Laura Olcina: A bridge between tradition and innovation
Laura Olcina blends respect for tradition with a forward-looking approach. An economist by training, she has guided the Institute of Technological Informatics for two decades, steering its mission with clarity and purpose. The Valencian jota, a dance rooted in the 14th century, isn’t only a performance for her; it serves as active movement and a living link to regional culture.
Dancing jotas is a recurring thread in Olcina’s life. Born in Valencia in 1973 to a family with roots in insurance and shipping, she built a career marked by steady progress. She grew up with a strong educational foundation and, from an early age, attended the French High School, where a bilingual setting helped shape an interest in international perspectives. When her parents separated, she recalls that moment as a disruption she used to double down on studies and the evolving field of economics that could connect to export opportunities.
On her university first day, the chance to pursue a double degree in Spain and France opened up. After passing the required exams, she joined an experimental program that broadened her horizons and laid the groundwork for a cross-border professional life.
After earning her degree, Olcina interned at a French industrial maintenance firm and then worked at a technology center near Marseille, specializing in demanding environments such as nuclear and aerospace settings. She returned to Valencia in 1996 with a clearer sense of her career path. To fulfill a family promise, she accepted a Generalitat grant to work in industrial promotion at Impiva, a public body supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. The plan was to spend a year in England to gain new experiences, but the opportunity extended into a longer stay and a fellowship for the ITI followed in 1998. It was during this period that she met a fellow economist intern at Impiva who would later become her husband and the father of their two children, now aged 17 and 15.
Reference
Olcina describes ITI as the Spanish reference center in information and communication technologies. Under her leadership, the institute has grown to a workforce exceeding 260 employees, with more than 250 subsidiaries and over 360 customers across Spain and beyond. The organization engages in a wide range of sectors and conducts more than 150 research and development projects each year. The company once offered her a contract only if she could propose a project capable of supporting a salary, and she delivered. She remained with the organization after finishing high school, secured a permanent role six months later, and rose to the position of general manager four years later in 2002. Her rise stands out in an industry where leadership in institutes is often held by scientists, making her tenure as an economist at the helm particularly notable within technology circles. [citation: ITI profile]
Education
Olcina points to a talent gap in the ICT sector, driven largely by gaps in education. She argues that there are not enough university graduates entering the field and that closing this gap is essential for ongoing employment opportunities. As director of ITI, she encourages women to pursue these disciplines, highlighting the flexibility of remote work and the potential for better work‑life balance that such roles can provide.
Even with a demanding schedule at ITI and the broader network of technology institutes across the Community of Valencia and Spain, Olcina maintains a lively personal life. She spends time with her children and friends and stays connected with a Valencian jota troupe. When time allows, she enjoys a round of golf and a moment of rest on quieter days.
Reflecting on scholarly pursuits, Olcina notes that she allocates limited time to reading and research for a PhD in data economics, focusing on how information and economic patterns intersect. She maintains a practical view of technology, stressing that it exists without moral judgments and that people make choices for better or worse outcomes. Her stance is pragmatic: technology is a tool to be used wisely, and its impact depends on how individuals and organizations choose to deploy it. [citation: ITI profile]