The President of the Government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, participated in the presentation of the Hub of Defense of Aragon in the Crown Room of the Pignatelli Building. During the event, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, presented a recognition plaque to the Government of Aragon for its support of the Armed Forces.
Consolidation and Commitment to the Defense Hub
The president highlighted the potential of the Aragonese industry to lead the strengthening of Spanish defense and described the sector’s growth as an unprecedented opportunity for the Aragonese industry. The Hub of Defense of Aragon is a joint initiative of the Government of Aragon, the Delegation of the Government of Aragon, the City Council of Zaragoza, the clusters Tecnara (technology), ALIA (logistics), and AERA (aerospace and defense), the Chamber of Commerce of Zaragoza, Ceoe, and Cepyme to promote the sector’s industry in the community.
Ministerial Recognition and Hub Growth
Minister Margarita Robles presented a plaque of recognition to the Government of Aragon in gratitude for Aragon and its citizens, acknowledging their close bond and support for the Armed Forces and their firm commitment to technological development, industrialization, and the defense of peace. Robles justified the recognition by stating that Aragon cannot be understood without the Armed Forces nor the Armed Forces without Aragon.
Azcón emphasized the rapid growth of the hub, which currently has 113 member companies. The actions taken include meetings with leading companies in the sector, participation for the first time in the FEINDEF fair, and support for Aragonese companies in developing their strategic plans.
Government Actions and Sector Data
The Government has launched specific aid for digitalization, prototype development, and R&D, as well as an acceleration and diversification program for companies wishing to enter the sector.
Defense or dual-purpose companies in Aragon represent 10% of the national total. There are 554 companies that generate 168 million euros (2.1% of the national total) and create over 730 jobs (2.35% of the national total). Since December 2024, the number of companies affiliated with the hub has grown exponentially, increasing from 60 in April to the current 113.
One of the first actions was collaboration with 33 companies in the sector at the International Defense and Security Fair (Feindef), with a dedicated stand for the first time, resulting in several commercial agreements.
