A technology park plan gains support on the Alcoy campus of the Polytechnic University of Valencia
The Generalitat expressed support for establishing a technology park at the Alcoy campus of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), with steps to secure its funding in the regional budget for the coming years. On a recent visit to the campus, the Minister of Innovation, Universities, Science and the Digital Society, Josefina Bueno, confirmed the government’s backing. During discussions with the UPV leadership, she outlined that 2023 would include an allocation of 250,000 euros for advancing the technology park project. This commitment aligns with the government’s broader agenda to boost research, science, and innovation across the territory. The minister also highlighted the strong student presence at the Alcoy campus, noting that this “young essence” supports a promising, sustainable future for the region. The funding plan represents a concrete step toward turning these academic strengths into tangible regional advantages.
Bueno emphasized that the project should strengthen the city’s role in education and innovation and encourage ongoing dialogue between researchers and the industrial sector. The minister remarked that Alcoy could benefit from the collaboration of one of Spain’s most prestigious universities and the Generalitat’s long-standing commitment to research and innovation. She underlined that a robust student body is a key driver for a vibrant, dynamic future in the city.
The regional government views the Alcoy tech park as a catalyst for revitalizing the local economy and fostering closer ties between academia and industry. It was reiterated that universities and companies together form the backbone of innovation and economic development. The Alcoy campus is seen as a regional cohesion node due to its strategic location near industrial clusters and collaborations with institutes such as AITEX and similar organizations. The Consell reiterated its pledge to decentralize knowledge and spread innovation across the territory.
Possible start at the current AITEX headquarters
Pau Bernabeu, director of UPV’s Alcoy campus, explained that the science park plan will adapt to the city council’s plans for the Rodes complex and to the research agenda set by the university. He noted that the current AITEX headquarters could become a seed for the university science park if the Technological Institute moves into its new facilities, which are near completion. However, final decisions will depend on future deliberations. The prospect of relocating AITEX to UPV space could provide the nucleus for the park, but all options remain on the table as discussions continue.
The campus leadership stressed UPV’s objective to respond to the business environment and attract talent while expanding academic offerings. There is intent to strengthen the industrial cluster in Alcoy, with plans to reclaim programs in Textile Engineering and Electronics Engineering and to introduce master studies in cosmetics among others. Bernabeu called the Alcoy campus the backbone of the city and described the present window of opportunity as historic, offering a chance for a qualitative leap. The future tech park would be powered by UPV researchers and would create jobs directly and indirectly, reinforcing the local economy and its technological capabilities.
The mayor of Alcoy, Toni Francés, affirmed that the city is fortunate to pursue the science park on the UPV campus, calling it one of the goals the community set itself. He expressed thanks for the minister’s receptiveness to university and industrial development and for recognizing the importance of structuring the region. The project is described as a commitment to the future, with a focus on sharing knowledge and facilitating corporate growth across the landscape. The ongoing collaboration between public administration, the university, and industry is presented as a shared effort to transmit information and strengthen the capabilities of local companies.