October has been a particularly significant month for Valencia’s innovation and technology ecosystem. The growth in investment in startups, new business ventures, and advances in strategic sectors such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, energy, and the aerospace industry reflect the evolution of an increasingly diversified and internationally connected technology ecosystem.
The VDS 2026 event was a major highlight of the month, bringing together more than 12,000 professionals from 120 countries in Valencia and generating more than 30,000 business opportunities through its platform. In addition to this event, there was new data from the Valencian Community Startup Observatory, Valencia’s selection as a finalist for the 2027 European Capital of Innovation, and new initiatives in acceleration, applied research, and public innovation.
Below, we review the main developments from October.
Investment and Financing: The Valencian Ecosystem Exceeds 234 Million Euros
Funding once again dominated some of the month’s most prominent headlines, with deals reflecting the investment activity and growth opportunities of Valencian tech companies.
One of the main milestones has been the presentation of the 2026 Valencian Community Startup Observatory, prepared by Startup Valencia in collaboration with the Valencian Regional Government. According to the report, startups in the Valencian Community raised more than 234 million euros between January and September 2026, an 88% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
The study also shows a 15.45% increase in the number of startups, reaching 1,852, and an 8% rise in employment, which now stands at 23,250 jobs. The ecosystem now comprises 2,376 entities and, according to estimates published by Startup Valencia, is valued at over 7.3 billion euros. Meanwhile, the third-quarter report on the city of Valencia puts the number of startups in the capital at 1,639, a 7.17% increase from the previous quarter.
Among this month’s business deals , Linkener stands out , having closed a 7.5 million euro funding round led by Alantra’s Klima Energy Transition Fund, with continued participation from GoHub Ventures. The Valencia-based company, which specializes in energy management, will use the investment to develop its platform and proprietary artificial intelligence models to analyze energy consumption, detect anomalies, and optimize companies’ energy costs, as well as to drive its growth through acquisitions.
Ruit has also made headlines , having raised 880,000 euros in a pre-seed round led by Abac Nest, with participation from Angels Capital, Decelera, and SuccessfulVC, among other investors. The startup, which is part of the Lanzadera accelerator program, develops software that enables professional secondhand sellers to manage inventory, list products on different channels, and automate their operations, with the goal of expanding in the European recommerce market.
Based in Castellón, Niubiq has closed a funding round of 410,000 euros led by Angels Capital, with participation from the Órbita Investment Club and Elephant. Its business intelligence platform analyzes interactions between companies and potential customers to identify the factors that influence the conversion of sales opportunities. The funding will enable the company to strengthen its team and accelerate business growth.
In the area of business consolidation, Secture has announced the acquisition of Bisiesto, a transaction finalized in late September and announced in October. This integration, along with that of Relajaelcoco, brings the group’s revenue to over 5.5 million euros and is part of its strategy to reach 10 million euros by 2030, while expanding its capabilities in technology, artificial intelligence, and digital products.
These transactions reflect the diversity of sectors and business models within the Valencian ecosystem, as well as the role of funds, accelerators, and private investors in the development of new technology companies.
Deep tech, space, and semiconductors: Valencian advances in strategic technologies
Beyond funding, October also brought significant developments in the advancement of cutting-edge technologies, with Valencian projects helping to strengthen Europe’s industrial and scientific capabilities.
In the aerospace industry, Lofith Composites has sent its materials into space aboard a satellite launched by SpaceX. The company, based in Paterna, has incorporated thermoplastic composite materials into the panels of a satellite for the Transporter-18 mission, which was launched on October 1. The integrated sensors will allow researchers to study the materials’ behavior in orbit and advance the validation of new aerospace applications.
PLD Space has also made headlines after signing an agreement with the French space agency CNES to study new launch infrastructure at the Guiana Space Center. The collaboration includes the evaluation of facilities that could support the future MIURA 5 and MIURA 9 launch vehicles, thereby strengthening Europe’s space access capabilities.
