Madrid constructs a textile innovation hub
The Madrid Clothing Manufacturers Association (Asecom) manages the Puente de Vallecas incubator, a hub designed to nurture textile entrepreneurs in the heart of the Vallecas neighbourhood. This project, supported by the Madrid City Council, aims to transform Vallecas into a thriving centre for textile innovation.
The entrepreneurs who join the incubator are typically aged between 28 and 40 years old, with between three and five years of experience as employees. They come with a variety of backgrounds, with a focus on the textile industry, but also encompassing new technologies, professional services, and architecture.
Each incubator has an annual budget of approximately €300,000, supplemented by income from the rental of offices. The incubator houses 25 offices of different sizes, along with meeting rooms and event spaces, spread over two floors in a modern building of approximately 2,500 square meters. The investment in this building totals around four million euros.
The offices range from 25 square meters to 58 square meters, with prices considered very favourable. The smallest office costs €302 per month, while the largest costs €682. These rates are significantly lower than market prices, which typically range between €20 and €30 per square meter.
Since its establishment in April 2009, the Puente de Vallecas incubator has installed a total of 26 companies, generating 91 jobs. Out of these, 12 are textile-focused, while the remaining companies primarily consist of small businesses in new technologies, professional services, and architecture.
The incubator offers a maximum stay of three years. During their stay, entrepreneurs can take textile and informatics training courses and receive business advice. The incubator has mentored 62 business plans, and the total turnover of all companies in the incubator exceeds five million euros.
One of the success stories from the incubator is Lacambra Bags, a company that designs customized bags and sells them online. The Vallecas complex also organises social events, such as fashion shows of new creators.
The Puente de Vallecas incubator is one of the seven sectoral incubators promoted by the Madrid City Council. The other six sector incubators, located across various districts of the city, specialise in industries such as cultural and creative industries, information and communication technologies (ICT), biotechnology, audiovisual and digital content, social innovation, and bio-economy.
In addition to providing a platform for entrepreneurship, the incubator also contributes to the local community by organising events that showcase the work of new creators. This makes the Puente de Vallecas incubator a valuable asset to the textile industry and the city of Madrid as a whole. To join the incubator, entrepreneurs must present a business plan for approval.
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