• Catalá: “In two years, with a municipal investment of nearly 17 million euros, we have managed to mobilize more than 61 million euros in funding for innovation.”
• In terms of overall impact, the latest edition of the international technology event generated 2,119 euros per attendee and contributed to the creation of more than 2,209 full-time equivalent jobs per month
• The ninth edition of VDS will be held on October 21 and 22, 2026, at the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències and is expected to bring together more than 12,000 professionals from over 120 countries, 3,000 startups, 1,500 corporations, and 800 investors

The latest edition of the València Digital Summit (VDS), held in October 2025, generated an economic impact of 26 million euros on the Valencian economy. This is according to a report released Monday by the auditing firm Ernst & Young (EY) regarding the international technology event organized by Startup València with the support of the City Council, through the municipal strategy València Innovation Capital. This figure represents a 29% increase over the previous edition (20.3 million euros) and reinforces the event’s role as an economic driver and a strategic platform for attracting investment, talent, and international projects.

The presentation of the report took place as part of the business conference “Valencia, Capital of Innovation: Leadership, Business, and Talent,” which was attended by María José Catalá, mayor of Valencia; Juan Luis Hortelano, president of Startup Valencia; Paula Llobet, Councilwoman for Innovation; and Nacho Mas, CEO of Startup València and the València Digital Summit.

“Valencia is now the leading hub of the new era of Spanish innovation. We are experiencing our best moment yet in terms of innovation, entrepreneurship, and attracting talent,” said the mayor of Valencia. “And this has a lot to do with this City Council’s commitment to a city strategy that is put into practice through Valencia Innovation Capital,” she added.

María José Catalá has defended the public-private partnership model because “it shows that public investment, when it is well-targeted and there is effective collaboration with the private sector, generates a return.” The mayor stated that “in just two years, with a municipal investment of nearly 17 million euros, we have managed to mobilize more than 61 million euros for innovation projects.” “The ecosystem now includes 1,700 active innovative companies and supports more than 20,000 skilled jobs. Furthermore, our València Innovation Capital strategy has increased the European innovation funds it manages by nearly fivefold,” she concluded.

Revitalization of Key Sectors

For his part, Juan Luis Hortelano, president of Startup València, highlighted “VDS’s ability to revitalize key sectors, attract global talent and capital, and boost the competitiveness of the business community.” “The latest edition of VDS has marked a new milestone in the history of this international technology event and reinforces its role as a strategic platform for connecting innovation, investment, and economic growth, with a real impact on the Valencian Community,” he stated.

The EY report breaks down the total economic impact into 1.9 million euros in direct impact, 19.8 million euros in indirect impact, and 4.4 million euros in induced impact. In terms of contribution to Gross Domestic Product, VDS 2025 generated an impact of more than 11.6 million euros and a 14-fold return on investment. In aggregate terms, the event generated 2,119 euros per attendee and helped create the equivalent of more than 2,209 full-time monthly jobs, according to the methodology used in the study.

The event will serve as the occasion to present the “City of Valencia 2026 Honorary Award” to David Rosa, director of Valencia Innovation Capital. This award, sponsored by VDS in collaboration with the City Council and presented annually by the mayor, recognizes his career and his decisive role in establishing Valencia as a leading technology hub in Europe.

International connectivity

The 2025 edition of the València Digital Summit brought together more than 3,000 startups, compared to 2,500 participants in 2024, confirming a sustained 20% growth in the entrepreneurial base of this international technology event. According to the study, the participating startups expect to raise more than 560 million euros in funding as a result of the connections made during the event, of which more than 50 million euros are estimated to be directly linked to opportunities that arose at this year’s event. These figures solidify VDS’s position as a strategic platform for accessing capital, developing partnerships, and internationalizing innovative projects.

Investor participation also saw a notable increase. The number of investors rose by 15%, from 700 in 2024 to more than 800 in 2025. Meanwhile, assets under management grew from 250,000 million euros to 300,000 million euros, reinforcing the quality and breadth of the investor profile represented at the event.

Event of Exceptional Public Interest

It should be noted that the Spanish government designated VDS as an Event of Exceptional Public Interest on May 26, at the request of the Valencia City Council. This is one of the highest forms of institutional recognition available for strategic initiatives in the country. The designation places this international technology event among initiatives recognized for their special economic, social, and strategic significance, and will allow for the application of a specific tax regime for collaborating entities associated with the event. This measure will encourage greater private-sector involvement in the event’s development and international outreach.

The València Digital Summit is one of Europe’s major international technology events and a key platform that positions València as a global hub for technological innovation and a business bridge between Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Organized by Startup València since 2018, the event brings together high-potential international startups, leading corporations, visionary investors, and public officials in the city each year. VDS fosters high-value connections, creates new opportunities for collaboration among the main players in the tech ecosystem, and helps strengthen a more competitive, dynamic, and globally connected business ecosystem.

The ninth edition will be held on October 21 and 22, 2026, at the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències in Valencia and is expected to bring together more than 12,000 professionals from over 120 countries, 3,000 startups, 1,500 corporations, and 800 investors with more than 300,000 million euros in assets under management.