The semiconductor industry has accounted for another significant portion of technological activity. During VDS 2026, the Valencian semiconductor roadmap and technical contributions to the European Chips Act 2.0 strategy were presented. The initiative brings together public administrations, universities, research centers, and business organizations to promote talent development, research, technology transfer, and industrial development in a sector that is strategic for Europe.
Along the same lines, València Semicon Startup Lab—a initiative launched by Valencia Innovation Capital and IDEAS UPV—held a bootcamp in October to connect university talent with challenges in the semiconductor, microelectronics, and photonics industries. The four highest-rated teams will have the opportunity to continue developing their solutions through an acceleration program.
Applied research has also made progress with EMPATIA, a project developed by ITI, IBV, Inescop, ITC, and AIMPLAS. The initiative combines artificial intelligence, immersive technologies, and digital twins to design work environments tailored to people’s physical and cognitive abilities, with applications in sectors such as footwear, ceramics, plastics, and advanced manufacturing.
These projects expand Valencia’s presence in high-value-added technologies and strengthen the connection between research, industry, and business development.
Acceleration, Talent, and Business Collaboration: New Initiatives to Boost Entrepreneurship
Organizations supporting the growth of startups have been very active throughout October, offering programs designed to facilitate access to funding, knowledge, talent, and new markets.
CEEI Valencia and Ivace+i have launched a new edition of the Scale Up program, which will select ten Valencian startups with high growth potential. The initiative offers six months of specialized support, training, and mentoring at no cost and without requiring an equity stake, and includes a 15,000-euro prize for the company that demonstrates the greatest scalability potential.
In the academic sphere, the University of Valencia Science Park has selected eight projects for the first edition of INCUBA2. The initiatives will receive support for six months to validate their business models, develop their proposals, and connect with scientific and business resources within the university community.
Knowledge transfer also took center stage at IATecUV, which brought together startups, researchers, and companies such as Vicky Foods and ODEC at Las Naves. The event connected business needs with solutions based on artificial intelligence and digital enabling technologies, exploring new opportunities for collaboration between the university and the business sector.
For its part, IDEAS UPV hosted DeepBridge – UPV TechTransfer Challenge, a hackathon organized in partnership with Latam Connect that brought together students, researchers, and companies to solve real-world challenges using university-developed technologies. The Murguntu team, this year’s winner, will participate in the Web Summit in Lisbon.
The international reach of startups has also received a new boost from Alicante. The Miguel Hernández University Science Park has established ties with imec.istart Spain, providing companies such as Tarevé, BioBloodchip, Kilikia, and Valux with access to new opportunities for acceleration, funding, and connections with international investors.
These initiatives demonstrate the role that universities, accelerators, science parks, and entrepreneurship support organizations play in transforming knowledge and talent into new business ventures.
Public Innovation: Valencia Makes Strides in Urban Experimentation and European Recognition
Collaboration between startups, tech companies, and the public sector has been at the forefront of several of this month’s major developments, with projects that bring innovation to public services and address the real needs of citizens.
One of the major milestones has been Valencia’s selection as a finalist for the 2027 European Capital of Innovation. The city will compete alongside Madrid and Montpellier for the iCapital awards, organized by the European Commission, which recognize cities that develop innovative ecosystems capable of addressing urban challenges. The results will be announced on December 3 in Grenoble.
The Valencian bid highlights tools such as the Urban Sandbox, GovTech challenges, public procurement of innovation, and collaboration among universities, businesses, institutions, and citizens to transform the city into a space for experimentation.
In terms of public funding, the Valencia City Council has approved one million euros in grants for eleven innovation projects, selected from among 155 proposals. The initiatives span fields such as health, mobility, energy, the environment, and communications, with applications in artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and new security technologies.
Artificial intelligence applied to emergency situations has also gained prominence. Valencia Innovation Capital has launched a call for proposals as part of the European CitCom.ai project to select up to six technology experiments related to flood prevention, fire management, civil protection, and emergency response. The selected companies may receive up to 10,000 euros per project to test their solutions for three months in a real-world urban setting.
