València Showcases the Potential of its Innovative and Technological Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Singapore

The City Council of València has presented its urban and technological innovation model as a benchmark for the future of sports and entertainment at the GSIC Summit Singapore.

Paula Llobet, Councillor for Tourism, Innovation, and Investment Attraction, took part this morning in the opening session of the GSIC Summit APAC 2025, held at the Singapore Sports Hub.

The GSIC Summit Singapore, organized by the Global Sports Innovation Centre (GSIC) powered by Microsoft, is a summit dedicated to sports innovation. It brings together more than 300 international experts, startups, investors, and public entities to foster cross-border collaboration within the Asia-Pacific sports ecosystem.

During her speech, the councillor emphasized that the event “represents a strategic opportunity for València by connecting both cities and sharing synergies with global leaders in innovation, sports, and technological entrepreneurship.” Additionally, the Innovation delegate used the occasion to offer València as a real-life testing ground for sports, health, and entertainment solutions through its Urban Sandbox.

In the opening of the congress, Llobet asserted València’s leadership as an innovative, open, and internationally oriented city. “We are clear in our ambition to become the Mediterranean’s hub for innovation and technological entrepreneurship, which is why we’re committed to promoting an ecosystem that combines strategy, investment, and talent,” she stated.

In this regard, the councillor explained that València has developed the València Innovation Capital strategy, which encompasses projects, grants, awards, and public-private partnerships with tangible results. As she pointed out, “in just one year, we’ve mobilized over €28 million, attracting €3.60 in private funding for every €1 of public investment.” “And we’re aiming even higher,” she continued, “our goal is to reach €100 million within the next three years.”

València: A Rapidly Growing Ecosystem

To attract investment and talent to València, Llobet highlighted the booming growth of the local ecosystem. “València has established itself as one of the fastest-growing innovation ecosystems in Europe,” said the councillor, backing her statement with figures: more than 1,500 active startups, 20,000 jobs in the tech sector, and €66.3 million in investment in 2024—a 33% increase from the previous year.

Llobet also announced the upcoming opening in September of a GSIC powered by Microsoft office in La Harinera, the epicenter of municipal innovation. The Valencian delegation has advanced agreements for the launch of the XTIC, “an international platform to validate disruptive solutions in sports, health, and entertainment, which will further consolidate the city as a sport-tech innovation hub in Europe,” emphasized the delegate.

A Strategic and Intensive Institutional Agenda

The Valencian delegation, which included the Regional Secretary for Innovation, Jerónimo Mora, carried out a packed institutional agenda with meetings involving key entities such as Enterprise Singapore, Action Community for Entrepreneurship (ACE.SG), SportSG, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore Tourism Board (STB), and Kallang Alive Sport Management (KASM). They also held scheduled meetings with startups and corporations to explore collaborative and investment projects.