The TechFabLab ADER project, a pilot programme led by the La Rioja Economic Development Agency (ADER) as part of the national RETECH initiative and funded by the European Union through the Next Generation EU funds, was conceived as a strategic lever to strengthen La Rioja’s technology business ecosystem. It provided comprehensive support covering the entire entrepreneurial journey, from idea validation to the expansion of established companies.
The programme successfully supported 25 technology-based projects in a remarkably short timeframe, providing specialised training, expert mentoring and access to strategic support networks. TechFabLab not only focused on the growth of local startups but also positioned La Rioja as an attractive destination for technology talent and investment from across Spain.
The innovation ecosystem in La Rioja required a structured framework capable of:
TechFabLab addressed this challenge through a comprehensive approach that combined financial support with tailored advisory services to facilitate the establishment and expansion of technology businesses within the region.
Through a series of phases tailored to the specific needs of the La Rioja ecosystem, the programme aimed to support the entire entrepreneurial lifecycle: ideation, incubation, acceleration and scaling.
Phase 0. Diagnosis and Work Plan
Each selected project underwent an individual assessment of its level of maturity. Based on one-to-one interviews, a personalised roadmap was developed with milestones and objectives aligned to the project’s stage of development.
Every SME began the programme with a strategic assessment to identify challenges, opportunities and priority areas for improvement. This initial diagnosis formed the basis of a tailored roadmap, including objectives and a schedule of mentoring sessions.
Phase 1. Specialised mentoring and training
The core of the programme was its one-to-one support model. A total of 600 hours of individual mentoring were delivered by a team of 33 experts. This was complemented by 40 practical workshops (160 hours of group training) covering business models, digital marketing, finance and scaling strategies.
Phase 2. Ecosystem engagement and networking
Continuous interaction between participants and key ecosystem stakeholders was encouraged. Robust monitoring tools, including a CRM platform and KPI dashboards, were used to ensure full traceability of each startup’s progress.
Phase 3. Demo Days and visibility
Four in-person Demo Days were organised, one for each stage of business development, alongside a final showcase event attended by more than 70 representatives from the institutional, business and academic communities, creating valuable networking opportunities and commercial connections.
Through an agile and highly personalised approach, resources were adapted to the real needs of each stage of maturity, from the initial validation of ideas to complex international scaling. This support model ensured that strategic objectives were achieved at every phase of the programme.
The TechFabLab programme exceeded its initial objectives, generating measurable impact both for participating companies and for the positioning of La Rioja as an innovation Ecosystem.
The programme strengthened the regional innovation ecosystem, supported economic modernisation and validated a scalable model for supporting technology startups. Ultimately, TechFabLab’s impact extends well beyond the success of the participating startups, contributing to the consolidation of a strong, connected and sustainable regional technology hub.
