Table of contents
- What is the Internationalization Plan Coupon?
- The change from the previous program
- Requirements to apply
- What exactly does it finance?
- Ideal company profile
- Our methodology
- Key dates and how to prepare
- Why an accredited consultant makes a difference
- FAQs
What is the ACCIÓ Internationalization Plan Coupon?
ACCIÓ, the business competitiveness agency of the Generalitat of Catalonia, each year offers a series of grants aimed at Catalan SMEs that want to structure their expansion into foreign markets.
The Internationalization Plan Coupon is a 100% grant of €8,000 intended to finance a specialized consulting service that helps the company analyze markets, define its international strategy and build an action plan before committing investment.
According to information currently released by ACCIÓ, the new call for proposals is scheduled to open on May 15, 2026 , with a completion deadline of July 30, 2027. The final requirements and conditions will be confirmed in the official publication of the terms and conditions.
Preparing your application before it opens often makes the difference between receiving funding and being left out due to budget constraints. These calls for proposals are processed in chronological order, and the budget is exhausted in just a few days.
Program summary
| Concept | Information |
| Aid | 8.000€ |
| Intensity | 100% elegible for subsidy |
| Beneficiaries | Catalans SMEs |
| Scheduled opening | May 15, 2026 |
| Execution until | July 30, 2027 |
| Key requirement | Less than 25% of international revenue |
| Execution | Consultant accredited by ACCIÓ |
The change from the previous program
Companies that were already familiar with the old Export Strategy Coupon will find a change in the name this year: the program is now called the Internationalization Plan Coupon.
At an operational level, the change is minimal. The program’s logic, its work structure, and its purpose are essentially the same. What is updated with each call for proposals are the specific conditions—amounts, requirements, and deadlines—so it is always advisable to review the official guidelines published by ACCIÓ before submitting an application.
Requirements to apply in 2026
Before preparing the application, the company must verify that it meets the three main requirements set out for this call:
- Turnover exceeding €250,000 in the last closed financial year
- Less than 25% of revenue comes from international markets
- Corporate website available in at least one foreign language
In addition, the company must have activity in Catalonia and the project must be executed by a consultant accredited by ACCIÓ.
These requirements are based on currently available information and may be adjusted in the official publication of the call for applications.
What exactly does the coupon finance?
The €8,000 fully subsidized covers a consulting service structured in four phases:
1. Internal Diagnosis Analysis of the value proposition, commercial capabilities, available resources and current situation of the company with respect to exporting.
2. Market and Competitive Analysis: Identifying markets with the greatest potential, validating international demand, and conducting competitive analysis in the target countries. At EMD, this phase includes digital demand analysis by market, international SEO validation, and evaluation of acquisition channels: real data, not generic estimates.
3. Strategic Definition : Selection of priority markets, most suitable entry channels, competitive positioning, and estimation of entry costs per market.
4. International Action Plan : A roadmap with clear objectives, necessary resources, a schedule of actions and concrete next steps to implement the strategy.
The result is not a report to be filed away. It is a real decision-making tool: knowing which markets to enter, in what order, and with what resources, before committing investment.
Who is it for: the ideal profile
This coupon is especially useful for SMEs that find themselves in any of these situations:
- They have a consolidated customer base in Spain and want to diversify into new markets.
- They have had some occasional contact with the outside world, but without a defined strategy.
- They are considering exporting but don’t know which market to start with.
- They want to reduce the risk of international expansion before investing in their own resources.
A company with less than 25% international revenue and more than €250,000 in revenue is exactly at the point where this analysis provides the most value: when there is already commercial muscle, but there is still an unstructured foreign market.
Do you want to know if your company can get the coupon?
We can help you verify if you meet the requirements, prepare the documentation, and structure the project before the opening on May 15th.
Request a free initial assessment
Our methodology: from strategy to implementation
Since 2021, at EMD we have developed more than 30 internationalization projects with ACCIÓ for industrial, technological and B2B companies in diverse sectors: food, industry, technology, services and consulting, among others.
