What is ENISA?
A Spanish public entity dependent on the General Directorate of Industrial Strategy and small and medium-sized enterprises, which is in turn part of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
What is the CDTI?
Likewise, it is a public entity in Spain that depends exclusively on the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Both options are public entities that offer excellent financing conditions, but they cover different needs, so gaining clarity on these concepts will allow you to choose the right option and not waste unnecessary work time.
Who is each aid intended for?
ENISA focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises with transformation potential that are committed to entrepreneurship and innovation, while CDTI is responsible for managing the programs or instruments assigned to it by the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research, primarily within the framework of business R&D&I, providing a range of possibilities in this environment, especially for technology-based companies.
What can the funding be invested in?
The first thing to review is the budget to understand where the bulk of the funding will go. With ENISA , you can cover overhead costs, such as the money needed to hire sales staff, launch sales or marketing campaigns, expand into other countries, purchase inventory, or balance your daily cash flow. CDTI, on the other hand , doesn't finance the company globally; it's a technical project with a defined start and end: salaries will go toward technical staff (engineers, developers), the purchase of laboratory materials, patent development, prototypes, or scientific collaborations.
How is each aid program structured?
The way in which aid is supported is completely different in both entities.
At ENISA , it is granted through a participatory loan, whose advantage lies in the fact that it does not require personal or bank guarantees; it requires co-financing, that is, the company must have its own funds, its share capital plus reserves must be similar to or greater than the amount requested.
The CDTI usually requires bank guarantees; it works as a subsidized loan that includes a non-refundable portion, meaning that part of the money is not returned; it is a non-refundable grant.
Are ENISA and CDTI compatible?
These two tools are completely compatible; ENISA and CDTI can be combined. In fact, it's a smart strategy you can use to maximize your non-dilutive funding, meaning you can obtain the most money without having to give up any of your shares. Practically speaking, if you intend to develop your advanced technology, you would submit your project to CDTI , and for the commercial launch, marketing, and sales force of the same product, the key would be to seek funding from ENISA.
Which one to choose according to your needs?
In short, if your current need is to scale your business, hire sales staff, fuel your company, or have working cash for daily operations, ENISA would be the best option.
If what you are developing is a profound technological innovation, you have a planned R&D budget and you are looking for a non-refundable injection, then the best option would be CDTI.
Fimax Asesores, your ally in public financing
At Fimax Asesores, we have extensive experience in identifying, preparing, and managing the right financial strategy for your project's success. We support our clients throughout the entire process. If you don't know where to start, contact our team and we'll help you design your ideal public funding strategy.
