David Rosa Receives Honorary City of Valencia Award 2026 for Technological Work
The director of Valencia Innovation Capital is recognized for his contribution to establishing Valencia as a European technology hub.
By Empar Soler i Martí
••2 min read
IA
Generic image of two hands shaking over a desk, symbolizing collaboration.
VDS has announced that it will award its Honorary City of Valencia Award 2026 to David Rosa, director of Valencia Innovation Capital, in recognition of his career and key role in consolidating Valencia as a technological benchmark in Europe.
This award, promoted by VDS in collaboration with the Valencia City Council and presented annually by the mayor, highlights Rosa's leadership in strategic initiatives. These have strengthened the connection between startups, corporations, and institutions, accelerating the evolution of the local technological fabric and its global positioning.
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"It is an honor to receive this award within the framework of VDS, an international technological event that reflects the dynamism and ambition of the city's innovative ecosystem. Valencia has shown that when talent, startups, corporations, and institutions share a common vision, it is possible to build an environment where innovation grows, attracts investment, and generates opportunities. This award precisely symbolizes that collective energy that positions us as a technological benchmark in Europe."
From Startup Valencia, organizer of VDS, they emphasize that his work is fundamental to articulating an innovation model based on public-private collaboration, positioning Valencia as one of the most dynamic emerging ecosystems in southern Europe.
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"This recognition is also an example of the value of public-private collaboration and that essential bridge between the City Council and the business community. Large transformative city projects can hardly be tackled in isolation; it is precisely this collaboration that allows knowledge, adds capabilities, and defines new limits. When administrations create the appropriate context and companies provide innovation and execution capacity, the door opens to initiatives with a real impact on the economy and society."
Paula Llobet, Councilor for Tourism, Innovation and Investment Attraction, highlighted that David Rosa is a key figure in the city's innovative transformation. Likewise, Juan Luis Hortelano, president of Startup Valencia, and Nacho Mas, CEO of Startup Valencia and VDS, have agreed to point out the importance of his leadership in consolidating a collaboration model that serves as an example and places Valencia on the international innovation map.
