• The aim is to improve safety in residential buildings and support emergency services during evacuation operations.

• The technological solution must provide real-time alerts to residents, including people with sensory or cognitive disabilities.

Valencia City Council, through València Innovation Capital, has launched a new GovTech Challenge to identify technological solutions that improve fire safety in high-rise and high-density residential buildings. The new challenge, “Fire +10 +100”, seeks innovative tools to support the city’s Fire Service while providing accessible, real-time alerts to residents during emergencies.

“The challenge addresses a growing reality in our cities: buildings are becoming taller, accommodating more homes and more people,” said Paula Llobet, Councillor for Tourism, Innovation and Investment Attraction. “We want Valencia to become a leading city in urban safety, and achieving this requires solutions that combine technology, accessibility and rapid emergency response.”

The challenge focuses on residential buildings with more than 10 storeys or more than 100 dwellings, where emergencies such as fires are particularly difficult to manage due to their scale. The proposed solution should provide accurate, real-time information about the building, its facilities and its occupants, helping firefighters coordinate evacuations and emergency response more effectively.

The system must also ensure that residents with sensory disabilities, such as hearing impairments, or neurodivergent people, including those on the autism spectrum, receive alerts in a clear, accessible and effective way. Solutions are expected to operate through mobile devices using multipoint communication and advanced digital technologies.

“The objective is very clear: to save lives. Any innovation that speeds up an evacuation or helps firefighters carry out their work more effectively is welcome. This challenge offers startups and companies an opportunity to put their talent at the service of the city,” added Llobet.

Companies, startups and corporations interested in participating can consult the competition guidelines, which will be available from 3 April to 30 May 2025 on Spain’s Public Sector Procurement Platform, through the contracting profile of the Foundation for Strategic Development, Urban Promotion and Innovation.