Bright sunshine stretched over Alicante, a comfortable day hovering around twenty degrees. The city aligned with the Generalitat Valenciana as it prepared to showcase the benefits of a technology-driven shift, aiming to position Alicante as a magnet for tech companies and to lay the groundwork for a decisive evolution in the production model for the decades ahead. This is why Distrito Digital has returned to its new headquarters at the Port of Alicante, emerging as the preferred expansion hub beyond the Ciudad de la Luz facilities. The timing also coincides with 8M, underscoring a message of equality.
The open day for the event announced the visit to the new Digital District headquarters at Pier 5 of the Port of Alicante. The four-module building is designed to host more companies and transform the city into a beacon of regional innovation in the Mediterranean. The expansion signals the Generalitat’s firm commitment to the project. As President Ximo Puig noted, the plan already includes around one hundred companies and aims to generate more than a thousand high-value jobs.
The open day of the event, which will be held at the new headquarters of the Digital District, has been announced. At pier 5 of the Port of Alicante It allowed us to explore a four-space building prepared to house more companies and transform the city into a beacon of innovation in the Mediterranean context. The expansion confirms Generalitat’s firm commitment to a project: As Chairman Ximo Puig emphasized, he already has about a hundred companies. and creates more than a thousand jobs with high added value.
Generalitat opens call for technology installation in new headquarters of Digital District in Alicante
A notably significant date has been chosen for the release: March 8. The gathering also emphasized the ongoing effort to narrow the gender gap in technology, a gap reflected in graduation trends from Spanish universities. In this context, eight women shared their journeys breaking through glass ceilings, sticky floors, and compromise barriers: María José Peral (Artificial Intelligence Institute), Itziar Pérez López (Dual Link), Noemí Mira (Bookaris), María Furió (GFT), Ana Ivars (Dynamiza Digital), Nieves Lozano (Accenture), Manuela Esclapez (DXC Technology), and Beatriz Sánchez (Valentina’s store). The session was moderated by Elvira Quiles, director of the Center for Advanced Digital Innovation, followed by the 8M manifesto presented by Lucía León (reTIClaje.es).
Evident
Celebrating the push for gender equality on a single day highlights the potential of feminism to move society toward fairness, inclusivity, and shared opportunity. The long arc of gender equality has driven social, cultural, economic, and political change. The emphasis remains clear: attention to difference and diversity is crucial for women to pursue life plans on equal terms with men, ensuring equal rights and freedoms for all.
An expansion extending to Alcoy
President Ximo Puig spoke about public-private partnerships to ensure digital transformation reaches a broad swath of companies and sectors. He spoke of expanding the Digital Zone to Alcoy and other Valencian towns such as Gandia or Castellón, with a focus on leveraging regional innovation. The new Digital Zone destinations will specialize in targeted sectors to continue Alicante’s momentum, supported by Valencia’s recent leadership in regional innovation.
Valencia allocated 13 million euros to the new Digital District headquarters. Puig described a project aimed at enabling broad transformation, linking technology to the broader production system. The Pier 5 building comprises four modules of 1,200 square meters each, spread over two floors, and provides facilities for startups, companies, and multinationals. The complex also includes a coworking area, a restaurant, an underground parking facility, and a terrace for presentations at the Poniente pier.
The project now involves 97 existing companies and 1,000 workers, seen by the president as a shift from speculation to innovation within the Consell model. Puig envisions the new headquarters as a lever to sustain change in the Valencian Community’s production pattern. He described Alicante as a new hub in the southern Mediterranean, noting how dormant assets have recovered with a new vitality since 2015, and reaffirmed Ciudad de la Luz as a central asset in the region’s recovery after broader European challenges.
Josefina Bueno, Minister of Innovation and Universities, highlighted the ongoing fight against inequality by creating spaces that foster egalitarian coexistence and future opportunities for all. The new space embodies the Consell’s drive for a more productive, resilient, and globally competitive economy that meets the demands of a modern digital society.
Sectors with the strongest participation include finance, education, and tourism. The Digital Zone’s profile spans nearly all sectors tied to innovation and the new economy. More than half of the companies operate in the technology sector, focusing on software, multi-platform solutions, Big Data, Smart Data, and industries such as finance, real estate, education, and tourism. Other growing areas include digital marketing, online commerce, artificial intelligence, smart cities, and gaming and esports. Alicante provides a robust ecosystem for business and academia, with the port project aligning with a broader regional strategy to strengthen supercomputing and 5G networks.
The architecture of the new headquarters embraces a modern, minimalist style, conforming to Alicante Port Authority planning norms. The four modules, arranged in a grid, connect through a shared platform that enables flexible transitions between open spaces and work areas.
The minister noted that the project places the region at the forefront of digital transformation by linking job creation, digital zones, and information transfer. Bueno asserted that Consell positions Alicante as a national and international benchmark for innovation and a magnet for advanced capabilities and technological leadership.
Antonio Rodes, General Manager of Distrito Digital, noted that the ecosystem, which began in 2017, has evolved from a simple company hub to a dynamic organization focused on innovation. He emphasized that while Madrid and Barcelona are often cited, the community itself is a growing reference. Rodes added that Alicante is oriented toward the knowledge economy and that the Digital Zone project will steer a broader economic shift toward value-added sectors.
Effort
The speeches underscored Generalitat’s investment in a complex at the heart of the Port of Alicante, intended to strengthen the city’s economy and the entire digital ecosystem of the province. The new building, unveiled midweek, offers sea views, proximity to Santa Bárbara Castle, and a skyline that attracts technologists seeking a vibrant base for innovation.
The Digital District leverages Valencia’s competitive advantages to host technology firms and talent. The initiative acts as a bridge between institutional needs and market-ready solutions. Since late 2018, the technology center has surpassed expectations, bringing together hundreds of companies, organizations, and collaborative partners under one roof at the Port of Alicante.
Generalitat opens call for companies’ arrival
Among the first occupants of the new Digital District headquarters are the Ellis Foundation, the Norwegian Kornsberg, and the TMRW group. Puig himself visited the facilities to greet Ellis members and sign a dedication featuring an image produced with artificial intelligence techniques. The Generalitat has issued a call inviting more tech firms to join the Digital District at the Port, with applications prioritized by full-site coverage, longer implementation timelines, and plans to increase employment.
On the opening day, visitors toured an exhibition space showcasing firms associated with the Digital Zone, including Accenture, Simplicity Works, Dodit, Avamed Synergy, Odissey Robotics, Next Electric Motors, Liux, GTF, and uWare Robotics.