National Industry Awards 2026: 5 categories and 30-day deadline for industrial companies

Key data

If your company manufactures, innovates or leads in sustainability within the Spanish industrial sector, you have a 30-day business window to apply for one of the most relevant national recognitions in the sector. The Order ITU/965/2026, of September 8, published in the BOE on September 16, 2026, convenes the 2026 edition of the National Industry Awards "Well Done in Spain". The deadline starts on September 17, 2026 and submission is mandatory electronically through the Ministry of Industry and Tourism headquarters.

This is not a direct economic subsidy, but an official award that certifies industrial excellence to customers, investors and administrations. The jury will evaluate applications according to the criteria established in the 2025 regulatory bases and may declare awards vacant in any category. The resolution must be published in the BOE within a maximum of six months. The awards will be presented at a public event or at the National Industry Congress.

What does this regulation establish?

Order ITU/965/2026 convenes five award categories, each oriented to a different area of industrial activity. Below is the complete detail of the categories:

The documentation required for each application includes three differentiated elements:

• Official application form available on the Ministry's electronic headquarters.
• Descriptive report of up to 28 pages, where the project or activity justifying the application is developed.
• Annexes of up to 36 pages with supporting documentation.

The jury will evaluate applications applying the criteria set in the 2025 regulatory bases. It has the authority to declare any award vacant if it considers that no application reaches the required level. The awards will be presented at a public event or as part of the National Industry Congress.

Economic and operational impact

These awards do not entail direct economic allocation, but their business impact can be significant. Obtaining a National Industry Award "Well Done in Spain" means:

• Commercial differentiation against competitors in public procurement and corporate purchasing processes.
• Institutional visibility at national level, with presence in the BOE and at the award ceremony (National Industry Congress or equivalent public event).
• Brand strengthening with investors, financial entities and strategic partners.
• Operational cost of the application: preparing a 28-page report and 36-page annexes requires internal dedication or external support. This is the main real cost to consider.

The risk of not applying is simply losing the opportunity for recognition. There are no penalties for not participating. However, if a direct competitor obtains the award, the reputational impact can be relevant in sectors where quality or innovation certification is a purchasing decision factor.

Who does it affect?

• Industrial companies of any size located in Spain (explicit geographic requirement).
• Industrial SMEs with documented innovation, digitalization or sustainability projects.
• Large industrial companies with strategic autonomy or ESG impact programs.
• Startups and new industrial sector companies that want to accredit their potential (Industrial Entrepreneurship category).
• Operations Directors, Innovation Directors, CFOs and CEOs who manage their industrial company's positioning and reputation strategy.

Practical example

An automotive components manufacturing company based in Valencia has implemented in 2025 a production system with a 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions and has digitalized its assembly line. It can submit applications to two categories simultaneously: "Environmental/Social/Governance Impact" for the emissions reduction, and "Innovation and Digital Transformation" for the assembly line digitalization.

For each category it must prepare an application form, a descriptive report of up to 28 pages detailing the project, its results and impact, plus up to 36 pages of annexes with evidence (technical reports, certifications, production data). All documentation is submitted exclusively electronically at the Ministry of Industry and Tourism headquarters, within 30 business days from September 17, 2026. If the jury considers that the application meets the criteria of the 2025 regulatory bases, the company would receive the award at the National Industry Congress.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify the most appropriate category for your company among the five available: Quality, Innovation and Digital Transformation, Strategic Autonomy, ESG Impact or Industrial Entrepreneurship. You can apply to more than one.
2. Verify compliance with the basic requirement: your company must be located in Spain and conduct industrial activity.
3. Consult the 2025 regulatory bases, which are the evaluation framework applicable to this 2026 convocation, to know the exact jury criteria.
4. Plan the documentation: reserve internal or external resources to draft the descriptive report (max. 28 pages) and annexes (max. 36 pages) within the 30 business days from September 17, 2026.
5. Access the electronic headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism to obtain the official form and verify the technical submission requirements. Paper applications are not valid.
6. Mark the deadline on your calendar: 30 business days from September 17, 2026. Calculate the exact date by discounting national and local holidays.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Notice: 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-2026-19312