And the Innovation?
The council has long pushed for a fundamental shift in how Valencian industry and research intersect. These remarks came from Andrés García Reche, vice president of the Valencian Innovation Agency, who argued that transforming the regional economic model remains a top objective. The statement sits against the backdrop of a project launched during the prior administration with the goal of reshaping the Valencian Community’s economy, a venture that has sparked debate and controversy as its results have been debated in public life.
The council approved AVI’s first budget at the end of July 2017, placing the agency’s funding at around 28 million euros. The agency’s creation followed a difficult start. Critics emphasized that Botànic favored Alicante as the corporate seat while planning a secondary office in Valencia, a dual-arrangement seen as a concession to the Alicante province by opponents. The situation appeared more nuanced than a simple disagreement, suggesting internal strategy that some viewed as less transparent than ideal.
Even as Ximo Puig sought to clarify the path, he suggested early on that decisions would be made in Alicante, yet the overall direction remained unclear. The dual headquarters dilemma lingered in discussions, with AVI reportedly employing four times as many people in Valencia as in Alicante, raising questions about the organization’s geographic balance and leadership structure. When the project began, support for university and business subsidies often seemed concentrated in the regional capital, prompting concern about regional disparities in funding.
Today, the current administration, formed by the People’s Party and Vox, has moved to end AVI and fold its functions into the Ivace+i project. The president, Carlos Mazón, introduced a plan to integrate the innovation agency into the Valencian Institute for Business Competitiveness, rebranding it as Ivace+. He argued that the change would streamline processes, reduce bureaucracy, and trim administrative overhead. Still, critics say that abolishing AVI risks weakening a strategic initiative linked to innovation, as public discourse has highlighted a shift away from mentions of innovation, new technologies, the knowledge society, and artificial intelligence within government narratives .
In practice, AVI’s removal leaves a record in which its true headquarters never clearly settled in Alicante, and where it did not significantly unlock research capacity or bolster the regional economy as intended. The change has sparked frustration among the governing bodies of Alicante’s universities, leading researchers, and business organizations who see an uneven and discriminatory allocation of subsidies affecting the province. Many voices point to García Reche as a central figure responsible for the perceived mismanagement, noting his limited presence in the Alicante office.
The defense from AVI’s supporters over the years has been that the innovation funds were awarded based on project quality rather than territorial criteria. This stance prompted opposition from university leaders, including Amparo Navarro of the University of Alicante and Juanjo Ruiz of the Miguel Hernández University, who argued that geographic considerations should complement excellence in funding decisions .
The decision to phase AVI out and integrate it into Ivace+i has sparked another political debate. The innovation minister, Nuria Montes, contends that the new structure reduces steps from thirteen to nine and could save about two million euros per legislative period by eliminating four directorships. Critics from the left view the move as a way to shrink innovation activity, arguing that talk of simplification translates to cuts in innovation support .
Opposition voices, including Aitana Mas of Compromís and Núria Pina from the PSPV-PSOE, frame the shift as a retreat from Alicante’s institutional strength. They argue that removing the agency weakens Alicante’s standing and the broader regional capacity for research and development. Their stance is that the plan should not hide innovation under a broader administrative reform but should preserve a clear, regionally balanced approach to investment in research and the knowledge economy.
The broader context makes the AVI transformation a touchstone for regional politics in the Valencian Community. It shapes how universities, industry, and local governments perceive long-term commitments to research, talent retention, and the translation of ideas into productive capabilities. The discussion continues to revolve around how best to align funding with regional strengths, ensure transparent governance, and sustain momentum for innovation across all provinces of the community.