• GSIC Testing Lab Presents the Results of Its First Year as a Sports Innovation Platform in Valencia

• The center has brought together 34 organizations from more than 20 countries, connected more than 1,000 executives, and provided 61 startups with the opportunity to present their solutions to decision-makers in the sports industry

The GSIC Testing Lab Valencia, managed by the Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft (GSIC) and supported by the Valencian Regional Government and the Valencia City Council, through Valencia Innovation Capital, has presented the results of its first year of activity at an event held at La Farinera, attended by Paula Llobet, Councilor for Innovation; Luis Cervera, Director General of Sports for the Valencian Regional Government; Juan Fuentes, Director of the GSIC Testing Lab; and Iris Córdoba, Executive Director of the Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft.

The project has helped position Valencia as a leading hub for the validation and adoption of technology applied to sports, facilitating the arrival of international companies and connecting local sports organizations with global opportunities.

In its first twelve months, the GSIC Testing Lab has engaged 34 organizations from more than 20 countries, which collectively employ more than 270 professionals. In addition, more than 1,000 executives have participated in events organized by the center, and 61 startups have presented their solutions to clubs, federations, investors, companies, and institutions.

During this first year, the project—led by Juan Fuentes from Valencia—has focused its efforts on attracting and validating sports technology, revitalizing the local ecosystem, and connecting it with international opportunities. “When we launched the Testing Lab, our goal was to turn Valencia into a place where sports innovation could be tested, validated, and generate real business opportunities. A year later, we see international companies working with local organizations, startups gaining access to industry decision-makers, and new collaborations that likely would not have happened without this project. This confirms to us that the model works and that it has the potential to grow and be replicated in other markets,” says Iris Córdoba, Managing Director of the Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft.

During this period, technology companies from markets such as Taiwan, Argentina, Italy, Estonia, Germany, and the United Kingdom have used Valencia to test and validate their solutions. The Testing Lab has developed six real-world testing processes, applying technologies to fields such as athletic performance, artificial intelligence, biomarkers, facility management, digital access, and racquet sports, in collaboration with clubs, federations, and other sports organizations in the Valencian Community.

“For Valencia, having a space like the GSIC Testing Lab means turning innovation into real opportunities for the city: attracting companies and talent, forging new connections with the sports and technology communities, and providing an environment where solutions can be tested and validated under real-world conditions. “We want Valencia to be not just a place where companies come to develop their projects, but a city where they can experiment, demonstrate their impact, and find the conditions necessary to grow and scale internationally,” said Paula Llobet, Councilor for Innovation and Investment Attraction.

The revitalization and capacity-building of the local ecosystem have been another key area of focus. More than 40 Valencian sports organizations have participated in the center’s programs or activities, and the GSIC has made 200 licenses from the AI in Sport program—developed in collaboration with Founderz—available to the ecosystem, providing specialized training in artificial intelligence applied to sports.

Unlike other programs that focus exclusively on incubation or acceleration, the GSIC Testing Lab combines technology validation in real-world settings, access to sports organizations, international networking, and the creation of business opportunities.

Another highlight of the year was the Red Bull Basement National Final held at La Harinera. The winning team from Valencia, made up of students from the Polytechnic University of Valencia, went on to represent Spain in Silicon Valley and ranked among the top ten projects in the world.

For his part, the Director General of Sports, Luis Cervera, noted that “the Generalitat believes that the center has fully achieved the goal for which it was created: to be an international leader in technology and innovation applied to sports science, and also to serve our sports ecosystem through the Development Plan for our sports federations, the sports industry cluster of the Valencian Community, and by strengthening top-tier sporting events.”

The international dimension rounds out the Testing Lab model. During its first year, the project participated in 23 international events, reaching more than 21,000 executives outside of Spain and showcasing the ecosystem and capabilities developed in Valencia in markets across Europe, Asia, the United States, and the Middle East. At the same time, startups and organizations linked to Valencia have gained access to international meetings, investors, sports organizations, and venues within the GSIC’s global network.

Following this first year, the GSIC Testing Lab is embarking on a new phase focused on expanding its testing and certification programs, attracting new technology companies, and creating new opportunities for the sports ecosystem. Among the upcoming milestones is the GSIC Summit Valencia 2026, which will take place on October 7 and 8 and will once again bring together sports organizations, tech companies, startups, investors, and international institutions in the city.

With this development, the GSIC Testing Lab aims, in its second year, to establish Valencia as one of the main hubs connecting global sports innovation with sports organizations seeking to accelerate their technological transformation.

About GSIC Testing Lab

GSIC Testing Lab is the center of excellence in innovation for the sports, entertainment, media, and health sectors, managed by the Global Sports Innovation Center powered by Microsoft and supported by the Generalitat and the City of Valencia through its “Valencia Innovation Capital” strategy.

Based in Valencia, Spain, GSIC Testing Lab aims to accelerate the development, validation, adoption, and market launch of technology solutions for the sports industry. It serves as a real-world testing environment where startups, tech companies, corporations, and sports organizations can test their solutions, measure their impact, validate their value propositions, and generate business opportunities before scaling them to the market.