The mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, did not want to miss the chance to explore strategic opportunities for expansion. Lanzadera and Juan Roig’s Business Marina were presenting plans to enlarge their installations in Valencia, and Barcala offered to host the entrepreneurship hub within Alicante. This invitation follows a comparable move by Barcelona, which also extended a hand to these institutions. The mix includes Edem Business School and Angels, a venture capital firm, with a 25-year concession for refurbished spaces that require no upfront investment.
On the flip side, Lanzadera has stated clearly that Valencia remains its preferred base. Barcala, who aims to grow the city of Túria, put forward a proposal to the accelerator under favorable terms and suitable facilities. The Alicante City Council emphasized in a public statement that the decision to relocate from the Valencian Community would carry significant risk, and urged careful consideration of the benefits Alicante could offer to the accelerator and its activities.
Consequently, Barcala brought the proposal to the table, offering maximum availability of all facilities within the city and potential venues to develop Agora Futura in the old slaughterhouse, as well as in the adjacent House of Mercy. Several initiatives in the EDUSI Las Cigarreras project are already approved or underway, aligning with the broader urban renewal strategy.
Barcala highlights that Alicante offers 25,000 square meters along a pivotal axis of innovation and digital development for the city. The area includes the City of Light and the airport, and houses initiatives such as the Príncipe Felipe Innovative Companies Incubator. Approved projects include Agora Futura and the renovation of the old slaughterhouse building, which tie into the city’s landmarks, including Lanzadera and the former Casa de la Misericordia complex in EDUSI Las Cigarreras, among other municipal spaces.
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To be precise, the Alicante City Council’s Local Government Board recently approved the Foundation and application project for rehabilitating the Old District Slaughterhouse. The site sits on Avenida de Elche as part of a broader push to develop industry, technology, and entrepreneurship in a central hub for innovation and talent under the Alicante Futura digital economy program. The budget for the implementation is 9,252,506 euros, and the project spans 4,736 square meters on a 25,000-square-meter plot dedicated to innovative companies.
House of Mercy
In the case of the House of Mercy, the integrated rehabilitation of this historic building within the Las Cigarreras complex is in the final tender stage, with a budget of 9,584,334.91 euros and an estimated completion period of 18 months after the tender award. The work aims to preserve the building’s historic character while updating it to meet contemporary needs. The scope covers 4,300 square meters in total, with more than 4,700 square meters designated for usable space, ensuring the project respects the building’s heritage while enabling new uses and activities that align with the city’s innovation agenda.