Nanotechnology has taken off in the Valencian startup ecosystem. According to the Startup Observatory of the Valencian Community prepared by Startup Valencia, by the end of 2023, the number of emerging companies working with this technology had increased by 112% compared to the previous year. It is the fastest-growing technology of the last year, with the count surpassing 30 startups in 2024.
This progress has been endorsed by the Valencian innovative ecosystem and the work developed in universities and technological centers, which, according to Inés Blanc, R&D manager at Cramik, “are equipped with specialized personnel and equipment to ensure nanotechnology makes a definitive market entry.” “In our case, Valencia and its technological environment have been crucial after our move from Albacete in allowing us to develop our company in a very competitive and efficient manner,” she notes.
The development of semiconductors, one of the fields of nanotechnology, has also contributed to this rise. As Iñigo Artundo, CEO of VLC Photonics, explains, “this sector has seen a resurgence in Spain as society, businesses, and governments realize the enormous dependence on them across all sectors and the push to develop them locally rather than depend so heavily on the Asian market.”
In this field, the Valencian Community stands out. “The region is a leader in Spain in integrated photonic innovation,” emphasizes Ana González, VP of Business Development at iPronics.
As the Startup Observatory of the Valencian Community reports, the areas where this technology is most applied are energy, health, biotechnology, and advanced materials. For Alonso Felipe, a researcher at Evolving Therapeutics, “the role that nanotechnology could play in precision medicine is promising, enabling tailored solutions for each of the problems encountered.”
Overall, startups operating with this technology account for 1.40% of all technological within the ecosystem, but companies in the sector predict that 2024 will continue to be a year of growth. “This is a year of advancement and implementation, of course, now that it is established in many sectors. Moreover, with the arrival of artificial intelligence, advancements will be faster and more reliable,” comments Inés Blanc.
Meanwhile, Marisa Domingo, CEO and co-founder of Evolving Therapeutics notes that the improvement in Valencia’s startup ecosystem has been notable in recent years and institutional support has been fundamental, “however, a continued commitment is needed to ensure that nanotechnology remains a driver of economic growth and progress in the Valencian Community.”
In this same vein, Ana González believes that “some aspects, such as financing, need to be strengthened” and Iñigo Artundo opines that “much more investment in talent is needed, to have the capacity to attract, educate, recruit, and retain enough personnel to feed the sector’s growth.”
The remarkable growth of nanotechnology startups in Valencia offers an encouraging outlook for innovation. With ongoing momentum and the need for greater investment and talent, this upward trend is expected to continue, consolidating nanotechnology as a pillar of progress and economic growth in the Valencian Community.
