Sakondu Programme
Sakondu’s support
The SAKONDU programme, with a budgetary allocation of €1,425,000, is aimed at helping highly internationalised Basque companies to penetrate markets where they have little or no presence (turnover under 25% of the total exported in 2023). Its end goal is to give momentum to making the companies more competitive, by means of consolidating their international activity, and from a more sustainable and inclusive perspective, by integrating sustainability into the business model, as well as into their internationalisation strategy.
The SAKONDU funding line seeks to ease the financing of the operational and strategic consultancy costs, along with organisational adaptation and promotion expenses of companies wishing to access new foreign markets.
SEMs and Startups may make a single application, with a maximum of two countries, and the funding can be up to 50% of the amount of the approved expenditure, up to a maximum of €45,000 per company. The application deadline is 15 July or when the available funds are exhausted.
What we offer
Non-repayable grant of 50% of costs up to the limit of €45,000/company to:
- Prepare an internationalisation strategy advised by external experts
- Defray the management costs and fees to register patents and trademarks in the destination country
- Pay the cost of approvals required in the destination country, along with certifications for major customers abroad
- Take part in international trade fairs as an exhibitor
- Participate in conferences, specialist forums and international trade fairs as a visitor
- Exploratory trips to analyse markets or contact potential customers
- Inward trade missions, invitations to potential customer companies
- Prepare catalogues or posters, develop websites and adapt them to the international market
- Contract advertising spaces in digital or sectoral media focused on launching the product/service
- Product presentations and temporary exhibitions in commercial corners in the destination country
- Contract communication or public relations agencies for the international launch
- Develop new promotional formats to improve virtual access to foreign markets
- Cover the design of packaging and labels, along with shipping promotional samples
- Contract external consultants to prepare sustainability reports analysing the impact of the company in the destination country
- Costs associated with productive and/or commercial foreign footholds (including feasibility studies, business plans, audits, and other rental and supply costs)
- Expenses related to the recruitment process of the people to be assigned to work in foreign operations
- Strategic or operational consultancy actions that are necessary to enter the markets
And also, if you are a startup:
- All the eligible costs for SMEs
- Costs arising from publishing scientific papers
- Inhouse hours dedicated to preparing the internationalisation strategy, international marketing plans and/or feasibility studies for potential footholds
The Sakondu programme allows actions carried out between 1 January and 31 December 2024 to be included and the application deadline is 15 July or when the available funds have been exhausted.
Requirements
- SMEs based in or with a production facility in the BAC
- Subject to EU de minimis regulation
- Foreign exports over 50% of the total
- For markets with values under 25% of their exports
Procedure
- The applications will be resolved in a competitive call until the budget has been exhausted.
Beneficiaries
- Basque startups, micro-companies and SMEs that wish to start or consolidate their international strategy
- Export activity over 50%, but the target market accounts for under 25% of the total exported
- Zure esportazio-jarduera guztizko fakturazioaren % 50etik beherakoa bada, ZABALDU programara jo dezakezu
2024 budget

Do you have any questions?
Leave your details and we will contact you Contact
Or write to Jesús Mª Cantón: jmcanton@basquetrade.eus
FAQs
Do you have any questions?
Leave your details and we will contact you Contact
Or write to Jesús Mª Cantón: jmcanton@basquetrade.eus