The ICO Export Growth Scheme, launched by the Secretary of State for Trade and the Official Credit Institute (ICO), is designed to strengthen the resilience of Spanish SMEs with international operations by improving their access to finance, in the context of tariff uncertainty. It has a budget of €750 million to finance investment projects and the modernisation of the production capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises affected by changes in the global tariff environment.

The ICO Exporters’ Growth line is aimed at:

• Exporting and importing SMEs directly affected by changes in the global tariff environment, with overseas activity accounting for more than five per cent of their turnover.
• SMEs indirectly affected by the commercial context, either because they are key suppliers to companies based in Spain in sectors directly affected, or because they form part of global value chains.

The ICO will channel the aid to SMEs through two channels:

• Inclusion of a non-repayable tranche in the operations.
• Partial interest rate subsidy.

SMEs with international operations will be able to implement a comprehensive strategy, including investment in tangible and intangible assets, to consolidate their current position or begin exploring new markets. This will enable the financing of, amongst other things, the services provided by ICEX Spain Export and Investment, which advises SMEs on their internationalisation process or on participating in trade fairs.

To encourage SMEs to design and implement a strategy that enables them to be more resilient in the context of tariff uncertainty, loans may include a non-repayable tranche of up to 30% of the nominal amount of the transaction, with a limit of €200,000.

The ICO Exporters Growth scheme is funded by the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which, in its latest addendum, incorporates a new Component 32 into the Plan, reallocating funds worth €1.241 billion to investments grouped into six measures, including strengthening the resilience of productive sectors to external crises, as well as programmes to support the internationalisation of businesses, to tackle the tariff crisis.

The deadline for submitting funding applications under this scheme is 1 July 2026.

Applications may be submitted via the ICO website.​​​