The Generalitat Valenciana is committed to consolidating the Valencian Community as a national and European benchmark in the semiconductor sector through support for research and technological development in companies and universities.
This was explained by the Regional Secretary for Industry, Trade and Consumer Affairs, Felipe Carrasco, and the Regional Secretary for Universities, Esther Gómez, during the opening of the third edition of the Valencia Silicon Forum.
Felipe Carrasco stated that in just three years the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Innovation and Trade has allocated more than €2.7 million to consolidate the Valencian Community as a national and European reference in semiconductors.
This funding has enabled the launch of around 500 research and technological development projects, industrial modernization initiatives, and the preparation of future strategic plans, as well as the hiring of an innovation agent to promote the transfer of research results carried out by the University of Valencia to the microchip industry.
“This activity,” the Regional Secretary for Industry added, “has been made possible thanks to full coordination between the public and private sectors. This collaboration has allowed us to create a stable financing framework for the sector.”
“That is why, in the spirit of institutional loyalty, we call on the Spanish Government to follow the Generalitat’s model in order to generate opportunities for the sector across all public administrations. This is something we have been calling for since 2024, together with the establishment of a bilateral commission.”
Strengthening the role of universities and research centres
For her part, the Regional Secretary for Universities, Esther Gómez, highlighted the strategic role of Valencian universities and research centres “in the development of the semiconductor sector, an area in which the Valencian Community has particularly relevant scientific, technological, and knowledge-transfer capabilities.”
In this context, the Generalitat will promote, through the STEP Programme, two lines of funding aimed at fostering the creation of scientific and technological spin-offs emerging from the Valencian research system. The programme will have a total budget of €8 million, divided into two actions: €4 million to support the creation of spin-offs in the field of semiconductors and advanced materials, and another €4 million for quantum computing and communication.
These grants are designed to transform research results, patents, proof-of-concept projects, and advanced technological developments into new technology-based companies with the capacity for growth, investment attraction, and the creation of highly skilled employment.
With this initiative, the Generalitat strengthens the connection between science, knowledge transfer, technological entrepreneurship, and industry, leveraging the existing research potential in the Valencian Community.
Gómez highlighted that these lines will support projects with a solid scientific base and proven technological viability, helping them mature towards the market and become new innovative companies. In this way, STEP will help transform advances developed by Valencian research groups into technological solutions applicable to sectors such as telecommunications, energy, healthcare, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, photonics, and advanced manufacturing.
“STEP allows us to turn the scientific excellence of the Valencian Community into new technology-based companies capable of transforming research results, patents, and proofs of concept into real industrial opportunities in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, advanced materials, and quantum technologies,” said Esther Gómez.
A first-class ecosystem
The Valencian Community accounts for approximately 60% of national activity in design and microelectronics and brings together around 600 specialised engineers within its sector cluster. It also hosts one of Europe’s most relevant hubs in photonics, basic and applied research, and university-industry transfer.
“The Valencian Community has the industrial, research, and talent capabilities to consolidate itself as a strategic hub for the semiconductor sector in Spain and Europe.”
The fact that Valencia is once again hosting this reference forum for the third consecutive year “is no coincidence. It shows that it has an active business and technological ecosystem, one that does not start from scratch and that the regional government will continue to support because we believe in it and because the economic future of the region depends on technology.”
The event brought together more than 75 national and international experts, representatives of institutions, companies, universities, and research centres to discuss how to build a more competitive and stronger industry from Europe.
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