INSTITUTO ARAGONES DE FOMENTO

Their core work

Instituto Aragonés de Fomento (IAF) is the regional development agency of Aragón, Spain, focused on fostering business innovation, technology transfer, and entrepreneurship support. They help SMEs and spin-offs grow by connecting them with research outputs, providing peer-learning networks, and facilitating access to data-driven innovation ecosystems. Their work spans from traditional technology transfer to newer areas like digital innovation hubs and sustainable mobility solutions for regional territories.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IAF's early H2020 work (2016–2019) centered on traditional technology transfer and spin-off support — helping research outputs reach the market through structured peer-learning between regional agencies. From 2020 onward, their focus shifted toward digital infrastructure (data spaces, digital innovation hubs) and sustainable mobility for underserved territories. This evolution mirrors a broader European trend where regional development agencies moved from generic innovation support toward data ecosystems and green transport.

IAF is transitioning from traditional innovation brokering toward digital and green infrastructure support, making them a relevant partner for projects targeting regional digital transformation or sustainable mobility in non-metropolitan areas.

How they like to work

IAF operates flexibly — they coordinate smaller peer-learning projects (CSA format, ~EUR 50K) and join larger consortia as participants or third parties. With 80 unique partners across 23 countries from just 6 projects, they consistently work in broad European consortia rather than tight bilateral arrangements. This suggests they are well-networked and comfortable in large multi-country partnerships, but not yet a dominant consortium leader in major research actions.

IAF has collaborated with 80 unique partners across 23 countries, an unusually wide network for an organization with only 6 projects. This breadth comes from participating in large coordination and support actions that bring together many regional development bodies across Europe.

What sets them apart

IAF brings a regional development agency perspective that most research organizations lack — they understand how innovation policies translate into on-the-ground support for SMEs and entrepreneurs. Their experience coordinating peer-learning exchanges means they know what works across different European regions, making them valuable in projects that need to demonstrate replicability or policy transfer. For consortium builders, IAF offers a gateway to the Aragón region's industrial base (automotive, logistics, agri-food) and its policy infrastructure.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RECIPROCITY
  Their largest funded project (EUR 126,188), focused on replicating innovative mobility solutions for peri-urban and rural areas — a significant thematic expansion for IAF.
• EUHubs4Data
  A flagship European data federation initiative connecting digital innovation hubs — positions IAF within the EU data space ecosystem despite their small role as third party.
• SocEn
  Coordinated by IAF, this peer-learning project on social entrepreneurship shows their ability to lead European exchanges on niche innovation support topics.