The Local Government Board of Valencia approved this Friday a direct subsidy of 150,000 euros to the University of Valencia to continue this cooperation during the 2026 fiscal year. The agreement allows for the continuity of a stable line of collaboration between both institutions, aimed at analyzing the city's challenges and promoting a more sustainable, innovative, competitive economic model connected to citizens' needs.
The objective of the agreement is to coordinate actions that reinforce the role of the MESVAL Chair as a space for reflection, analysis, and knowledge transfer. The initiative seeks to intensify the relationship between the council and the UV to study the evolution of the local economic model from a broad perspective that incorporates governance, innovation, economic, social, and environmental sustainability, competitiveness, people's well-being, and the city's projection in a global context.
The MESVAL Chair is configured as a platform for dialogue between Valencia and its economic, social, cultural, and technological environment. From an interdisciplinary approach, its activities will facilitate the transfer of knowledge generated in the university sphere to administrations, the productive sector, social entities, and the general public. The collaboration aims to turn research and training into useful tools for better understanding urban changes, anticipating challenges, and designing shared responses.
The planned activity plan pays special attention to the sustainable tourism development model and its relationship with other Spanish and European cities, as well as the study of measures that can contribute to improving Valencia's response to the challenges identified in this area.
One of the main lines of action will be the continuation of the comprehensive training program in emergency prevention aimed at citizens, following the Dana (storm) of October 2024. This initiative, designed within the Valencia + Segura (Valencia + Safe) plan, includes face-to-face workshops and adapted materials, addressing risks such as floods, forest fires, and heatwaves, with the aim of reinforcing a preventive culture and urban resilience.
The second strategic line will focus on promoting research, training, and dissemination actions related to key areas for the city's future, such as innovation, tourism, human capital, socioeconomic development, history, heritage, collective identity, and Valencia's cultural and economic assets. These actions will materialize in studies, publications, technical conferences, and transfer projects.
The municipal contribution will be used to finance the activities planned in the agreement and will be paid upon presentation of the corresponding justifications by the University of Valencia. The studies and works produced will be available to the City Council to facilitate their use in designing public policies.
