INNOVATION
Alicante takes a central role in the series of announcements delivered by Generalitat president Ximo Puig during the general policy debate. The Consell aims to position Alicante as a regional hub for innovation, digitalization, and artificial intelligence (AI), according to the Botànic administration. The planned innovations touch transport, tourism, and education, with a view to delivering progress in the region during the final year of Puig’s tenure.
INNOVATION
European Funds for Valencia AI Strategy
The council seeks to weave together Alicante’s public and private innovation ecosystem. Puig’s remarks highlighted the Generalitat’s intention to bolster Alicante’s candidacy for hosting the Spanish AI Agency. The president underscored a decentralization goal that creates more opportunities for all regions, and he welcomed a major funding package that includes 90 million euros allocated to the Valencia AI Strategy across the Community from the second round of European Funds. This aligns with a broader plan to distribute resources beyond central hubs and empower regional AI initiatives.
Another key announcement is the six million euros in Feder funds already earmarked to establish a center enabling AI technologies, plus an acceleration hub for AI-driven companies in a renovated Post Office building in Elche. The Open Digital Zone will see significant advances in the coming months, including the completion of a headquarters near the port of Alicante where several national and international firms have shown interest. A Talent Zone will emerge outside state borders, with an expansion of the Digital Zone planned for Castellón and Gandía, and a bid to host a Digital Technology Center in Munich following the project’s framework.
MOBILITY
A tram line to connect Vega Baja to the airport
Puig announced plans for a study to improve rail links in Vega Baja. The goal is to connect Orihuela with Torrevieja via a tram, along with a second line linking Torrevieja to Alicante-Elche airport. The Generalitat envisions Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana overseeing these services, currently responsible for Metrovalencia. The Vega Baja tram project would be a major step in regional connectivity.
Details on the study’s scope and funding are yet to be announced. Puig framed the effort as part of the Plan Vega Renhace, with additional projects including a new line between Dénia and Gandía. Public transport—metro, tram, and bus—will be free for residents up to age 30 from October 9 through year-end, as part of the Generalitat’s mobility commitments.
What new measures are affecting all Valencians? The plan outlines broader actions across sectors, supported by ongoing infrastructure investment and smart mobility initiatives.
CITY OF LIGHT
Education center linked to the audiovisual industry
Puig reaffirmed support for a training center associated with the City of Light, aimed at strengthening the audiovisual sector. The Generalitat views the movie industry as a strategic project and emphasized that the studios are ready to host film production, while local fabric work and employment opportunities continue to grow. The emphasis is on reviving and sustaining the regional entertainment ecosystem through targeted training and investment.
EDUCATION
Five newly created VET centers
The Valencia network for digital proficiency will roll out with 120 training classrooms in interior regions. Over the coming years, five centers will be integrated into the province: three in Alicante, Elche, and Dénia, and two in Sant Joan d’Alacant and Guardamar. The Generalitat urges vocational training to gain prestige, linking it to lower unemployment and better wages for graduates.
BENIDORM
Ongoing projects: cultural center and tourist intelligence
Two announcements concern Benidorm. The first involves commissioning the National Tourist Intelligence Center in 2023, seen as a signal of decentralization commitments. The second concerns the second phase of the Benidorm Cultural Center set to begin in 2023, underscoring ongoing cultural development in the town.
MORE ADVERTISEMENTS
Justice, sexist violence, the advent of multinational corporations…
Under the Judicial Infrastructure Plan, significant investment—up to 100 million euros—is directed at the construction of a new Alicante City of Justice building and the rehabilitation of the high court’s headquarters. There are also plans to open a dedicated office for sexist violence complaints in the near term. The Generalitat’s role is highlighted by the announced arrival of multinational Canon in the region, signaling increased corporate presence and opportunities.
At a glance, the region faces a multifaceted push across innovation, mobility, education, culture, and public services, all tied to the central aim of boosting Alicante’s status as a dynamic, connected hub within Valencia and Spain as a whole.
Attribution: Official statements by the Generalitat Valenciana and regional policy briefings summarize these plans and their expected timelines. (Source: Generalitat Valenciana policy disclosures)