Key data
| Regulation | Royal Decree 738/2026, of September 23 |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | September 25, 2026 |
| Entry into force | September 26, 2026 |
| Designated center | Illescas Training Center (Toledo) |
| Professional area | Aerospace Construction |
| Professional family | Mechanical Manufacturing |
| Agreement signed | May 20, 2026 (Ministry of Education, VET and Sports + Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha) |
| Legal regime | RD 229/2008 and Organic Law 3/2022 on VET |
| Budget impact | No increase in public spending or personnel |
| Category | Education / Vocational Training |
Aerospace sector companies that have spent years lamenting the shortage of specialized technical profiles have had a concrete institutional response since September 26, 2026. Royal Decree 738/2026 designates the Illescas Training Center, in Toledo, as a National Reference Center in the area of Aerospace Construction, within the professional family of Mechanical Manufacturing.
The measure is not symbolic: it means that this center will be able to offer specific vocational training in the sector and, above all, must develop applied innovation and research projects with aerospace companies. This opens a direct channel for public-private collaboration for any company in the sector that needs technical talent or wants to participate in applied R&D projects.
What does this regulation establish?
Royal Decree 738/2026 formalizes the designation of the Illescas Training Center as a National Reference Center (CRN) through an agreement signed on May 20, 2026 between the Ministry of Education, VET and Sports and the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha.
National Reference Centers are a figure regulated by Royal Decree 229/2008 and Organic Law 3/2022 on the Organization and Integration of Vocational Training. Their function goes beyond teaching training cycles: they act as sectoral innovation nodes, connecting the education system with the real needs of companies.
The specific functions assumed by the Illescas Center are:
- Provide vocational training offerings in the area of Aerospace Construction.
- Develop applied innovation and research projects in collaboration with aerospace sector companies.
- Act as a national reference for other VET centers in this specialty.
The designation does not generate an increase in public spending or personnel, which indicates that the center already had the infrastructure and human resources necessary to assume this role.
Economic and operational impact
For aerospace sector companies, the impact is not a cost: it is an opportunity to access specialized technical talent and applied R&D projects with public funding.
| Dimension | Previous situation | Situation from 26/09/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Specialized training in aerospace construction | Dispersed among different centers without national reference | Centralized in the CRN of Illescas as a center of excellence |
| Company-VET center collaboration in R&D | No specific institutional framework for the sector | The CRN has express mandate to develop projects with aerospace companies |
| Cost for the company | No reference | No direct additional cost (the designation does not generate fees or obligations for companies) |
The operational key for companies lies in collaboration with the center on applied innovation projects. This can translate into access to qualified student internships, co-design of training profiles adapted to their real needs and participation in co-financed research projects.
Who does it affect?
- Aerospace sector companies (manufacturers, suppliers, maintenance) that need technical profiles in aerospace construction.
- Vocational Training Centers in the Mechanical Manufacturing family that can take the Illescas model as a reference.
- Students and future technicians in training cycles in mechanical manufacturing and aerospace construction.
- HR and training departments of aerospace companies seeking internship agreements or collaboration agreements.
- R&D managers of sector companies interested in applied research projects with public centers.
Practical example
An aerospace component manufacturing company located in the Toledo-Madrid industrial corridor needs to hire technicians specialized in aerospace construction. Until now, it had to search for profiles in dispersed centers without officially recognized specialization.
From September 26, 2026, that company can contact the Illescas Training Center directly as a CRN to:
- Establish an internship agreement with students in the Aerospace Construction training cycles.
- Participate in applied innovation and research projects that the center has express mandate to develop with sector companies.
- Collaborate in the design of training profiles so they adjust to their real technical needs.
This type of public-private collaboration, articulated through the framework of RD 229/2008 and LO 3/2022, can represent for the company a channel for recruiting specialized technical talent at very reduced cost, in addition to access to R&D projects with institutional support.
What should companies do now?
- Identify if your company operates in the aerospace sector (manufacturing, maintenance, components) and if you have needs for technical profiles in aerospace construction.
- Contact the Illescas Training Center to explore internship agreements or collaboration agreements in applied R&D, now that it has express institutional mandate to do so.
- Review your internal training plans: the CRN can be an ally for recycling or upskilling your current technical staff in aerospace construction.
- Inform your HR department of the existence of this new specialized talent hub in Toledo to incorporate it into your recruitment strategy.
- Consider participating in innovation projects that the center will develop with sector companies: it can be a gateway to public funding for applied R&D.
Frequently asked questions
What is a National Reference Center for VET and what does it imply for companies?
A National Reference Center (CRN) is a Vocational Training center designated by the Government to lead training in a specific professional area at the national level. Its regime is regulated by RD 229/2008 and LO 3/2022. For companies in the sector, it means that the center has express mandate to develop applied innovation and research projects in collaboration with them, which opens concrete channels for public-private collaboration.
When does the designation of the Illescas Center as a CRN come into force?
The designation comes into force on September 26, 2026, one day after its publication in the BOE (September 25, 2026). The agreement between the Ministry of Education, VET and Sports and the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha that formalizes it was signed on May 20, 2026.
Does it represent any additional cost for aerospace companies or for the public budget?
No. Royal Decree 738/2026 expressly establishes that the measure does not represent an increase in public spending or personnel. For companies in the sector, it also does not generate any direct obligation or fee. The impact is one of opportunity, not cost.
What type of projects can the Illescas Center develop with aerospace companies?
The center has mandate to develop applied innovation and research projects with aerospace sector companies. This can include collaborations in the design of training profiles, co-financed R&D projects and internship agreements for students in Aerospace Construction training cycles (professional family of Mechanical Manufacturing).
What regulation governs the operation of this National Reference Center?
The Illescas Training Center as a CRN is governed by Royal Decree 229/2008 (which regulates National Reference Centers in VET matters) and Organic Law 3/2022 on the Organization and Integration of Vocational Training. The specific designation is formalized through Royal Decree 738/2026, of September 23.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source (BOE-A-2026-19848)
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-19848
