AIR-Andalusia to open its first call for services for SMEs, mid-caps and public entities in April 2026
Granada, 19 February 2026. – The UGR AI building hosted on 17 February the technical Kick-off Meeting of AIR-Andalusia, the Andalusian European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) specialised in Applied Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.
The project, coordinated by the AI Granada Research & Innovation Foundation, has a total budget exceeding €5 million and is co-funded at 50% by the European Union under the Digital Europe Programme.
The meeting brought together representatives from the 20 entities forming the consortium, marking the official start of an initiative that will run until January 2029 and aims to accelerate the digital transformation of Andalusia’s productive fabric, particularly SMEs, mid-caps and public administrations.
Service launch in April 2026
One of the key milestones agreed during the meeting is that in April 2026 (Month 3 of the project) the official list of services and pricing will be validated, and the first call for the selection of companies and public entities wishing to join the hub will be launched.
From that moment onwards, AIR-Andalusia will formally open access to its services, primarily targeting SMEs, small-caps and mid-caps, Andalusian public administrations and technology startups.
The model includes five closed calls over the 36-month period, concentrating the strongest recruitment effort in the first phase in order to maximise the duration of support and the real impact on participating organisations.
A strategic consortium for Andalusia
AIR-Andalusia brings together universities, technology centres, science and technology parks, business associations and key actors from the Andalusian innovation ecosystem.
The consortium is composed of AI Granada Research & Innovation Foundation (Coordinator), University of Granada, University of Málaga, University of Jaén, University of Córdoba, University of Huelva, AICIA, CETEMET, BIC EURONOVA, Innova IRV, Fidesol, Linares Chamber of Commerce, Málaga Tech Park, Corporación Tecnológica de Andalucía (CTA), Confederation of Employers of Andalusia (CEA), OnTech Innovation, Health Technology Park (PTS), Andalusian Chambers of Commerce, Fundación Progreso y Salud and the Digital Agency of Andalusia.
Specialised services to drive digital transformation
AIR-Andalusia is conceived as a regional infrastructure supporting advanced digitalisation. Its operational model combines strategic diagnosis, expert guidance and impact measurement.
Its main lines of action include:
- Test before Invest
Access to advanced technological infrastructures such as supercomputing facilities and robotics laboratories to validate solutions before making major investments. This pillar also includes digital maturity assessments, sectoral analyses, technology barometers and strategic surveys that allow organisations to understand their starting point and define a data-driven, personalised roadmap. - Capacity building and training
Specialised programmes aimed at professionals, with particular focus on executives (CEOs) and public managers, oriented towards the practical application of artificial intelligence and robotics in real-world environments. - Access to finance
Advisory services to facilitate access to public and private funding, supporting organisations in identifying suitable financial instruments, preparing proposals and connecting with investors. - Ecosystem and networking
Connection with the European EDIH network and strategic infrastructures such as AI-on-demand and AI Factories, strengthening Andalusia’s positioning within the European AI landscape. The hub will also organise professional networking events, experience-sharing sessions and sector-focused meetings to foster collaboration among companies, technology centres, universities and public administrations.
Expected impact until 2029
AIR-Andalusia has set ambitious objectives for the next three years, including supporting 1,330 entities in their digital transformation processes and providing direct assistance to more than 2,000 SMEs.
The project will cover the entire Andalusian territory and aligns with the region’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S4Andalucía), prioritising sectors such as sustainable agri-food, smart industry, health and biotechnology, sustainable tourism, circular economy and renewable energy.
Next steps
Following this technical meeting, the consortium will hold the official public presentation of the project on 23 March before the Andalusian business and institutional ecosystem.
All information regarding calls, services and access to the hub will be regularly updated on the official website:
https://www.airandalusia.es/
About AIR-Andalusia
AIR-Andalusia is the Andalusian European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) specialised in artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced digital technologies. It is designed to support SMEs, mid-caps and public entities in their digital transformation processes, enhancing their efficiency and competitiveness.
AIR-Andalusia is part of the European Network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH) and has been awarded the European Commission’s Seal of Excellence, consolidating its position as a strategic digital innovation hub in Southern Europe.
The project is co-funded at 50% by the European Union under the Digital Europe Programme.
