The Cádiz Free Zone will start after the summer the construction of the two 4.0 companies buildings included in the ZF Blue Core project, an initiative aimed at expanding the available infrastructure for innovative companies linked to the blue economy. The Executive Committee of the Consortium has authorized the two awards, totaling 7,448,236.07 euros, VAT excluded.
The buildings will be raised in two different locations. One will be located in the outer polygon of the Free Zone, next to the Base Incubazul Zone, the building constructed with recycled maritime containers. The second will be located within the customs area, facing the Europa building. The expected deadlines for the execution of the works are 18 and 14 months, respectively.
The outer polygon building has been awarded to Guerola Construcciones for 4,466,083.95 euros, excluding VAT. The architectural project corresponds to Jaime Torres, of the Cádiz-based studio Uncuarto Arquitectura, and was publicly presented at the end of 2025. The action contemplates a usable area of 4,015.87 square meters distributed over two floors intended for offices and warehouses, an attic for meetings and business activities, and a basement reserved for parking.
The design also incorporates a large common use terrace conceived as a relationship area among the companies installed in the building. The configuration will allow adapting offices and productive areas to the needs of each project, with a flexible distribution and shared areas for meetings, collaborative work, and business support activities.
The second center has been awarded to Plaza Sistemas for 2,982,152.12 euros, VAT excluded, and will have a construction period of 14 months. The project has been drafted by architects Manuel Infantes and Javier Muñoz Godino, from Estudio Veintidós. The building will have an expected usable area of 4,268.12 square meters and will be organized into two floors.
This building will have 13 warehouses of different sizes connected by a top gallery. The entrance will include a reception area, a rest area, and a communication hub that will link to the upper floor. The set will be articulated around a bioclimatic patio, designed to organize the interior routes and favor the control of humidity and temperature.
The installation will include photovoltaic solar panels for self-consumption and constructive solutions associated with energy efficiency, the circular economy, and the rational use of resources. Both projects incorporate sustainability criteria and greater use of free and common areas, according to the documentation disseminated by the Consortium.
The sum of the usable areas of the two buildings is close to 8,300 square meters. The Free Zone places the total capacity of the new business complex near 9,000 square meters by including other spaces linked to the functioning of the centers. The modular distribution will allow modifying the dimensions of offices, warehouses, and work areas according to the evolution of the user companies.
ZF Blue Core has a total investment of 10.3 million euros and is co-financed by 85% by the European Regional Development Fund. The program is planned as a continuation of Incubazul, the high-tech incubator dedicated to projects related to marine resources, port activity, logistics, sustainability, biotechnology, and other areas of the blue economy.
The new centers will be able to accommodate both companies that have participated in the Incubazul acceleration program and other innovative and technological initiatives related to this sector. Its function will be to provide an intermediate framework for projects that need more space, technical equipment, specialized advice, or an additional maturation period before operating independently.
The expected model includes a technology laboratory and mentoring services to facilitate digitalization, product development, and adaptation of projects to market needs. The Free Zone aims to bring together in these buildings business activities, applied research, and support services, maintaining the connection with the ecosystem created around Incubazul.
The State Delegate in the Cádiz Free Zone, Fran González, has stated that the two buildings will expand the resources allocated to entrepreneurs and technology-based companies. He indicated that ZF Blue Core will continue to support companies coming from the incubator and will offer facilities and equipment to other projects related to the blue economy.
González added that the buildings will incorporate technical solutions linked to energy efficiency, the sustainability of materials, and the circular economy. He also noted that the design will follow a contemporary architectural line, in relation to the image of the Base Incubazul Zone and the transformation of the business spaces managed by the Consortium.
The ZF Blue Core-4.0 Business Incubator project is integrated into the FEDER 2021-2027 Pluriregional Operational Program of Spain, channeled through the Incyde Foundation of the Chambers of Commerce. The funding is framed in the 4.0 Incubators program and High Technology Incubators, aimed at digital transition, the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, and job creation through productive investments.
