• The mayor emphasizes that the city will participate “very seriously” and “with the support of the entire Valencian ecosystem”
• María José Catalá highlights municipal governance, sustainability, innovation, and quality of life as the cornerstones for building the future of Valencia

María José Catalá, mayor of Valencia, announced on Tuesday that the City Council will submit its candidacy for the European Capital of Innovation, a project that, as she emphasized, will be pursued “very seriously,” “very clearly,” and with the participation of the entire Valencian innovation ecosystem. Catalá made these remarks during the closing ceremony of the 4th “Comunitat Valenciana Toward the Future” Conference, organized by the Valencia bureau of the Europa Press news agency, where she argued that the city must continue to move forward along three main axes: innovation, sustainability, and quality of life.

The mayor noted that Valencia now has a “very strong” ecosystem to tackle new urban challenges and described the European bid as an opportunity to showcase the work carried out in recent years on the international stage. In this regard, she recalled that the city was previously named the 2024 European Green Capital, an accolade that, as she noted, reinforces the need to maintain sustainability as one of the city’s key priorities.

During his speech, Catalá asserted that the future of Valencia “is not something to be waited for, but something to be built,” and he advocated for government action based on planning, project implementation, and the protection of the public interest. “When we talk about the future of Valencia, we’re not talking about an abstract vision or grand rhetoric, but rather about concrete decisions, investments that reach the neighborhoods, and opportunities that improve people’s lives,” he emphasized.

The city’s top official cited the budget execution figures for the first five months of the year as an example, noting that 58.3 million euros had been spent—a figure that, as he explained, represents a record high and exceeds the investment made as of May 31, 2023, by nearly 70%. He also highlighted that in the most recent full fiscal year, investment in the city’s neighborhoods exceeded 200 million euros, against a backdrop of tax cuts for three consecutive fiscal years and a reduction in municipal debt to historic lows.

On the topic of innovation, Catalá highlighted the results of the València Innovation Capital strategy, which in just two years has mobilized more than 61 million euros for innovative projects based on a public investment of 17 million. He also noted that the Valencian ecosystem now includes 1,700 active innovative companies and supports more than 20,000 skilled jobs.

Global Showcase

The mayor also referred to the València Digital Summit 2025 as “the great global showcase” for an innovative city. The event, she explained, has established itself as an international benchmark, generating 26 million euros in economic impact for the Valencian economy and attracting more than 3,000 startups from around the world.

Alongside innovation, Catalá has linked the city’s future to the improvement of public spaces and quality of life. In this regard, he highlighted the project for the large Lilliput de Gulliver playground, which will be located in the Jardí del Túria and will serve as a continuation of the current Gulliver and the future Vaixell de Gulliver in the Parc de Desembocadura. The project, funded by the IVO, is part of an agreement that will expand the institute’s capacity while simultaneously generating social benefits for the city through public-private partnership.

The mayor also announced an “unprecedented” investment of 58 million euros to protect, renovate, and improve the Jardí del Turia, coinciding with the fiftieth anniversary of the transfer of the former riverbed to the people of Valencia. The first project, which has already been approved, allocates 16 million euros for the comprehensive restoration of sections X and XI, between the Rita Barberá Flower Bridge and the Angel Custodi Bridge, including the renovation of the pavement and fountains, as well as a complete overhaul of the fountain at the Palau de la Música.

Catalá concluded his remarks by arguing that Valencia must continue to establish itself as a city that is “more innovative, more competitive, more sustainable, and with more opportunities for everyone.” “In contrast to those who have chosen obstruction, we choose effective governance; in contrast to walls, we choose projects,” he stated.