Lerma, Burgos. Wednesday, 6 May 2026.
The European Interreg Hub Iberia Agrotech (HIBA+) project has stood out as an example of agricultural innovation and digitalisation at the DIGIVIT fair, an event dedicated to the digitalisation of the wine sector which took place in Lerma, Burgos, on 29 and 30 April and brought together professionals from the sector from across Spain.
During the event, the HIBA+ project was presented as a model of cooperation for a more innovative and digitalised agriculture. The Chief Executive of the Finnova Foundation, Juan Manuel Revuelta, highlighted how this project drives agricultural digitalisation through joint work and collaboration between companies in the sector, technology centres, universities, and cross-border organisations in Spain and Portugal.
This cooperation gives rise to new projects, partnerships and research in the field of rural digitalisation, driving the digitalisation of rural areas with shared objectives. “It is an exchange of experiences and knowledge that seeks to provide smart solutions to agricultural problems,” explained Revuelta, also highlighting the particular efficiency and positive results of these collaborative models.
He also specified that this Interreg project has a budget of €2.85 million, co- 75% funded by the European Union through the ERDF under the Poctep Programme (2021–2027), and encouraged stakeholders to take advantage of the “countless” European funding opportunities available to the sector.
FINANCING INNOVATION
Among these, he highlighted: the Start-up Europe Awards, which recognise open innovation methodologies within a collaborative framework; the LIFE programme, which funds projects on the environment, sustainable biodiversity and climate action in the EU to promote innovative and sustainable solutions; and Interreg — which includes HIBA+ — which seeks cooperation between areas with common interests and challenges to develop innovative solutions.
“We are the worst (country) at absorbing structural funds, the worst in Next Generation, and in Horizon Europe we are among the lowest”, explains Revuelta, lamenting Spain’s poor management of European funds.
He therefore emphasised that “all European aid for innovation must be utilised” as it can represent “a major step forward” for the agricultural sector and “help reduce costs”. In this regard, he has cited the HIBA+ programme and its innovative results as a model of good management and use of European funds.