Lucía Sánchez

David Gaston (HP): "VDS is a key vehicle for fostering innovation and entrepreneurial spirit"

As a pioneering tech company in Silicon Valley, what role does HP play in the digital revolution?

Since the beginning of the company, we have been strong advocates of innovation, with a particular focus on digitization. There are several examples throughout our history, such as being the first company to launch a PC in the market or developing inkjet technology for printers. Currently, we are investing in various areas such as 3D printing technology, virtual reality (VR) to enhance activities like product development, employee training, simulation of tours, and immersive experiences, as well as a robotic solution developed by the team in Valencia that automates the digital design process on the ground in construction projects easily.

One of HP's main purposes is to accelerate innovation and create a positive impact through the development of technologies that improve people's lives. What actions are you taking to achieve that goal?

At HP, we have several objectives in this regard. One is to democratize access to digitization by facilitating the connection between the digital and physical aspects of people's lives. Another is to apply these technologies to provide solutions in hospital or pharmaceutical environments that accelerate research cycles. Finally, we innovate to reduce the climate impact of these products by ensuring high energy efficiency during their use and applying circular design principles to make them more sustainable.

VDS2023 has brought together over 12,000 professionals from 91 countries. How do events like VDS contribute to creating and strengthening synergies and relationships between companies?

The different sessions that take place in the main event and those happening simultaneously on specific topics greatly help in identifying companies with potential areas for collaboration.

What led you to collaborate with VDS2023? What are your impressions regarding this 6th edition?

The fact that we are repeating our collaboration confirms that we see it as a vehicle to foster innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, which aligns perfectly with our open innovation strategy. It allows us to quickly access a large number of diverse companies. The organization maintained the impeccable level of the previous edition. We have seen significant growth in international startups and a more advanced state of maturity. We have already initiated contacts with several startups and corporations that we hope to solidify in the coming weeks.

What role do international technology events like Valencia Digital Summit play in fostering the innovative ecosystem?

Undoubtedly, they create a direct line for entrepreneurs and investors to collaborate. They also facilitate a more fluid exchange of experiences and the generation of new ideas, which is more challenging in a remote format. The international nature of the event greatly helps in identifying new trends or solutions that have not been identified yet.

The innovative and technological ecosystem in Valencia has positioned itself as a reference hub in southern Europe. Why do you think Valencia continues to grow exponentially year after year? What sets Valencia apart from other prominent hubs?

It's a combination of several factors: there is a solid base of startups at different levels of maturity, a great pool of talent in local universities, and the attractiveness of the city with its quality of life. The main difference compared to other hubs is the unified focus of all the agents that help grow the ecosystem: the university, entrepreneurial hubs, government, large companies... Together, they create a positive dynamic that positions it as a highly attractive location.

As a pioneering tech company in Silicon Valley, what role does HP play in the digital revolution?

Since the beginning of the company, we have been strong advocates of innovation, with a particular focus on digitization. There are several examples throughout our history, such as being the first company to launch a PC in the market or developing inkjet technology for printers. Currently, we are investing in various areas such as 3D printing technology, virtual reality (VR) to enhance activities like product development, employee training, simulation of tours, and immersive experiences, as well as a robotic solution developed by the team in Valencia that automates the digital design process on the ground in construction projects easily.

One of HP's main purposes is to accelerate innovation and create a positive impact through the development of technologies that improve people's lives. What actions are you taking to achieve that goal?

At HP, we have several objectives in this regard. One is to democratize access to digitization by facilitating the connection between the digital and physical aspects of people's lives. Another is to apply these technologies to provide solutions in hospital or pharmaceutical environments that accelerate research cycles. Finally, we innovate to reduce the climate impact of these products by ensuring high energy efficiency during their use and applying circular design principles to make them more sustainable.

VDS2023 has brought together over 12,000 professionals from 91 countries. How do events like VDS contribute to creating and strengthening synergies and relationships between companies?

The different sessions that take place in the main event and those happening simultaneously on specific topics greatly help in identifying companies with potential areas for collaboration.

What led you to collaborate with VDS2023? What are your impressions regarding this 6th edition?

The fact that we are repeating our collaboration confirms that we see it as a vehicle to foster innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, which aligns perfectly with our open innovation strategy. It allows us to quickly access a large number of diverse companies. The organization maintained the impeccable level of the previous edition. We have seen significant growth in international startups and a more advanced state of maturity. We have already initiated contacts with several startups and corporations that we hope to solidify in the coming weeks.

