Red.es, the public entity dependent on the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, has announced an impressive 400% increase in its economic performance over the last three years. At the 38th Meeting of the Digital Economy and Telecommunications held in Santander and organized by AMETIC, Jesus Herrero, general director of Red.es, along with Luis Palomo, director of Administration and Finance, presented a balance of the achievements and challenges of the entity.
In 2021, Red.es managed a budget of 317 million euros, a figure that has risen to nearly 1.6 billion in 2024. This significant increase has allowed the entity to promote various digital transformation programs that directly impact the Spanish economy and society. Among these programs are the Digital Kit and Consulting Kit, designed to reduce inequality among small and medium-sized enterprises and increase their productivity.
The recent Report on the State of the Digital Decade, published in July, highlights Spain’s prominent position in connectivity and digitalization, with fiber optic coverage exceeding 95%, compared to the European average of 64%. Additionally, the report emphasizes Spain’s superiority in basic digital skills and the digitization of public services.
In recent months, Red.es has launched significant initiatives, such as the Business Incubator project in Almendralejo, which focuses on virtual and augmented reality, and the Desafía Community, which facilitates the entry of SMEs and startups into global technological ecosystems. The recent celebration of the MWC Barcelona has also demonstrated the impact of these projects, with an estimated turnover of 12 million euros for the Spain Pavilion.
The management of European funds has been another key area for Red.es. Since the 2000-2006 programming period, the entity has channeled around 1.5 billion euros in ERDF funds, contributing to the improvement of digital infrastructure and the digitization of public services.
As part of the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM), Red.es has been designated to execute projects worth over 4.1 billion euros. These projects focus on digital transformation, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. Among them, the Digital Kit has awarded more than 450,000 digital vouchers, and the new Kit Consulting initiative has allocated 300 million euros for digital consulting for SMEs.
Red.es has also launched the National Entrepreneurship Office Platform, with a budget of 60 million euros, and is preparing to launch the Connectivity Voucher, which will allocate 50 million euros to improve connectivity for SMEs and vulnerable groups.
In the field of training and talent, Red.es has designed programs for basic and advanced digital skills, with a total budget of over 410 million euros. Additionally, initiatives are being developed for training in artificial intelligence and attracting technological talent.
The entity will continue to play a key role in the management of ERDF funds for the period 2021-2030, with key investments in 5G, ICT infrastructure, and quantum computing, as well as in the digitization of healthcare and support for the academic and research network.
Red.es remains committed to the digital transformation of Spain, supporting the modernization of the Public Administration and promoting open data to improve the transparency and efficiency of services.