Valencian institutions dedicated to business competitiveness and innovation have merged into a single agency. The Valencian Institute for Competitiveness and Innovation now operates under the Department of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, coordinated by four general directors. The regional government estimates annual public expenditure savings of nearly 500,000 euros, totaling around two million euros over the four-year legislative period as positions are consolidated. Roles such as deputy general manager and general manager have been eliminated as part of the consolidation. The president of the Generalitat described this move as a forward-looking example of a broader plan to simplify processes, trim bureaucratic layers, and remove administrative fat.
At the presentation of the new branding, Carlos Mazón and the Minister of Innovation, Nuria Montes, were present to explain the changes.
Term
Last October, the department announced a deadline of year-end 2023 to complete the restructuring of AVI and Ivace, a process that led to AVI being absorbed by Ivace. Valencia Management states the goal is to prevent duplications between the two entities. AVI had been one of the most promising initiatives of the prior Botanical Government to support innovation across the Valencian Community. Under the new administration led by Mazón, the aim is to streamline the Generalitat’s structure, promote administrative simplification, and reduce costs, with the integration of AVI into Ivace moving forward. The restructuring touched both organizations since they shared responsibilities in certain areas of innovation.
Innovation is planned by the end of the year to reorganize AVI and Ivace
On one hand, the merger seeks to address complex procedures that hinder companies by making processes more agile, transparent, and reliable for effective management. The coordination will be centralized within a single organization connected to four departments across two regions. The ministry’s secretariats noted the need to simplify procedures and accelerate approvals. The new entity will assume the functions of Ivace, AVI, and the innovation headquarters. With Ivace+i, the previous organizational chart for these two institutions will be replaced by four interconnected areas led by the four general managers from the Ministry: Entrepreneurship and Internationalization led by Ester Olivas; Industry led by Manuel Rosalén; Energy and Mining led by Manuel Argüelles; and Innovation led by Juan José Cortés.
one stop shop
Secondly, a genuine single-window model is being created to streamline submissions and information requests, addressing the prior lack of coordination. Recognizing limited resources, Ivace+i will work to raise funds and develop financial instruments to expand the resources available to companies. Public-private partnerships will be encouraged to attract and retain talent. Finally, Ivace+i will engage with research centers, universities, and technological institutes to ensure innovation acts as a critical driver of sustainable business growth and translates into tangible solutions for the regional economy.