Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of June 19, 2026, from the General Directorate of Policies against Depopulation — Agreement with the Provincial Council of Álava for the development of the Territorial Innovation Center |
|---|---|
| Publication | June 24, 2026 |
| Entry into force | June 24, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Rural municipalities and entrepreneurs in Álava in areas at risk of depopulation |
| Category | Public Sector |
| Year | 2026 |
| Signing organizations | Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge + Provincial Council of Álava |
| Regulatory framework | Government Measures Plan for the Demographic Challenge (2021) and EU Rural Vision 2040 |
| Reference project | Kuartango Lab (previous experience in Álava) |
If you have or plan a business in rural areas of Álava, this agreement is of interest to you. The Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and the Provincial Council of Álava have signed an agreement—published on June 24, 2026—to launch a Territorial Innovation Center (CIT) in the province. The regulatory reference is the Resolution of June 19, 2026 from the General Directorate of Policies against Depopulation.
The CIT is not a direct subsidy or a credit line. It is a support structure that acts as a collaboration ecosystem to develop innovative initiatives in rural municipalities at risk of depopulation. The objective is twofold: to revitalize the local socioeconomic fabric and generate replicable knowledge for other territories in Spain.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement formalizes Álava's incorporation into the national CIT Network, the network of Territorial Innovation Centers promoted by the central Government. These are the key elements of the agreement:
- Territorial Innovation Center (CIT) in Álava: new node within the national CIT Network, jointly managed by the Ministry and the Provincial Council of Álava.
- Collaboration ecosystem: the CIT will function as a meeting point between administrations, companies, entrepreneurs and rural communities to co-develop innovation projects.
- Target municipalities: rural areas of Álava at risk of depopulation, without the agreement specifying a closed list of municipalities.
- Reference project — Kuartango Lab: the CIT will leverage the experiences and lessons learned from the Kuartango Lab project, already developed previously in the province.
- Strategic framework: the agreement is framed within the Government Measures Plan for the Demographic Challenge (2021) and the European Union's Rural Vision 2040.
- No direct transfer of funds to companies: the agreement does not contemplate direct economic aid for private companies or self-employed individuals.
Economic and operational impact
The agreement does not generate costs or obligations for private companies. Nor does it involve direct transfers of money to the private sector. Its economic impact is indirect and medium to long-term, and is materialized mainly through opportunities:
- Access to an innovation ecosystem: rural companies and entrepreneurs in Álava will be able to connect with the CIT to develop projects with institutional support.
- Generation of replicable knowledge: business models or initiatives that work in Álava can be scaled to other territories in the national CIT Network, expanding the potential market.
- Revitalization of the local socioeconomic fabric: the CIT can act as a catalyst to attract investment, talent and services to rural municipalities in Álava, improving the business environment.
- No compliance cost: as it is not a mandatory regulation for companies, it does not generate adaptation, audit or reporting expenses.
The absence of direct public economic allocation for companies is the main limitation of the agreement. Real opportunities will depend on how the CIT is operationally structured and on the Provincial Council of Álava's capacity to mobilize additional resources.
Who does it affect?
- Entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals who operate or want to establish themselves in rural municipalities of Álava at risk of depopulation.
- SMEs and microenterprises with activity in rural Álava (agri-food, rural tourism, local services, technology applied to the territory).
- Local administrations — municipalities and local entities in Álava — that want to participate in the CIT ecosystem.
- Investors and funds interested in impact projects in rural territories with institutional support.
- Consulting firms and innovation entities that can act as providers or partners of the CIT in project development.
- Third sector organizations linked to rural development and territorial cohesion in Álava.
Practical example
Imagine an agricultural technology company based in Vitoria-Gasteiz that wants to test a remote crop management system in rural municipalities in Álava with low population density. Until now, accessing those territories as a testing ground required negotiating individually with each municipality and seeking its own financing.
With the CIT operational, this company could connect directly with the center's ecosystem, which acts as an institutional interlocutor with participating rural municipalities. The model already has a concrete precedent: the Kuartango Lab project, which the agreement expressly cites as a reference experience and starting point for the new CIT.
If the project works in Álava, the knowledge generated can be replicated in other territories integrated into the national CIT Network, opening markets beyond the province without needing to start from scratch in each territory.
What should companies do now?
- Identify if your activity fits within rural Álava: review whether you operate or can operate in municipalities of Álava at risk of depopulation. These are the target territories of the CIT.
- Contact the Provincial Council of Álava: as the organization signing the agreement with the Ministry, it will be the entry point for companies and entrepreneurs who want to participate in the CIT ecosystem.
- Study the Kuartango Lab project: the agreement cites it as a reference experience. Analyzing what types of initiatives were developed there will give you clues about what projects fit in the new CIT.
- Monitor the CIT project calls: although the agreement does not establish specific calls, the launch of the center will generate participation opportunities. Stay alert to announcements from the Provincial Council and the Ministry.
- Assess scalability potential: if your business model can be replicated in other rural territories, the Álava CIT can be your gateway to the national CIT Network, with access to more territories.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Álava CIT agreement include direct aid or subsidies for companies?
No. The agreement formalizes the creation of the Territorial Innovation Center and its integration into the national CIT Network, but does not contemplate direct transfer of funds to private companies or self-employed individuals. Opportunities are indirect in nature: access to the collaboration ecosystem, institutional support and the possibility of developing innovative projects in rural municipalities in Álava.
What is the Kuartango Lab project and what is its relationship with the new CIT?
Kuartango Lab is a previous territorial innovation experience developed in Álava that the agreement expressly cites as a reference and starting point for the new Territorial Innovation Center. The CIT will leverage the lessons learned from that project to design its initiatives and working methodology in rural municipalities in Álava.
What municipalities in Álava benefit from the Territorial Innovation Center?
The agreement does not specify a closed list of municipalities. The scope of action is rural municipalities in Álava at risk of depopulation. To find out what specific territories will participate in the CIT, you will need to monitor the operational developments announced by the Provincial Council of Álava.
When does this agreement enter into force and what steps follow now?
The agreement entered into force on the same day of its publication in the BOE: June 24, 2026. From then on, it is up to the Provincial Council of Álava and the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge to operationally structure the CIT, define its operating structure and open participation channels for companies, entrepreneurs and local administrations.
What is the national CIT Network and how does Álava integrate into it?
The CIT Network is the national network of Territorial Innovation Centers promoted by the central Government within the framework of the Measures Plan for the Demographic Challenge (2021). Each CIT acts as a territorial node that generates knowledge and initiatives replicable in other territories. With this agreement, Álava formally joins that network, allowing projects developed in the province to be scaled to other rural territories in Spain.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in 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-2026-13723