Do you want to validate your AI in a real-world urban context? In Valencia, you can. With access to public infrastructure, expert partners, and ethical and data governance support, this node offers everything you need to test, improve, and deploy your AI innovation where people live, move, and connect.
Location: Valencia, Spain
A leading Mediterranean smart city, Valencia is strongly committed to innovation, climate neutrality, and citizen-centric solutions. The city is one of the 100 EU Mission Cities and part of major European innovation networks such as RECI, OASC, and several EDIHs.
Valencia’s TEF is powered by a strong alliance of public and private actors. The City Council and València Innovation Capital lead the initiative, backed by academic powerhouses Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) and Universitat de València (UV). Enterprises like Nunsys, Libelium, and S2Grupo provide business know-how, sensor technology, and cybersecurity expertise. This multi-sector collaboration ensures your AI solution is tested with both technical rigor and societal relevance.
What does the Valencia node offer?
1. Urban AI Sandbox: Test in the real city
- For who: Startups, SMEs, researchers and public authorities. AI developers tackling urban challenges
- Challenge: Need to test AI solutions in real urban environments, not just simulations?
- Solution: Access to over 100 infrastructures through the city’s Smart City Platform (VLCi), including mobility systems, energy grids, environmental sensors, public lighting, and space management, for testing AI solutions with real data and real-world impact.
2. AI development & high-performance computing
- For who: AI developers, data scientists, research teams developing AI models.
- Challenge: Need advanced resources to develop or scale your solution?
- Solution: Technical support and infrastructure through UPV and UV, including access to High-Performance Computing, living labs, and collaborative research environments for training, testing, and validating AI models.
3. Cybersecurity, ethics & data governance
- For who: Innovators navigating GDPR, cybersecurity and ethical concerns.
- Challenge: Need for secure, ethical AI solutions aligned with regulatory frameworks?
- Solution: End-to-end support including cybersecurity testing by S2Grupo, legal and ethical guidance, and access to structured public data via VLCi and alignment workshops with local needs and governance frameworks.
Beyond testing: Innovation meets community
València is more than just a testing site — it’s a living innovation ecosystem. With spaces like Las Naves and La Harinera, the node fosters collaboration between citizens, startups, the public sector, academia and NGOs. It offers:
- Local access to EDIHs and EU networks such as RECI and OASC
- Support for the dissemination and visibility of your pilot
- Help connecting AI solutions to real urban challenges
- Training, workshops and innovation events
- A vibrant community of living labs and testbeds
Why test in Valencia?
"Because it’s where innovation meets the real world. Here, you don’t just test in the lab — you test in life. We make sure your AI works in messy, dynamic, complex environments, so you know it’s ready for scale."
— Ernesto Faubel, Head of Smart City Services in the city of Valencia and CitCom.AI Valencia Node Coordinator
Ready to test your AI in Valencia?
Contact us now and start your journey!
raicamo@upv.es