What role do international technology events like Valencia Digital Summit play in fostering the innovative ecosystem?

Undoubtedly, they create a direct line for entrepreneurs and investors to collaborate. They also facilitate a more fluid exchange of experiences and the generation of new ideas, which is more challenging in a remote format. The international nature of the event greatly helps in identifying new trends or solutions that have not been identified yet.

The innovative and technological ecosystem in Valencia has positioned itself as a reference hub in southern Europe. Why do you think Valencia continues to grow exponentially year after year? What sets Valencia apart from other prominent hubs?

It's a combination of several factors: there is a solid base of startups at different levels of maturity, a great pool of talent in local universities, and the attractiveness of the city with its quality of life. The main difference compared to other hubs is the unified focus of all the agents that help grow the ecosystem: the university, entrepreneurial hubs, government, large companies... Together, they create a positive dynamic that positions it as a highly attractive location.

by Lucía Sánchez

Institutional Support for the Sixth Edition of VDS

The upcoming sixth edition of Valencia Digital Summit is bolstered by strong institutional support, a key factor in ensuring its success. This collaborative effort between the public administrations and the event underscores its crucial role in establishing Valencia and Spain as international tech hubs.

For an event of such magnitude, expected to host over 10,000 professionals from more than 80 countries, the synergy among all public and private entities involved in the innovation ecosystem is paramount. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the key collaborators and the specific ways in which they are contributing to VDS2023.

Valencia Digital Summit has garnered strong institutional support from key partners, including the Government of Spain, Spain Up Nation, EOI, the Generalitat Valenciana (Valencian Regional Government), the Consellería de Innovación (Ministry of Innovation), the Diputación de Valencia (Valencian Provincial Council), the Ayuntamiento de Valencia (Valencia City Council), Valencia Activa, Las Naves, Parc Científic UV, and the Valencian Institute of Finance (IVF). Notably, VDS2023’s financial backing is reinforced by the European Union through the NextGeneration EU funds.

Several institutional representatives are set to participate as speakers during the event. The lineup includes Carlos Mazón, President of the Generalitat Valenciana; María José Catalá, Mayor of Valencia; and Vicente Mompó, President of the Diputación de Valencia, who will be leading VDS2023’s institutional welcome on Thursday, the 26th of October, at 1 pm on the main stage.

Furthermore, the Government Delegate in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé, will join the President of Startup Valencia, Juan Luis Hortelano, alongside its CEO, Nacho Mas, in the closing ceremony.

Institutions are actively involved in the event's programming through forums, panels, and presentations. Notably, the Generalitat Valenciana, through the Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, plays a significant role in the presentation of the 2023 Startup Observatory Report for the Valencian Community. Their involvement extends to the 'The Future of the Valencian Industry' discussion, featuring Felipe Carrasco, Secretary for Industry, Commerce, and Tourism, and Juan Antonio Delgado, Head of Institutional Affairs and Corporate Development at Stadler Rail Valencia SAU. Additionally, they will be part of the Health Forum on the 27th of October.

ICEX, in collaboration with the Diputación de Valencia, will be involved in panels addressing critical topics such as 'Digitalisation vs Employment and How to Secure Future Employment' and 'Challenges of Public-Private Partnerships in Territorial Innovation Strategies'. These panels feature esteemed speakers including Paula Llobet, Councilor for Tourism, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, Jerónimo Mora, Secretary for Innovation, and Juan Ramón Adsuara, Deputy for European Funds, Electronic Administration, and Innovation.

Las Naves will facilitate informative round table discussions, such as the session on 'Public-Private Collaboration to Develop Effective Innovative Solutions for Active and Healthy Aging', scheduled for Thursday, the 26th of October, and led by Juan Mario Lecumberri, IoT expert from the AHA of the Institute of Social and Citizen Innovation, and Pilar Sala Soriano, Innovation Manager at MYSPHERA. Moreover, they are organising a conversation on the topic of 'Climate Mission and Transformative Projects in the City', featuring the General Director of the European Green Capital, and Ignacio Lacomba, Head of Parks and Garden Services in Valencia.

IVF is set to host a talk titled 'IVF: Public Support for Entrepreneurship and Innovation', featuring key industry figures such as Francesco Cacciatore, CEO and CTO of Paradigma Orbital, and Jorge Dobón, Managing Partner at Demium.

