• The City Council is issuing a public call for proposals to establish a center of excellence that is unique in Spain

• This initiative, the result of a partnership between the Regional Government and the City Council, aims to attract talent, foster entrepreneurship, create quality jobs, and attract investment to the Valencian Community

• Its key objectives include promoting innovation, creating jobs in emerging sectors, attracting and retaining digital talent, diversifying the economy, and improving the quality of life

The Valencia City Council, through the “Valencia Innovation Capital” strategy, has announced a competitive grant program for the creation of the Center of Excellence in Technology Applied to Sports, Entertainment, Media, and Health (XTIC). This ambitious project, with its operational base in the La Farinera building, aims to position Valencia as a national and international leader in technological innovation applied to these key sectors. In its first phase, the successful bidder will be required to develop up to 10 pilot projects with financial funding and institutional support.

The XTIC center is conceived as a “phygital” space—that is, both physical and digital—that will allow companies, startups, and public entities to experiment with and develop disruptive technological solutions in a secure, collaborative, and innovative environment. This initiative, the result of a partnership between the Regional Government and the City Council, aims to attract talent, foster entrepreneurship, create quality jobs, and draw investment to the Valencian Community.

With an initial budget of 1,500,000 euros, of which 900,000 euros come from a direct grant from the Generalitat, through the General Directorate of Strategic Projects, 300,000 euros are provided by the City Council, in addition to a contribution in kind of 300,000 euros, linked to the use of the spaces at La Farinera. The call for proposals will cover the 2025–2027 period and will serve to co-finance projects that bring the XTIC to life.

Paula Llobet, Councilwoman for Tourism, Innovation, and Investment Attraction, stated that “the XTIC Center represents a firm commitment to our city’s future as a laboratory for innovation applied to sports, health, and entertainment. “At València Innovation Capital, we continue to promote projects that combine talent, technology, and international reach.”

For his part, Luis Cervera, the Generalitat’s Director General of Sports, stated that “the XTIC Center represents a significant step forward for sports in the Valencian Community, as it will foster technological innovation and aligns perfectly with our federation development plan, driving the modernization and growth of our sports federations. Furthermore, the XTIC will be a cornerstone of the sports industry cluster, facilitating collaboration among companies, startups, and public entities to develop disruptive solutions that improve quality of life and participation in sports.”

Among its objectives are promoting innovation, creating jobs in emerging sectors, attracting and retaining digital talent, fostering economic diversification, and improving quality of life through technological solutions applied to areas such as health, mobility, and sports tourism. This initiative reflects a commitment to positioning Valencia as a leading city in innovation applied to sectors with social impact—such as sports, entertainment, and health—drawing inspiration from international models of sandboxing and testing centers for emerging technologies.

“This center will turn Valencia into a showcase where the most advanced technological solutions are tested before they reach the market. We invite startups, technology centers, universities, and companies to participate. This positions us as a pioneering city at the European level,” added Llobet.

Cervera also added that “the creation of the XTIC also serves as a tool to support our extensive calendar of international sporting events. This center will be a showcase for innovation where the most advanced technologies will be tested before their market launch, which will allow us to attract talent and investment and consolidate our region as a strategic hub in the global sports innovation network.”

In addition, the XTIC aims to establish itself as a strategic hub within the global innovation network, facilitating the expansion of local companies into international markets and strengthening Valencia’s position as a smart, innovative city that is open to the future.

“With the XTIC, we want to create an ecosystem where public-private collaboration leads to real solutions that make a difference. It’s not just a testing center; it’s an accelerator for the future of the entire Valencian Community,” the councilwoman concluded.

Llobet also emphasized that “XTIC not only focuses on elite competition, but will also have a direct impact on grassroots sports, on our children, and on their families. We want them to grow up in an environment where technology motivates them, improves their health, and supports their athletic development. This center will allow schools, clubs, and families to access innovative tools that promote safe, fun, and connected participation in sports. Innovation must also serve to nurture and develop talent from an early age. Valencia will set the standard for putting technology at the service of well-being and values-based education through sports.”

The call for proposals will be published the week of April 28, and stakeholders from the technology, sports, and creative sectors are expected to submit proposals that contribute to the development of this new center, which has already been identified as a key driver of the city’s economic and social transformation.