The New Year’s toast in Alicante marked a milestone as the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) celebrates its thirtieth anniversary and the event drew leaders from politics and business alike. The gathering underscored the role of EUIPO in the city and highlighted ongoing discussions between national parties about research funding, innovation policies, and the government’s dealings with regional independence forces.
Speakers emphasized the significance of EUIPO for local economic activity while political exchanges touched on competing visions for the region. The Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant, reaffirmed support for budget allocations to maintain research momentum, stressing that funding gaps could not be allowed to slow progress in technological development. Meanwhile, the former Generalitat president, Carlos Mazón, announced the establishment of a supportive office for companies wishing to participate in initiatives within the Valencian Community.
The remarks touched on debates about innovation disruptions in PP-led communities and the broader discussions around independence and regional policy. Mazón outlined plans for a dedicated assistance office to help companies that either left the Community during the process or chose to relocate there, underscoring the region’s aim to attract and retain business activity. Attendees received a detailed briefing on the economic impact of EUIPO on Alicante, including a near 400 million euro annual revenue and a budget exceeding 300 million euros sourced from its own income. In the past year, the office reported receiving about 167,000 trademark applications and more than 108,000 design registrations.
The event opened with remarks from the minister, who stated that interruptions were not on the agenda. Morant defended the government’s approach to sustaining research and encouraging technological development as the engine of a more prosperous and sustainable economy. She stressed the need for new devices to meet evolving challenges and warned that progress hinges on continued budget support. As an example of policy results, she highlighted 2024 as a year with improved employment data, noting record highs in employment across age groups and a steady rise in women entering the workforce.
Morant described a shift in the nation’s employment landscape, noting that one in every five new jobs created since the pandemic is linked to science, innovation, and digitization. She framed this as a comprehensive change in the national economy, aimed at increasing competitiveness in high-value sectors and generating skilled, well-paying jobs.
The minister also pointed to Spain’s strong growth in patent activity, with an 8.9 percent increase in patent filings from 2020 to 2021 and a European-wide growth rate of 2.7 percent. She pledged continued work along this trajectory and referenced anti-crisis measures recently approved by Congress, including the fourth repayment of European Next Generation funds to support the green and digital transition. She asserted that Spain ranks among the top European countries for allocating resources to research, development, and innovation as a pathway to a brighter future.
Support for companies
Moving to the second speaker, Generalitat president Carlos Mazón outlined the creation of a dedicated office to assist companies seeking to participate in community programs. He framed the office as a direct response to administrative needs and the desire for greater institutional support to enhance competitiveness.
He warned about threats facing companies looking to establish a foothold in the Community, describing a climate that could undermine the core values of the European Union, including free movement of people and goods. The plan is to open a business relocation support office to help firms transfer operations into the Valencian Community.
In addition to relocation assistance, Mazón underscored alignment with policies that promote business freedom, lower taxes, and high service standards. He referenced a recent proposal announced in Frankfurt to aid textile companies facing unfair competition and highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in reducing bureaucracy and streamlining administration, mirroring systems already in use at EUIPO.
Mazón also announced satisfaction with EUIPO’s economic footprint in the Valencian Community, indicating the total impact has reached about 400 million euros. The discussion also touched on skills development and the continued growth of the euroagency’s influence in the region.
Alicante’s mayor, Luis Barcala, added that EUIPO serves as an ambassador for the city, reflecting on the office’s origins in a modest rented space and its growth alongside the development of Aguilera Boulevard. He emphasized that EUIPO has helped foster a distinctly European identity in Alicante and highlighted how the agency’s presence has shaped the city’s international outlook.