Spain Invests €67 Million in quantum-Inspired AI Startup Multiverse Computing

Barcelona, March 4, 2025 – The Spanish government is making a significant move into the future of AI, announcing a €67 million co-investment in Multiverse Computing, a San Sebastian-based company specializing in quantum-inspired software. Óscar López, the Minister for Digital Change and Public Function, revealed the investment during MWC barcelona 2025, signaling Spain’s commitment to becoming a leader in energy-efficient AI technologies.

Multiverse Computing: Compressing AI for a Sustainable Future

Multiverse Computing’s core innovation lies in its ability to compress AI models down to a mere 10% of their original size. This dramatic reduction in size translates to lower resource consumption and enhanced efficiency, opening doors to use cases previously limited by computational constraints.

“With this operation, we seek to position Spain as a benchmark in energy-efficient AI language models, scaling the development of compaction tools that compress language models by up to 90%, reducing costs and energy consumption while increasing the technological independence of Spain and Europe,” said Minister López.

Imagine running complex AI models on your smartphone or virtual reality glasses without needing a supercomputer, even when offline. This is the potential unlocked by Multiverse Computing’s technology, promising wider access and reduced energy footprints.

Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT) Facilitates Investment

The investment will be channeled through the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), highlighting the government’s strategic approach to fostering technological advancements within the country. This move aims to bolster Spain’s position in the global AI landscape and drive innovation across various sectors.

Recognition and Future Potential

Multiverse Computing’s innovative approach has already garnered significant recognition. In 2024, DIGITALEUROPE, the leading association for digitally transforming industries in europe, identified Multiverse Computing as a potential future European unicorn. LinkedIn also recognized the company’s promise, listing it among the top 20 most promising startups in Spain during the same year.This recognition underscores the company’s potential impact on the AI landscape.

€200 Million in Grants to Integrate AI Across Industries

Beyond the investment in Multiverse Computing, the Spanish government is also launching new grant programs to encourage AI adoption across various sectors.

• €130 Million from ERDF Funds: These grants, up to €5 million per project, will be managed through Red.es and are designed to support experimental development projects utilizing AI technologies.The goal is to encourage companies to integrate technologies like machine learning, deep learning, and generative AI into their operations. López stated these grants “will allow our companies to launch experimental development projects in wich intensive use will be made of technologies associated with AI, such as machine learning and deep learning, generative AI or LLMs, among others.”
• €50 Million for AI in Healthcare: This initiative specifically targets the integration of AI in the health sector, aiming to improve patient care and streamline healthcare operations.
• €24 Million for SMEs: Building on a previous call to action, this funding aims to promote the use of AI and data among Spanish SMEs, empowering smaller businesses to leverage AI for growth and efficiency.

These initiatives represent a significant investment in Spain’s AI capabilities, with Minister López noting that, added together “are more then 200 million euros of European funds–ERDF and RTRP–that will be activated in the coming days and that will allow us to continue exploiting our strengths in the field of Artificial Intelligence.”

“R+D Missions in AI” Program Showcases Tangible Results

The announcements were made during the “CambIA: from research to business” event at MWC Barcelona 2025, highlighting the results of the “R+D Missions in AI” program. This €50 million initiative,launched in 2021,has successfully developed real-world use cases for AI across strategic sectors.

Key Projects Demonstrated:

• TartaglIA (Health Sector): This project, backed by €7 million, created the UTILE platform for secure data sharing among healthcare institutions. A key initiative includes a system for detecting cognitive impairment in patients’ voices,which could indicate an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.
• AgrarIA (Agricultural Sector): with a €9 million investment, AgrarIA has created a platform where the entire agricultural value chain can implement AI applications. Use cases include forecasting crop yields with satellite imagery and early detection of tomato pests using drones. Digital twins modelling energy expenditure have also shown savings of up to 40% in electricity consumption.
• IA4TES (sustainable Energy Transition): This €12 million project, led by Iberdrola, has developed over 60 use cases for AI in sustainable energy.One notable submission is the use of AI to detect birds near wind turbines, allowing the blades to be stopped before impact, protecting wildlife.

“we are talking about initiatives that bring tremendous added value to the health, agriculture and energy sectors,” emphasized the minister. “TartaglIA, AgrarIA and IA4TES are tangible proof that AI can be competitive, responsible and useful for people; they represent three success stories of public investment in research and technology transfer.”

Spain’s AI Future: A call to Action

Spain’s significant investment in Multiverse Computing and the broader AI ecosystem underscores its commitment to becoming a leader in this transformative technology. By focusing on energy efficiency and practical applications, Spain is positioning itself to reap the economic and societal benefits of AI. Explore how these developments can impact your industry and consider how AI integration can drive innovation and efficiency in your own institution.