Distinguished academic and research entities will be showcasing their innovative projects in the exhibition area of Valencia Digital Summit, including ADEIT, Valencia Activa, Opentop, IVF, REDIT, UPV Innovación, Parc Científic, Tren Lab RENFE, and the Universitat de València.

The Parc Científic of the Universitat de València will host a session titled 'Redefining the Medicine of the Future: Disruptive Advances in Genetics and Biotechnology' featuring María Luisa Domingo, CEO of Evolving Therapeutics, and Manuel Pérez, founder of Mandel Brain.

VDS2023 enjoys extensive support from various sectors including business, finance, and technology. Key entities such as Cámara Valencia, CEEI Valencia and CEEI Castellón, Distrito Digital, Feria Valencia, Fundación Conexus, Fundación LAB, Inndromeda, Innotransfer, INNDIH REDIT, SKYLab Valencia, UPV, ITI, Parque Científico Miguel Hernández, València Activa, VIT Emprende, Invest in Valencia, and VLC Tech City, among others, serve as valuable collaborators for the event.

VLC Tech City (Valencia Activa) will host the panel 'GovTech: How Technology Can Transform Public Management' on Thursday, featuring Fermín Cerezo, Director of Innovation at the Valencia City Council, and Ferran Pla Cardona, Co-Founder of CDTM Valencia (Centre for Digital Technology and Management). On Friday, they will present 'Valencia: The City of Gaming', with Arturo Castelló, CEO of Encom, and David Rosa, Technical Director of Las Naves.

The tech event has also received support in curating its comprehensive programme of presentations and contributions from industry experts and leading figures. Opentop, serving as a Supporting Sponsor of VDS2023 and a Supporter of Startup Valencia, will be hosting the Ports Forum on the Forum Stage for the second consecutive year. Furthermore, the Castellón Airport is set to host an Aerospace Forum.

Other public entities contributing to VDS2023’s programme include EOI with 'The Break Fellowship - Nurturing Women's Entrepreneurship', ENISA with 'Enisa Talks', CDTI with the panel 'How CDTI Can Support the Growth of Spanish Startups', and INCIBE with the talk titled 'Entrepreneurship in Cybersecurity’.

Valencia Digital Summit continues to showcase the positive outcomes that can be achieved through collaboration, reaffirming the region’s position as a leading tech hub in southern Europe year after year.

by Lucía Sánchez

Get to know the finalists of the VDS Competition

VDS2023 is on the verge of unveiling the winners of its international startup competition. On the 26th and 27th October, at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, the ten winning startups will come together at this prestigious tech event. There, they will showcase their projects before an audience of more than 10,000 attendees from 80 countries, alongside 400 international investors with a collective investment portfolio exceeding €8 billion.

A panel of distinguished investors and business leaders from global corporations will preside over the selection of the best startups in both their seed and growth stages during the grand finale. This esteemed panel will consist of: Rosa Sánchez, Head of Startups Valencia and Murcia at Banco Santander; Juan Luis Hortelano, President at Startup Valencia; Marta Cruz, Managing Partner at NXTP Ventures; Stefano Guidotti, Partner at P101 and Yolanda Tomás, Board Member at BiGBAN.

Today, we delve deeper into these 10 finalist startups that have managed to distinguish themselves among the more than 600 applications received from 48 different countries.

- Autoscriber. A Netherlands-based startup that operates within the Health and Wellbeing sector, leveraging Artificial Intelligence to support medical professionals. Established in 2021 by founders Jacqueline Kazmaier and Koen Bonenkamp, the company specialises in the development of AI-powered natural language processing and speech recognition technologies to enable structured data extraction from conversations between doctors and their patients. Koen Bonenkamp emphasises the critical issue they address: "In real-world clinical settings, physicians often lack the time to complete Electronic Health Records (EHRs) the way they are designed. Valuable insights to improve patient care frequently get lost due to data being captured in a suboptimal format or not at all." 

Their core mission is to reintroduce a human-centric approach into the medical practice environment while eliminating the burden of time-consuming administrative tasks. 

Autoscriber offers a groundbreaking solution called "Flow", which enables medical professionals to record these conversations via their mobile phone and provides real-time insights and guidance for completing the EHR. This innovative approach results in reduced wait times, increased data collection, and an overall improvement of the doctor-patient consultation process.

