The University of Almería has participated in the development of the GEM Andalusia 2025-2026 Report, which reveals sustained growth in entrepreneurial activity in the region. The study, led by the Observatory of the Andalusian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem (OEEA), indicates that the potential entrepreneurship rate stands at 15% of the Andalusian adult population, surpassing the national average (13.8%). Recent Entrepreneurship Activity (TEA) increases to 7.2%, and established businesses represent 7.3%.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an increasingly important role. 47.7% of recent initiatives plan to increase their AI usage in the coming months, and over 70% anticipate a significant impact on their activity within the next three years. This technological evolution occurs within a context of improved conditions for the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with a National Entrepreneurship Context Index (NECI) of 4.8 points, higher than the Spanish (4.4) and European (4.7) averages.
Infrastructure, the commercial and professional network, and public support programs are the most highly valued aspects of the ecosystem. However, entrepreneurial education and certain public policies show room for improvement. Despite the perception of greater opportunities and capabilities, the fear of failure has increased to 45.6%.
The report also highlights that entrepreneurial activity is concentrated in middle-age groups, particularly between 35 and 44 years old (31.8% of recent entrepreneurs). Individuals with a university master's degree (10.5%) and higher vocational training (7.9%) show the highest activity rates. An increase in the gender gap is observed, with a greater male presence, and more caution in new projects, which show lower initial investment and growth expectations.
Carlos Cano, director of the Observatory of Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation, concludes that it is crucial to support different entrepreneur profiles with specific measures. The University of Almería, through EmprendeUAL, promotes initiatives such as the Ideas Fair, the Jump Entrepreneurship programs, Lab EmprendeUAL, and the Propeler Investor Network, offering training, mentoring, and pre-incubation, as well as coworking space.
The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) is an international observatory present in over a hundred countries. In Andalusia, the report is produced with the collaboration of research teams from several Andalusian universities, based on surveys of the adult population and expert interviews. The full report is available at emprendimientoandalucia.es.
