Zaragoza will be one of the provinces most benefited by the increase in the defense budget

The Defense and Society Observatory, promoted by NITID Corporate Affairs, has published its first report entitled “The increase in defense spending and its impact on the Spanish economy.” The study analyzes the economic, territorial, and industrial consequences of the central government’s goal of reaching defense spending equivalent to 2% of GDP by 2025, which would increase the budget to €33.123 billion.

Among its main findings, the document places Zaragoza as one of the provinces with the highest concentration of employment linked to the sector, accounting for 5.4% of the national total. This figure, taken from the 2023 Defense Statistical Yearbook, is explained by the presence of strategic military infrastructure and a solid business network dedicated to defense-related activities.

The planned increase in investment would generate up to 175,000 new jobs across the country and mobilize nearly €3 billion in additional private sector investments linked to the defense industry. Overall, the report estimates that public and private sector defense activity could increase by more than €22 billion.

However, the Observatory warns that the success of this budgetary transformation will depend on whether it is accompanied by reforms aimed at promoting innovation, technology transfer, and the creation of skilled employment. Areas such as Zaragoza, with installed capacity and experience in the sector, are key territories to lead this process.

THE OBSERVATORY: A NEW SPACE FOR ANALYSIS 

The Defense and Society Observatory was created as a platform for analysis and debate on the role of communication in the field of defense. With the support of NITID Corporate Affairs, this initiative seeks to bring together industry professionals, as well as those from the Armed Forces and institutions, to share best practices and highlight communication as a strategic tool for building the defense narrative in society.