Some of the companies accompanied: Arthurholm, AZ Broquetas, Nufesa, Rafesa, Colonia Estiu Pyrene, Atron Europa, Biznelp, LCE, EHS, Yesfood, Emelec, Atlantis.
In most cases, we have supported companies beyond the plan: helping them implement the strategy with their team, working on digital international acquisition, positioning in other markets, and generating foreign demand.
1. How we analyze international markets
We don’t start with generic country rankings. We cross-reference real demand data—search volumes, market trends, digital competitor presence—with each company’s specific value proposition. The goal is to identify where there is accessible demand, not where there is an abstract market.
2. How do we validate external digital demand?
Before recommending a market, we analyze whether there is active digital demand: searches in the local language, established competitors, and viable acquisition channels. This validation prevents investment in markets with theoretical potential but without real, accessible demand for the company.
3. How we prioritize target countries
Prioritization combines four variables: demand potential, barriers to entry, alignment with the value proposition, and the company’s operational capacity. A large market is not necessarily the right market. The right market is the one that offers the best balance between opportunity and entry costs at the company’s current stage.
4. How we estimate entry costs
Each market has different entry costs: product adaptation, distribution channels, investment in customer acquisition, and the necessary human resources. Estimating these costs before making a decision avoids surprises and allows for comparing markets based on realistic financial criteria, not just strategic ones.
What sets this approach apart is that the resulting plan isn’t just a presentation document. It’s a roadmap that the management team can implement from day one, with clear priorities and concrete actions.
Key dates and how to prepare
| Milestone | Expected date |
| Opening of the call for applications | May 15, 2026 |
| End of execution period | July 30, 2027 |
Since the grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, prior preparation is crucial. Companies that arrive on opening day with their documentation ready and their project structured have a real advantage over those that begin preparing later.
Recommended steps before May 15:
- Verify that the three access requirements are met
- Having a clear understanding of the project’s motivation and objective
- Choose a consultant accredited by ACCIÓ
- Prepare the company’s basic documentation
Why an accredited consultant makes a difference
The coupon covers the cost of the service, but the real impact depends on who implements it.
An ACCIÓ-accredited consultant has undergone an official validation process that certifies their experience in internationalization. But beyond formal accreditation, what matters in practice is the ability to go beyond diagnosis: to question the management team’s assumptions, prioritize judiciously, and design an actionable plan, not just a presentable one.
A general analysis might suggest that Germany or France are attractive markets. A thorough consulting study determines whether your company is ready to enter these markets, which channels to use, the timeframe, and what obstacles need to be overcome first.
ACCIÓ funding is running out. Preparation can’t wait.
The ACCIÓ coupon programs for internationalization usually sell out in the first few days after they open, due to high demand from Catalan SMEs.
If you want to assess whether your company fits the program, prepare the project in advance, or learn how we have worked with more than 30 companies on similar projects since 2021, we can help you throughout the entire process: from application to plan implementation.
Contact us to review your case without obligation
FAQs
How much does the coupon finance?
€8,000, 100% subsidizable.
When does the 2026 call for applications open?
According to currently available information, it is scheduled to open on May 15, 2026. The final conditions will be confirmed in the official ACCIÓ guidelines.
Who can carry out the project?
Only consultants accredited by ACCIÓ. You can verify the accreditation of any consultant at the official search engine of ACCIÓ.
How are the grants allocated?
In chronological order of application until the available budget is exhausted
What sets EMD apart from other accredited consultants?
Since 2021, we have developed more than 30 internationalization projects with ACCIÓ, and in most cases, we have supported companies in the subsequent implementation, integrating international digital acquisition, SEO in other markets, and generation of foreign demand.
Does the coupon guarantee export results?
No. The coupon finances the definition of the strategy. The results depend on the quality of the plan and, above all, its subsequent execution.
Article written by Eric Onidi, ACCIÓ-accredited consultant in business internationalization. For more information about the program or to assess whether your company meets the requirements, visit estrategiamarketing.digital or contact us directly.