Digital Zone pursues its mission within the broader goal of promoting Alicante and the Valencian Community as leaders in the new economy. After establishing itself as a hub for business attraction with 88 workplaces and more than 1,200 employees spread across various headquarters, it built a network of more than 400 cooperating companies across the autonomous region to revitalize technology transfer. The challenges facing tourism, health, and climate change underscore the need for a skilled workforce, a concern that the Generalitat’s leadership believes must be addressed through targeted action in the digital economy.
To address this, the initiative will commence at the start of January, following Barrabés’s successful award in the Talent Zone program, which aims to educate thousands of people in new technologies. This was announced by the general manager of the Digital Transformation Projects Association, during a session of the regional Forum organized by INFORMATION and Club INFO. The plan envisions widespread impact across the autonomy as the region works to expand digital expertise throughout municipalities.
The project seeks collaboration with local authorities, leveraging the presence of many mayors at the event. The objective is clear: reach as many towns as possible, spanning from Vinaròs to Pilar de la Horadada, and bring advanced digital training to a broad audience.
In this context, the leader emphasized that a functional digital ecosystem requires professionals who can operate within a solid legal framework, with capital, product, and market readiness. After addressing the remaining elements in previous phases, the final stage of the Digital Zone initiative will focus on expanding education and ensuring enterprises have access to highly qualified personnel.
Worker shortage
Notes cited show a substantial gap in skilled labor, with studies indicating more than two million workers in need nationally, and around 200,000 of those shortages concentrated in Spain. Following the pilot, it was stated there was no immediate prosecution related to project design, and the completion timeline targets late December or early January. While figures can shift, estimates have previously suggested that up to 15,000 professionals could be trained over three years as the program evolves.
Digital District will train 15,000 experts on new technologies
The regional director explained that the training aims to serve both young people entering an industry with strong employment prospects—where employment rates exceed 80 percent—and professionals seeking to transition or upskill. The initiative envisions a pathway for career change through targeted courses and continuous learning.
The general manager emphasized municipal cooperation as essential to ensure the project achieves broad reach. A network of 350 professionals will coordinate with the Generalitat to deploy training across municipal facilities and to manage and leverage European funds. Training will be promoted through public channels to reach prospective learners and attract them to these courses.
Balance
During Municipal Forum 2022, Antonio Rodes reviewed the organization’s evolution, noting several historical names and phases—from its origins as Alicante Theme Park Community to its current identity as the Digital Transformation Projects Community. He described the SPTD as a public-sector intermediary serving a broader economic development model, recalling various government administrations that supported initiatives like Terra Mitica, Ciudad de la Luz, Castellón airport, and other projects. A notable shift followed the real estate market downturn, leading to strategic changes that kept the focus on modernization of the productive fabric.
Today, the Digital Zone centers host 88 companies and about 1,200 employees, a figure highlighted by the project leader as evidence of the pull effect that encourages more firms to relocate to the area.
Digital District undertakes an expansion plan with six Community-wide clusters this year
The leadership highlighted the typical client profile for District Digital, noting that most startups came not for a simple market search but with the intent to establish a manufacturing presence. The quality of life, along with strong European connectivity and an international airport, are key competitive advantages that support this strategy. This means tourism-oriented municipalities can become remote-work destinations, expanding the district’s reach.
Within the Digital Zone, about 400 partners and collaborators are involved in the new technology cluster, creating synergies and offering a range of services. The plan also emphasizes how tourism, health, and climate challenges have prompted participating companies to propose innovative solutions, some of which have already been adopted by others in the network.