Unlocking Spain’s business ecosystem: How NeoRetos helps you turn clusters into growth accelerators

Market entry is one thing. Embedding your company in the Spanish ecosystem is another.

At NeoRetos, we help international companies go beyond incorporation to achieve strategic relevance in Spain.

One of the most powerful — yet often underestimated — drivers of long-term success? Industry clusters.

Let’s explore why they matter, and how NeoRetos helps you turn them into tangible business value.

Why Clusters Matter — and What They Really Are

Across Spain, sector-specific clusters bring together companies, research institutions, universities, and public agencies to collaborate, innovate, and grow. Recognized by the Spanish Ministry of Industry as AEIs (Innovative Business Groups), these clusters are engines of trust, visibility, and acceleration.

They offer:

• Access to collaborative R&D and public funding

• Insights into local trends and regulations

• Strategic introductions to key players in your sector

• A fast-track to ecosystem credibility

Whether in automotive (CEAGA – Galicia), cosmetics (Beauty Cluster – Barcelona), or tech and AI (Málaga TechPark), clusters are where foreign companies become relevant, fast.

The Common Mistake: Treating Clusters Like Directories

Joining a cluster isn’t like subscribing to a newsletter. It requires:

• Understanding the informal rules

• Building trust locally

• Knowing who to approach and how

• Being active in the right conversations

Without guidance, many companies join — but never benefit.

That’s why NeoRetos puts cluster strategy at the heart of our consulting practice.

NeoRetos: From Contact to Credibility

With over 15 years of experience on the ground, NeoRetos helps you:

• Identify the most strategic clusters based on your sector and goals

• Prepare your entry pitch and adapt your messaging to local expectations

• Build meaningful relationships with the right institutions and partners

• Join active projects — not just mailing lists

We don’t just open doors. We help you walk through them — prepared, relevant, and positioned for success.

Clusters and the NeoRetos 5A Approach

At NeoRetos, our international expansion consulting is structured around the 5A Method:

1. Awareness – Uncover what you don’t know

2. Assessment – Know what to adapt

3. Alignment – Customize your approach

4. Alliances – Leverage local power

5. Acceleration – Scale with confidence

Clusters are a key component of the “Alliances” phase — where trust-based relationships and local ecosystem integration become powerful growth levers.

Final Thought: Don’t Just Enter — Embed

In Spain, clusters are more than networks. They are strategic platforms for innovation, funding, visibility, and business development.

They help you understand the local rules, gain early credibility, and grow with the right allies.

With NeoRetos, you don't just access clusters — you activate them.

Ready to go beyond market entry? Let’s talk about how we can turn Spain’s clusters into your competitive edge.