• La Harinera is hosting the “Sandbox + Startup València” event today, where the various opportunities offered by this testing ground for evaluating innovative solutions in a real-world environment were presented
• The Urban Sandbox already has dozens of projects underway and is establishing Valencia as an open innovation lab

The City of Valencia, through Valencia Innovation Capital, has organized—in collaboration with Startup Valencia—the event “Sandbox + Startup Valencia. Explore the Sandbox, a space for innovation,” a gathering aimed at the entrepreneurial and technology ecosystem to highlight the possibilities of the Urban Sandbox as a real-world experimentation environment in the city. The event served to present success stories, share lessons learned, and outline the process for joining the Urban Sandbox for startups and companies wishing to validate their solutions in areas such as artificial intelligence, mobility, sustainability, energy, and health.

The day began with a session on the lessons learned from the Sandbox’s first year of operation, led by Fermín Cerezo, head of the Innovation Service at the Valencia City Council. Valencia’s Smart City model was also discussed as a driver of technological innovation during a roundtable discussion with representatives from key organizations in the ecosystem, moderated by the Institute of Biomechanics (IBV). Later, startups already participating in the Sandbox shared their real-world experiences testing and validating solutions in the city, providing a practical perspective on the program’s impact. The event also featured a networking session to foster connections among companies, entrepreneurs, and institutions.

The Strategic Role of the Sandbox

Valencia’s Urban Sandbox allows innovative projects to be tested under real-world conditions, with access to more than 150 urban resources and support from the government, thereby facilitating the transition from concept to practical implementation.

Paula Llobet, the councilor for Innovation, emphasized the strategic role of this initiative within the city’s model: “Valencia isn’t just a place where ideas are born. It’s a place where ideas are tested, validated, and turned into real solutions.” She also highlighted the city’s commitment to collaboration among stakeholders: “We want to turn Valencia into an open urban laboratory, where universities, startups, businesses, and the government work together to solve the city’s real challenges.”

In her remarks, the councilwoman highlighted the results of the first year of the Urban Sandbox, which has already received dozens of applications and projects in various stages of development. Llobet acknowledged the role of the local innovation ecosystem and Startup València in its consolidation and encouraged startups and companies to take advantage of this environment.

For his part, Nacho Mas, CEO of Startup València, noted that “the Urban Sandbox is an opportunity to demonstrate that technological innovation is tested with real users and real challenges. At Startup València, we believe that startups need agile environments, public-private collaboration, and fewer barriers to validate their solutions. These types of initiatives strengthen the competitiveness of the tech ecosystem and position the city as an urban laboratory open to talent and technology.”

Innovation Grants 2026

Llobet also reminded all startups of the call for proposals issued by the Valencia City Council’s Innovation Service for public innovation grants in 2026, as part of Valencia Innovation Capital. The councilwoman encouraged them to submit projects, “because this is a real opportunity to promote your solutions, take them further, and connect them with the city as a space for experimentation,” she noted.

The deadline for submitting proposals is May 18, 2026. These grants are not just about funding; they also offer the opportunity to test products in real-world environments through the Valencia Urban Sandbox, “to validate technology and grow with impact.”

With this event, the City Council is reinforcing its strategy to position Valencia as a leader in applied innovation, promoting solutions that improve people’s lives and contribute to the city’s sustainable development.