on two parallel tracks: public science engagement through the Researchers' Night events and foundational SME innovation support services (coaching, innovation management basics). From 2019 onward, their SME support became more sophisticated — explicitly referencing multiple EU funding instruments (FET Open, FTI, COSME alongside H2020 SME Instrument) and broadening into energy-sector innovation and sustainability themes. Their Researchers' Night events also evolved, shifting from general public engagement toward sustainability messaging (European Green Deal, SDGs in MadridERN2021).

MADRIMASD is expanding from basic innovation support toward becoming a comprehensive EU funding navigator for SMEs, with growing emphasis on green transition and sustainability themes.

How they like to work

MADRIMASD overwhelmingly leads its own projects — 10 out of 16 projects as coordinator, mostly running recurring regional programmes (Researchers' Night, INNMADRIMASD series). When they participate rather than lead, they join larger ERA-NET or coordination actions in materials and innovation policy. With 94 unique partners across 38 countries, they maintain a broad but shallow network typical of a regional hub that connects local actors to European frameworks rather than building deep bilateral research partnerships.

Extensive network of 94 partners across 38 countries, reflecting their role as a regional gateway connecting Madrid's innovation ecosystem to European research and business networks. The breadth across 38 countries is unusually high for their funding level, driven by coordination and networking actions rather than deep technical collaborations.

What sets them apart

MADRIMASD occupies a distinctive niche as a regional innovation intermediary — not a research performer, but an orchestrator connecting Madrid's SMEs and researchers to EU opportunities. Their combination of public science engagement (reaching citizens, students, entrepreneurs) and hands-on SME funding advisory is unusual; most organisations do one or the other. For consortium builders, they offer a direct channel into the Madrid innovation ecosystem and proven experience managing CSA-type coordination projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MadridERN2016-2017
  Largest single grant (EUR 200,000) and part of a five-edition series demonstrating sustained commitment to public science engagement in Madrid.
• INNMADRIMASD5
  Latest and largest iteration (EUR 153,750) of their flagship SME innovation support programme, reflecting accumulated expertise over five funding cycles.
• GOT ENERGY TALENT
  Their only MSCA-COFUND fellowship programme, signaling expansion into energy research talent attraction and a departure from their usual coordination-only role.