Valencia region president Ximo Puig announced on Wednesday that the administration is preparing the formal presentation of the Valencian Community’s candidacy to host Spain’s national artificial intelligence headquarters. While the head of the Consell did not name a specific city for the headquarters, Alicante has been the focal point of attention, given the Digital Zone technology center promoted earlier this legislature as a flagship project.
Puig spoke at a forum organized by Europa Press, joined by representatives from Valencian companies including Cox Energy, Grant Thornton, Ford, Ouigo, Vectalia, Caixa Popular, Global Omnium, and Importaco. The discussion centered on three themes: sustainability and innovation, innovative mobility, and sustainable growth within the regional structure.
The government will publish the criteria for selecting the AI headquarters within a month, allowing Alicante to compete
This week, following approval by the Council of Ministers, the government began the process to locate the AI Supervision Agency in a city other than Madrid. The move opens a one-month window to define the criteria for the selection process, inviting local entities and autonomous communities to participate, with a six-month timeframe to decide the venue.
The agency will operate with a five-million-euro budget for the current year, focusing on supervising AI use, mitigating its risks, and fostering a research and business ecosystem. Among the expected candidates are Granada and Santiago de Compostela.
Sánchez champions decentralization; Puig pushes for an AI headquarters
The authorities set a one-month period to establish selection criteria for local organizations and communities to apply, followed by six months to finalize the venue. The Economy and Digital Transformation Ministry will prioritize candidates that demonstrate a strong business and research ecosystem around AI and related fields, with emphasis on training professionals in AI, ethics, social sciences, and legal aspects. The decentralization effort is framed as a move to enhance regional cohesion, with Puig positioning himself as a leading advocate among Spain’s autonomous communities in favor of distributing government functions more broadly.
a push for renewable energy
Puig expressed confidence that the Valencian Community will achieve energy self-sufficiency in the medium term, targeting 10,000 megawatts of renewable capacity before 2026, aiming to beat the 2030 autonomy goal by about four years. He linked this target to the 452 renewable installations currently operated by the regional and national authorities in the Community of Valencia. When these plants are fully operational, energy production is expected to exceed demand from households and businesses, with an estimated surplus of around 13%—a sign of the ambition to achieve self-sufficiency within a shorter horizon.
He noted that the Community already generates about 70% of its energy needs locally, with current figures around 18,000 gigawatts generated versus 27,000 consumed, and he believed the 452 projects would cover much of the non-renewable energy demand. He acknowledged that achieving this leap requires administrative agility and ongoing self-critique to drive improvement.
Additionally, he commented on the ongoing debate over keeping nuclear plants open when their slated closure arrives in 2030, urging a practical approach to energy policy.
Regarding the forum’s theme “Towards the Future,” Puig warned that fatalism is not an option, and that tomorrow will shape today’s world. He urged that to be a good ancestor, action is essential now. He warned about the costs associated with energy dependence and highlighted that climate emergencies are not distant events, pointing to recent heat waves and fires as reminders of the urgency. The energy transition is framed as a central axis for a newer Valencian Community, with more civil servants dedicated to processing renewable energy files—rising from 51 in 2015 to 110 after upcoming hires.
Puig called for prioritizing solidarity, avoiding barriers, and pushing energy leadership for sustainability. He also pointed to the promising potential of green hydrogen as a job creator and a cost-effective solution for industries such as tile production.
advancing mobility and industry beyond the vehicle
Puig celebrated milestones in industry and mobility, including the Volkswagen gigafactory at Parc Sagunt II and Ford Almussafes’ electrification, which he described as a gateway to the future of mobility. He stressed that the new mobility paradigm extends beyond the automobile itself. The Community is already positioned with Stadler and Ilsa in rail, Balearia in shipping, and Air Nostrum in air transport, highlighting a solid foundation for Valencian leadership in sustainable mobility across southern Europe.
He underscored the region’s growing reputation as an innovation hub in Europe, noting a 29-place jump since 2015 and calling it the largest increase in Spain. Valencia and Alicante rank as the third and fourth most attractive Spanish cities for innovative entrepreneurship, hosting global players like HP and international organizations such as the United Nations.
Puig argued that innovation should extend to traditional Valencian industries such as agriculture, footwear, textiles, and ceramics, ensuring broad-based economic resilience.
securing funding
On the funding front, Puig emphasized equal opportunities and work-life balance, and highlighted the risk of depopulation in inland towns. He called on Europe to leverage Next Generation funds to boost efficiency and insisted on reforming the regional financing system, stating that the region deserves sustained support and will continue to push for it.
He closed his remarks by reflecting on the recently departed Javier Marías and the lesson of learning from misfortune, noting Marías’ involvement in the Davis Cup in Valencia as a hopeful note for the region’s future.