On the international stage, Valencia has joined the UNBROKEN Cities Network and signed a partnership agreement with the Ukrainian city of Lviv. The partnership will enable the sharing of knowledge and the development of initiatives related to urban resilience, emergency preparedness, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Innovation has also reached the realm of historical heritage with the opening of “Més que unes Torres, ” an accessible interpretation center at the Torres dels Serrans. The project, which originated from a GovTech challenge, combines virtual reality, a tactile model, and adapted content to make the monument’s history accessible to people with different abilities.
In the video game industry, València Game City has presented the first White Paper in Spanish on Roblox, prepared by DeuSens and BrandNewVerse. The study analyzes the opportunities offered by this platform for video game development, education, branding, and the creation of new digital experiences.
These initiatives demonstrate how public innovation can facilitate technological experimentation, create opportunities for businesses, and help improve services and citizens’ quality of life.
Food Innovation and Sustainability: Technology for a More Efficient Industry
Sustainability was another key focus this month, with advances in water management, industrial research, the circular economy, and agri-food transformation.
One of the most notable projects has been Geo4Water, which presented the results of its pilot project—developed in Valencia—in Galway. The initiative, involving Libelium and Nunsys Group, uses artificial intelligence and data analysis to anticipate the impact of extreme weather events on water resources, studying urban consumption, the Tous and Benagéber reservoirs, and the water level of the Albufera.
In the agri-food industry, AINIA held the second edition of InnoTech Day, presenting the results of 24 R&D projects developed in collaboration with companies. The event addressed the potential of the bioeconomy, biotechnology, advanced robotics, and dual-use technologies to improve industrial competitiveness, facilitating knowledge transfer and the identification of new projects.
The University of Valencia has also promoted the development of entrepreneurial talent through the AgrotecUV Bootcamp, held from October 26 to 30. The program focused on developing innovative solutions in food, health, sustainability, and the circular economy, combining hands-on training with specialized mentoring.
The work of these organizations demonstrates how applied research and digitalization help address environmental challenges and develop solutions with potential for business application.
VDS 2026: Valencia Generates More Than 30,000 International Business Opportunities
October saw one of its major technology events at VDS 2026. The ninth edition of the international conference organized by Startup Valencia, held on October 21 and 22 at the City of Arts and Sciences, brought together more than 12,000 professionals from over 120 countries, more than 3,000 startups and scaleups, 1,500 corporations, more than 800 investors, and more than 600 speakers.
One of its main achievements has been the generation of more than 30,000 business opportunities registered through the official platform, with 6,444 one-on-one meetings and 23,951 business connections among participants. These figures highlight the international scope of the event and its ability to facilitate relationships between technology companies, investors, and large corporations.
Under the theme “GENESIS. Origin of What’s Next,” VDS has hosted strategic announcements for the technology industry, including the Valencian semiconductor roadmap, the development of VDS Defense, and the creation of Startup Valencia’s International Advisory Board, an international advisory body aimed at facilitating access to capital, strategic partners, and new markets.
Regional collaboration also took center stage with the presentation of the Comunitat Startup Federation, launched by Startup Valencia, XarxaTEC, and Alicantec to strengthen connections among the entrepreneurial communities in the three provinces.
The event also featured the presentation of Startup Valencia’s Startup Observatory, BIGBAN Inversores’ Investment Observatory, and the LAB Observatory on R&D&I, technology, and entrepreneurship, developed by IVIE in collaboration with the LAB Mediterráneo Foundation.
In the field of entrepreneurship, Nanogrow has been named the winner of the VDS Startup Competition 2026. The company, which specializes in nanobody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer and immune system-related diseases, stood out among 25 finalists selected from a total of 1,560 entries from 87 countries.
The event also featured opportunities for young talent through VDS NextTalent, developed in collaboration with the University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Valencia, with initiatives such as The Challenge, a hackathon focused on solving real-world challenges through technological solutions.
