All indicators point to Generalitat Valenciana moving the Digital Zone forward, aiming to finish its mandate at full capacity. Seen as Ximo Puig’s flagship initiative in the province, the Alicante-based technological hub is pushing its expansion plan through a challenging phase of this political cycle. The contract awarded by the Valencian Community Thematic Projects Association (SPTCV) for the Talent District program, which trains qualified tech workers and selects the firm to lead the initiative, drew bids from five companies. With expectations high, the commissioning of this new resource appears almost certain before year’s end, perhaps even sooner. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
Consell, under the leadership of Antonio Rodes, is enlarging the Digital Zone budget across the current legislature. A final contract worth 1,378,347 euros has been allocated, and the agreement remains in the signing stage with a potential one-year extension for an additional two years of service delivery. Six firms entered the competition, though one was eliminated for failing to provide all required documents in the specifications. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
The Digital Zone has become one of the pillars the Generalitat president uses when discussing national-level projects. The aim is to establish the Digital Zone as a tool to boost the growth and competitiveness of the Valencian economy. The objective is to position the autonomous region within the global ecosystem of recognized technology clusters, offering a distinct environment and services that enable companies to reach their full potential, attract talent, and foster the exchange of tech knowledge among companies and other key actors. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
rope pulling
Critics argued that Puig’s personal commitment to the project was harshly scrutinized in the Consell del Botànic at certain moments, becoming a tool in political debates within the Autonomous Government. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
The Digital District currently centers on roughly 80 companies and around 1,000 workers housed in its facilities. Growth has been so robust that Generalitat plans to widen capacity and continue expanding. Early 2023 anticipated the opening of the new headquarters at Alicante Port’s Pier 5, a development that sparked intense political debate when Mónica Oltra, then vice-president and leader of Compromís, halted the construction contract, arguing it did not align with the coalition’s political deals. This maneuver was part of a broader clash with socialist Ximo Puig during that period. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]
On the other hand, the Digital Zone’s governance appears unified, with Consell members aligned on strategy. The SPTCV is actively promoting additional initiatives, including a tourism hub in Benidorm, a climate-change prevention program in Orihuela, and a health-focused project in Gandía. [Attribution: Generalitat Valenciana]