- Beynex. A pioneering startup, founded in Turkey, that is committed to improving brain health through a mobile solution that offers personalised exercises and engaging games. Co-CEO Sarp Akgönül underscores the impressive growth of the app, which has evolved from its early stages to become a platform boasting over 800 paying users, all achieved organically: "Initially conceived to detect early cognitive decline through gamified assessments, Beynex has now transformed into a comprehensive cognitive care solution, providing personalised lifestyle recommendations to aid long-lasting brain health.”

Looking ahead to 2024, Sarp outlines the ambitious goals of Beynex, which include a tenfold expansion of their user base, a commitment to in-depth research and validation studies, and the establishment of a community of brain longevity ambassadors. Addressing the imminent challenges that tech startups must face, Beynex's co-CEO emphasises the importance of finding the right distribution channels and monetisation strategies while maintaining a high-quality product. 

In their participation in the VDS Competition final, Beynex expects to gain valuable visibility and recognition, as well as investor interest, feedback, and validation. The company highlights the strength of the Valencian ecosystem in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, citing “the region's renowned universities and research institutions, the strategic location of the city and its proximity to major European markets, which turn it into a convenient base for startups looking to expand internationally, and the exceptional quality of life, which attracts both local and international talent".

- Bridgewise. An innovative Israeli startup empowering investors to make more informed decisions with the aid of generative technology and AI. Vered Statlander, the Product Marketing Manager, highlights the remarkable evolution of their analytical capabilities and the critical development of their human-language explanations since the startup’s inception. "By adding more and more layers of analysis and investing more in our language model, the Bridgewise engine now covers more than 90% of the essential information any investor needs before taking action", she notes.

She also spoke about the company’s objectives for the coming year, stating that, "We are committed to further advancing our AI capabilities, elevating the quality of our user interface, and broadening the services we offer. We plan to take the next step towards personalised financial services, introducing conversational interfaces to allow investors to ask questions and receive immediate answers in their native language. We will also incorporate additional layers of analysis, such as ESG and Universe analysis, to provide a more comprehensive solution.”

For Vered, participating in the VDS final represents an incredible opportunity to showcase Bridgewise’s "dedication to bridging the knowledge gap in the investment world”. She also went on to mention that, “Being selected as a finalist among numerous startups from around the world reinforces our vision and motivates us to continue delivering world-class AI-based analytics to investors globally. We look forward to reaching a wider audience and exploring new collaborative initiatives and possibilities."

- Cafler. A Spanish startup operating a dynamic marketplace where professional drivers handle all car-related tasks on your behalf. Founded in Barcelona in 2021, Cafler has since demonstrated impressive growth, providing over 150,000 services across three different countries with a global team exceeding 100 employees. They have set their sights on achieving over €100 million in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) in 2024 and expanding their services to additional cities.

Ricard Guillem, founder of Cafler, holds Valencia in high regard, appreciating the “strong sense of community that encompassess all agents in the ecosystem, from investors and entrepreneurs to tech talent”. He expresses his excitement at being selected as a finalist, stating, "We hope to reach a broader audience with our vision and, hopefully, inspire others to join us on this challenging yet thrilling journey,".

- Ender Turing. An Estonian startup dedicated to improving the efficiency of call centres by streamlining quality control, agent coaching, and increasing customer satisfaction. According to Olena Iosifova, the CEO of the startup, “Ender Turing's journey started as a speech-to-text technology and has since transformed into the fastest and most valuable speech analytics platform. Today, it plays a vital role in helping sales and customer service teams achieve peak performance within a matter of days."

Olena also acknowledges the current global startup landscape, citing the challenges of a cooling venture capital investment climate. However, she emphasises that apart from tougher funding conditions, startups face unique hurdles in Europe, particularly the challenge of scaling due to the diverse range of 30 different languages spoken. To successfully scale in the EU, a startup must address multilingual marketing, sales, and support.

In the context of the international competition final, Ender Turing is determined to emerge as a frontrunner. "We are here to win, so we will put 200% of ourselves into this pitch. We would like to announce the start of our fundraising efforts, attract potential investors, and meet with companies that could become future clients".

- Legitify. This Irish startup specialises in the remote notarisation of documents through an online notary service. Aida Lutaj, the co-founder and CEO of the firm, reflects on how the project has evolved since its inception, stating that, "We have expanded the team and improved our product. A few weeks ago, we launched our new website and our new solution, while also developing our API infrastructure and building an AI rules-based engine that will help us scale faster. Looking to the future, we aim to further diversify our product offering with new solutions beyond digital notarisation."

