The following are considered medium-high and high-tech manufacturing activities in the CNAE-2009:

Medium-high technology

20: Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products
25.4: Manufacture of weapons and ammunition
27 to 29: Manufacture of electrical equipment; Manufacture of machinery and equipment n.e.c.; Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers
30 except 30.1 and 30.3: Manufacture of other transport equipment except Building of ships and boats, Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery
32.5: Manufacture of medical and dental instruments and supplies

High technology

21: Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations
26: Manufacture of computer, electronic and optical products
30.3: Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery

At the regional level, enterprises are identified with legal units, i.e., each legal unit is considered to be an enterprise, which may consist of one or more than one establishment.

At the national level, until 2017 enterprises were identified with legal units, but since 2018 the concept of enterprise follows the European Union Regulation (696/93), according to which an enterprise may be formed by one or more legal units, which in turn may be formed by one or more establishments. Most enterprises are independent legal units, so this change only affects legal units that are part of enterprise groups.

Consequently, since 2018 regional data are not strictly comparable with national data. Likewise, national data from 2018 onwards are not strictly comparable with those available up to 2017.

The source of information for the period 2010-2014 is the Industrial Companies Survey by Spain's National Statistical Institute (INE). Until 2012, the scope of the survey focused on enterprises with employees and did not consider the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. However, since 2013 the scope of the survey has included enterprises without employees and also the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

Indicator 9.b.1