The founder and president of Zelenza, José Fernández, calls for the State to recognise the talent of Spanish technological SMEs amid the ongoing debate about increasing military spending. He warns that investment does not guarantee autonomy if it is not distributed among the national business fabric.
The founder and president of Zelenza, José Fernández, has championed the role of small and medium-sized technological enterprises in the future of Spanish defence. In the midst of the debate over increasing the military budget, the executive has warned that the State must learn to identify and leverage the talent that already exists within the country, as reported by elperiodico.digital.
“The State and Spanish defence should know how to recognise what it has at home,” Fernández argued. His message focuses on urging administrations not to concentrate all opportunities in large business groups and to open up more space for specialised, innovative companies capable of providing concrete solutions.
The defence industry is facing a phase of accelerated transformation. Digitalisation, cybersecurity, critical communications, artificial intelligence, and the management of large volumes of data occupy a central place in military and security capabilities. In many of these areas, SMEs can offer highly specialised knowledge, with quicker responses and greater flexibility in projects.
Fernández's call comes at a time when the increase in defence spending generates expectations about the development of a stronger national industry. The debate is not limited to how much is invested, but also to how those resources are distributed and what technological, industrial, and economic returns they generate for Spain.
Large groups have experience, financial capacity, and resources to take on large contracts. However, the defence ecosystem also relies on a wide network of suppliers and technological companies that develop components, systems, and specialised services. For Zelenza, the recognition of these companies should be part of the country’s industrial and security strategy.
The participation of SMEs should not be limited to playing a secondary role within large consortia, but could extend to the design and leadership of solutions in areas where they possess differential capabilities. This participation is particularly relevant in rapidly evolving technological fields: companies that work close to the market can detect new needs earlier, test solutions more agilely, and adapt their products to changing operational scenarios.
The increase in the military budget offers an opportunity to strengthen the Spanish technological base, but its effects will depend on contracting decisions and the criteria used to allocate projects. Greater investment does not guarantee greater autonomy if a significant part of strategic capabilities continues to depend on external suppliers.
Investing in the national business fabric can help reduce that dependency, consolidate skilled employment, and generate knowledge that remains in the country. It can also facilitate the development of solutions for defence that find subsequent applications in sectors such as telecommunications, critical infrastructure, or civil security.
One of the main obstacles for SMEs is access to public procurement procedures. Administrative complexity, financial requirements, and the scale of some tenders can exclude companies capable of adding value but lacking the structure necessary to take on projects designed for large corporations. Facilitating their participation would require more flexible contracting formulas and projects divided into lots.
Fernández raises the need to pay closer attention to the Spanish technological ecosystem: identifying suppliers with proven experience and capabilities can be as important as defining major investment programmes.
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