Regarding their participation in the competition, Legitify holds a multitude of expectations. Aida highlights the desire to “gain substantial visibility, establish meaningful connections, solidify our brand’s position within the European tech landscape, and lay the foundation for sustained growth and success on the international stage”. About VDS, he stated that, “The event provides a great opportunity to establish valuable relationships with industry leaders, attract potential investors, and explore collaboration and market expansion avenues. Moreover, being selected as a finalist boosts team morale and strengthens our relationship with the European tech ecosystem. Valuable insights for product validation and areas of improvement can be gleaned from the questions and feedback received during the grand final. Beyond the competition, exposure to other innovative solutions promises a rich learning experience.”

- Quantic Brains. This Spanish startup employs AI to create 3D characters for films and video games. As Julio Covacho, co-CEO of the startup, explains, "When we started working on the project, it was a very ambitious, technologically disruptive dream aimed at revolutionising the creation of audiovisual content worldwide. Over the past two years, we have proven that this vision is not only possible but also that we have achieved the technical level we aspired to reach. Looking ahead to 2024, our focus will shift towards the commercialisation and growth phase, for which brimming with high expectations.". 

Discussing the global startup scene, Julio underscores the heightened activity within the startup community, noting that each year, "the quality of projects and the teams behind them show remarkable improvement and growth which, in turn, contributes to a more professional and qualified ecosystem".

"While our ambition is to win the competition, we must acknowledge the outstanding quality of the other selected projects which make the task very challenging. Our excitement about being VDS2023 finalists stems from the unique opportunity to share our vision and project with a diverse audience, including investors and institutions. We look forward to receiving feedback at all levels, which will serve us to continue growing and improving", he states about the VDS competition final.

- Spendbase. A Ukrainian startup that specialises in assisting companies in streamlining their budgets by eliminating inactive subscriptions and securing exclusive discounts. By 2024, they have set their sights on the goal of expanding globally and developing a new cloud optimisation solution to further reduce their customers' expenses.

Andrii Melnykov, an engineer at the company, emphasises that when scaling technological projects for business growth, it is crucial to adapt to the unique needs of local clients, both from a technical and commercial standpoint, especially when looking to enter new markets.

Valencia, in his view, stands out for its exceptional universities and research institutions, "which form a community that drives technological innovation". Regarding the final of the VDS2023 competition, Spendbase hopes to “connect with a community of like-minded people and boost our growth".

- Welii. This startup, founded in France, provides finance and IT teams with a powerful solution to secure the best prices for all their SaaS tools. According to Vincent Coste, the co-founder and CEO, in recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of startups as well as the amount of funding they’ve received.

Participating in VDS2023, Vincent envisions an opportunity to increase Welii's visibility and credibility, "while attracting both investors and customers”. He adds that, “We are eagerly anticipating several prospects, including networking opportunities, valuable feedback to improve our project, and the potential to establish business partnerships. Above all, we hope to share solutions to make sure all companies are using the right tool at the right price and assisting companies in reducing costs and resources”.

- Zim Connections. A UK-based startup  that has established itself as eSIM marketplace designed to assist travellers worldwide. Irina Gheorghiu, CEO of the company, acknowledges that launching a startup in 2023 "presents numerous challenges”. She emphasises the importance of “continuously monitoring global market trends, consumer behaviours, and emerging technologies. We stay attuned to changes in the telecom and travel industries, as well as broader tech and business trends”. For Irina, “customer feedback holds immense value, and as the company expands its services globally, we meticulously evaluate new market opportunities while prioritising infrastructure scalability”.

Through their participation as a finalist in VDS2023, Zim Connections aims to connect with potential partners, investors, and influential figures in the tech and entrepreneurship domains. "We want to use this unique opportunity to broaden our network, forge strategic partnerships, and secure essential support for our ongoing growth and expansion. Additionally, we anticipate that participation in the grand finale will provide valuable exposure and validation for our startup, reinforcing our commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and sustainability—core values at the heart of ZIM Connections”, Irina highlights.

