As part of the VIC GovTech programme, a public innovation initiative led by València Innovation Capital, four startups were unveiled at VDS Valencia 2025 as the winners of the city’s GovTech Challenges. These companies will now pilot innovative solutions alongside Valencia City Council teams to improve public services.
The process began before the summer with the launch of four open challenges focused on improving public communication, parking management, incident resolution and innovation grant management. More than 150 startups submitted proposals. The four selected companies will now work with different municipal departments to test their solutions in real-life public sector environments.
Four pilot projects underway
1. Automated content creation – València Innovation Capital (VIC)
The automated content challenge, led by València Innovation Capital (VIC), has been awarded to Etiqmedia, whose platform is designed to optimise the production and distribution of institutional content across multiple communication channels.
During the pilot, Etiqmedia will create content for VIC’s social media channels related to local and European projects and events, with the aim of increasing both the quantity and quality of audiovisual content while reducing operational effort.
2. Parking space management – Smart City and Data Management Service (SCIGD)
The parking management challenge, led by the Smart City and Data Management Service (SCIGD), has been awarded to Solmes for its Spot4Dis solution. The platform combines a mobile application for people with reduced mobility with an administrative management system for the City Council.
The pilot will focus exclusively on accessible parking spaces and will involve a limited group of users. The system will provide real-time availability information, verify permit holders’ identities, and centralise incident reporting and usage statistics.
Its objective is to improve parking availability while ensuring accessible spaces are reserved for those who need them.
3. Incident management – Information and Communication Technologies Service (SerTIC)
The incident management challenge, led by the Information and Communication Technologies Service (SerTIC), has been awarded to Foqum Analytics for its SIGMA-IT solution. The platform is designed to streamline the management of internal incidents within the City Council through an AI-powered conversational assistant, HelBot, capable of resolving common issues, automatically generating support tickets, and supporting the classification of incidents and prediction of workload peaks.
During the pilot, the conversational assistant will be tested on routine enquiries, while more complex incidents will be automatically classified to assess how effectively the solution integrates into the Council’s internal workflows.
The aim is to improve the efficiency of the internal service, reduce response times, and free up staff resources.
4. Innovation grant management – Innovation Service
The fourth challenge, led by the Innovation Service, has been awarded to 4i Intelligent Insights. The company was selected through an innovative public procurement mechanism known as a Project Competition, established under Article 183 of Spain’s Public Sector Contracts Law. This procurement model allows solutions to be tested through pilot projects before moving to a negotiated procedure without prior publication, accelerating the contracting process.
During VDS, the company explained how this initiative provides an opportunity to validate its product in a real public-sector environment while supporting future scaling. Working alongside the Innovation Service, 4i will implement a solution that combines an accessible, user-friendly web portal acting as a single point of access with an AI engine that automates and centralises the entire grant management lifecycle.
The objective is to improve efficiency, traceability and data analysis throughout the grants process, from application assessment to project monitoring.
The presentation of these projects at VDS Valencia 2025 demonstrates how the Valencia GovTech Challenges are moving from concept to implementation. Through these pilot projects, the city continues to strengthen collaboration between public administrations and technology companies, delivering tangible improvements in the efficiency, accessibility and sustainability of public services.