With this ninth edition, VDS continues to expand its reach as an international platform connecting technology, capital, and industry. The event will return to Valencia on October 20 and 21, 2027, to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
Calls for Proposals and Opportunities for the Ecosystem
October has also brought new calls for proposals, acceleration programs, and events that expand opportunities for entrepreneurs, startups, investors, and professionals in the tech ecosystem.
Locally, the 3rd Blue Economy Morning Session, organized by Smart Business Lab, will bring together professionals from industry, research, and institutions on November 5 at The Terminal Hub to discuss innovation in smart ports, marine biotechnology, decarbonization, and sustainability. That same day, “VDS Comarcas: Awaken Your Entrepreneurial Spirit” will come to Albaida, sponsored by the Provincial Council of Valencia, to introduce tech entrepreneurship to young talent in the Vall d’Albaida region.
In the business sector, the BBVA Spark Summit 2026 will be held on November 5 in Barcelona, bringing together entrepreneurs and investors to address the challenges of business growth, investment, and artificial intelligence. The day before, the webinar “Investor Signals with Fund Momentum,” organized by HubSpot for Startups, will offer tools to identify active investors and improve fundraising strategies.
Artificial intelligence will have new opportunities for growth through the BSC AI Factory Accelerator Program, which is aimed at startups developing solutions based on this technology. The program—which is free and does not require equity—combines technical and business mentoring, connections with investors, and access to supercomputing resources for selected projects. The deadline for submitting applications is November 9.
Focusing on advanced technologies, the Horizon Deep Tech Summit 2026 will bring together startups, investors, corporations, and institutions in Madrid from November 10 to 12 to promote projects related to artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, space, energy, and other emerging industries.
Valencia will also host the BIGBAN Investors Congress 2026 on November 25 and 26, which will hold its twelfth edition at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía. The event will bring together business angels, venture capital funds, family offices, corporations, and startups to analyze investment trends and generate new financing opportunities.
For its part, EEN Invest 2026 – Aerospace & Defense European Investment Forum will hold an online event on December 3 and 4 to connect startups and small and medium-sized enterprises in the aerospace, defense, and dual-use technology sectors with European investors.
In the area of European funding, the EIC Accelerator, run by the European Innovation Council, offers support to startups and SMEs with disruptive innovations and high growth potential through grants of less than 2.5 million euros and investments of up to 10 million, in addition to specialized business acceleration services.
The call for proposals for the UEFA EURO 2028 Innovation Program, which seeks innovative solutions to improve the volunteer experience and encourage community participation during the 2028 European soccer championship, also remains open until November 15. The program offers funding of up to 200,000 pounds for one or more selected projects.
In the field of energy innovation, Naturgy has launched a new edition of Connecting Energy, its open innovation program for startups and technology companies developing solutions related to energy efficiency, renewable gases, digitalization, and sustainability. The sixth call for proposals, which closed on October 24, aims to facilitate the validation of technologies and collaboration with the company.
These initiatives expand the possibilities for training, funding, and collaboration for entrepreneurial projects and help connect the Valencian ecosystem with new national and international opportunities.
Read of the Month: An Ecosystem That Transforms Knowledge into Growth Opportunities
October has brought significant progress for Valencia’s innovation and technology ecosystem. Growth in investment, new business ventures, and developments in strategic sectors reflect the evolution of a technology ecosystem with a greater capacity to attract capital, develop innovative solutions, and compete in international markets.
In addition to these efforts, universities, technology centers, accelerators, investors, and institutions are working to foster talent, facilitate knowledge transfer, and connect the needs of businesses with new opportunities for innovation.
The VDS 2026 event, the more than 30,000 business opportunities registered, and Valencia’s selection as a finalist for the 2027 European Capital of Innovation have made this a particularly significant month for the region’s international profile.
With these advances, Valencia is heading into the final stretch of 2026 with new opportunities to consolidate its technology industry and continue turning innovation into economic activity, jobs, and business development.