These projects, perspectives, and ambitions will be unveiled in just a few weeks time at VDS2023. On the 27th of October at 5pm on the Summit Stage, the two winning startups in the seed and growth phases will be announced. These startups will receive recognition, an exhibition space at the 2024 edition of Valencia Digital Summit, and the chance to harness the networking and business promotion opportunities offered by an international tech event like VDS, with the backing of organisations such as Plug and Play and Aquaservice, partners of the VDS2023 Competition.

by Lucía Sánchez

Valencia Digital Summit 2023 to have an economic impact of over €10 million

Valencia Digital Summit (VDS2023) is set to generate an economic impact of more than €10 million. The international tech event organised by Startup Valencia is expected to attract over 10,000 attendees from over 80 countries, as well as welcome more than 400 international investors boasting an investment portfolio exceeding €8 billion. With a lineup featuring internationally renowned speakers, the summit will serve as a platform for over 1,500 startups to connect and collaborate.

Juan Luis Hortelano, president of Startup Valencia, shared this exciting news during a press briefing for VDS2023, which was held earlier today at the Valencia Science Museum. Joining him at the event were notable figures, including Nuria Montes, Regional Minister for Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, from the Generalitat Valenciana; Juan Ramón Adsuara, Deputy for European Funds, Electronic Administration and Innovation, from the Valencia Provincial Council; and Paula Llobet, Councillor for Tourism, Innovation, Employment and Entrepreneurship, from the Valencia City Council.

Hortelano also explained that the event, scheduled to take place on the 26th and 27th of October at the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, promises to bring together inspiring individuals and key figures from prestigious companies. The roster of confirmed speakers includes Vala Afshar, CIO of Salesforce; Ángel Rivera, CEO of Banco Santander; Ángel Sáenz, Country Manager for Spain and Portugal at LinkedIn; Alejandro Mullor, Industry Digital Strategist at Microsoft; Guenia Gawendo, Director of Telefónica Ventures; Vladimer Botsvadze, Advisory Board Member of the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute; Ann Hiatt, who boasts over 15 years of experience in Silicon Valley as Executive Business Partner of Jeff Bezos (founder and CEO of Amazon) and Eric Schmidt (CEO/Executive Chairman of Google); Felipe Peñacoba, CIO of Revolut; and Alba Redondo, World Champion with the Spanish Women's Football Team.

He also emphasised the importance of this event in solidifying Valencia’s status as a leading international hub for tech and innovation, and in attracting both investment and top-tier talent to the region. "We can take pride in the fact that startups participating in Valencia Digital Summit since 2018 have collectively secured over $11.5 billion in funding. Additionally, last year VDS generated an economic impact of over €10 million, and all indications suggest that this year’s edition will surpass that figure. Notably, for the first time, two side events will take place within the framework of VDS: Mobility Innovation Valencia, in collaboration with the AVIA automotive cluster, and the most important logistics and port innovation forum in the sector, in partnership with Valenciaport. This development propels the event into a new dimension and firmly establishes it as one of the most significant tech events in southern Europe," he stated.

Councillor for Innovation Nuria Montes added that the results of the report from the Startup Observatory of the Valencian Community, set to be unveiled at VDS, underline the “good health of our innovation ecosystem, which is experiencing steady growth in terms of both the number of startups, marking a 15% increase from the previous year, and the creation of high-quality jobs, with a total workforce of 16,396 individuals".

During the event's presentation, Provincial Deputy Juan Ramón Adsuara emphasised the significance of this gathering, stating, "This event represents a prime opportunity for the province of Valencia to establish itself as the perfect setting for attracting talent and developing innovative business models". In this regard, Adsuara also called attention to "the ongoing commitment of the Provincial Council in supporting municipalities in their endeavours to implement tech-driven initiatives benefiting their citizens". He cited specific examples such as "financial assistance for Smart City projects and the Connecta Valencia programme, which leverages smart markers to enhance tourist experiences".

Councillor for Employment and Entrepreneurship Paula Llobet, for her part, highlighted the significance of Startup Valencia “as a benchmark for tech and innovation companies which, through the organisation of VDS, helps showcase our region’s talent, businesses, universities, and all those dedicated to driving economic and social transformation within our city".

It is crucial to emphasise the remarkable scale of the Valencian tech and innovation ecosystem, which has seen exponential growth since 2017. According to data from the Startup Observatory of the Valencian Community, curated by Startup Valencia, Valencian startups have demonstrated a 15% growth rate and have contributed to the creation of 16,396 jobs.

by Lucía Sánchez