Artificial intelligence is solidifying as one of the top investment priorities for Spanish SMEs heading into 2026. According to a new YouGov study for IONOS, 35% of companies plan to allocate budget to this technology, a figure that places Spain slightly behind France (36%) and ahead of other key markets such as the United Kingdom (31%) and Italy (32%), demonstrating a firm commitment to innovation.
The most revealing figure is the jump in investment intent, rising from 22% in 2025 to 35% for 2026. This 13-point growth confirms that AI has stopped being an experimental technology and has become a strategic pillar in IT budgets. In fact, AI investment (35%) is now nearly on par with cybersecurity (37%), an area that has long been a priority.
Spain, leading in AI budgeting
Spanish leadership is reflected not only in intention but also in resource allocation. 57% of SMEs plan to devote up to 20% of their digitalization budget to AI, the highest share among the markets analyzed. In line with this, only 17% of Spanish companies do not plan to allocate funds to this technology, one of the lowest figures in the study.
This commitment is reinforced by a greater willingness to invest in AI solutions: more than a third of respondents (37%) would invest between 21 and 100 euros per month, and more than a fifth of Spanish SMEs would invest as much as 101 to 200 euros per month (14%), or more than 200 euros per month (8%).
However, Spanish SMEs set clear conditions: nearly half (48%) require AI solutions to meet legal requirements, a figure higher than the European average. For more than one in four (27%), having a European provider is an essential requirement. There is strong interest in investing, but trust in the solution must come first.
AI as a tool to power efficiency and talent
Far from being seen as a threat to jobs, Spanish SMEs are embracing artificial intelligence with a clear objective: to improve productivity and optimize human talent.
“Spanish SMEs are ready for AI and turning it into concrete actions,” says Achim Weiss, CEO of IONOS. “They are not looking for excuses; they want reliable partners. Businesses don’t want experiments, they want results they can trust,” notes Achim Weiss, CEO of IONOS.
The main motivations for investing in AI are “increase efficiency” (47%) and “free employees from repetitive tasks” (39%). This view cements AI as a strategic ally for automating repetitive processes, enabling teams to focus on tasks that add greater value to the business.
The leadership and financial commitment of Spanish SMEs are shaping the future of the European digital ecosystem, creating a clear demand for secure and sovereign innovation. In this context, IONOS, as a leading European partner in digitalization, positions itself as the ideal strategic ally, offering a platform that blends AI power with security so that the Spanish business fabric can lead this transformation with full autonomy and confidence.
