To strengthen the Valencian Community’s productive model, the Valencia Innovation Agency, based in Alicante, has launched the annual helpline as part of the Program for Evaluation and Transfer of Research Results. This edition highlighted improvements from projects submitted by Alicante’s universities and research centers compared with prior years. The province is projected to receive a quarter of the total funding, with the program’s autonomous budget near 4.5 million euros, a noticeable shift from the 6 percent shortfall seen in 2021. The Valencian Community itself is responsible for 68 percent of the subsidies, signaling it stands as the most successful region, though this marks a narrower margin than last year after it concentrated a dominant share of aid promoted by this public body that reports to the Generalitat.
New data released by the Ministry of Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society shows that in this special call the region will see roughly one euro in every four allocated, standing at just over 11 million euros, compared with more than three million earmarked for Valencia submitted projects. Castellón is slated to receive about 7 percent of the total, reflecting a 3 percent increase from the previous year. In monetary terms, that translates to just over 312,000 euros.
The limited success margin for Alicante’s universities and research centers in 2021 sparked broad criticism among academics, policymakers, and social sectors last summer. Of the 52.3 million euros distributed by AVI as subsidies to university centers and companies within the Community, Alicante received 8.8 million euros. Although the ministry defended that aid was granted through competitive processes, not regional favoritism, the latest figures indicate efforts to reverse the situation. The regulatory framework remains the same, but the Innovation field introduced a shock plan that includes informational and follow-up meetings with universities and companies, focusing on the most affected provinces. The fund distribution is intended to lift success rates by funding projects meeting AVI’s requirements, and the Minister of Goodwill has promised special attention to this initiative, per ministry statements. According to Generalitat’s Recovery program data, Alicante’s success rate reached 33 percent for financed actions, up from 12 percent the previous year.
“The province is lifting its success rate through the hard work and collaboration of its universities. The UA stands out just behind the Polytechnic University of Valencia”, the minister noted.
positive cooperation
Bueno emphasizes that after months of preparatory meetings with AVI, two strong universities, UA and UMH, demonstrate clear positive results from this collaboration. “This progress will be sustained. The partnership among AVI, the ministry, and universities is real,” the minister adds.
Still, a full assessment will wait until September when results from the two largest calls are anticipated to provide a comprehensive view of AVI’s distribution this year. The forthcoming allocations will materialize gradually. This Monday marked the announcement of results for four of the six yearly programs aimed at advancing the autonomous region’s innovation system, though only statistics from the Evaluation of Research Results and Transfer to Companies line were released. From the programs awarded thus far, Generalitat appears set to fund the development of 103 projects across the Community, totaling 14.5 million euros.
Distinguished by excellence in health biotechnology
The AVI-supported plan for the year will expand the network of Scientific Business Innovation Units in centers of research excellence, including the Miguel Hernández University Institute for Research, Development and Innovation in Health Biotechnology. Generalitat’s report notes 3.5 million euros were allocated to hire 23 innovation representatives across universities, research centers, and business associations.