The city of Valencia will be home to the first Public Applied AI Center, a pioneering space in Spain designed for companies, administrations, and research centers to apply artificial intelligence advancements to find concrete solutions for citizens. This organization aims to address technological transformations and ensure their benefits reach all residents.
Mayor María José Catalá detailed that the city council has established an alliance with Microsoft for citizen training in AI and is collaborating with the ETNOR Foundation to deepen the ethical dimension of the technology. Additionally, a Valencian delegation will soon travel to Silicon Valley to establish contacts with leading global artificial intelligence companies.
These announcements were made during the review of Catalá's three years in government at the helm of the València City Council, presented at the Foro Europa. Tribuna Mediterrània informational breakfast. The mayor advocated for a city model based on "love for who we are, vision for what we want to be, and management to achieve it."
Regarding the new Special Plan for the Seafront, the processing will begin next week in the Governing Board. This plan will cover 5 kilometers in length and 1 kilometer in width, extending from Desembocadura Park to La Patacona. It will include urban regeneration projects in neighborhoods such as Malva-rosa, Cabanyal, and Natzaret, along with the renovation of the promenade with sustainability criteria.
The objective is to enhance Valencia's connection with the sea and the Albufera, consolidating a more livable city model. The plan includes the Grao PAI, with 160,000 square meters of green areas and over 3,200 homes.
Furthermore, the València City Council will allocate 58 million euros to the Turia Garden, including the illumination of the city's 17 bridges in collaboration with the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation to improve safety. Population growth is also projected in the southern area, with the creation of the García Lorca promenade as a green axis.
In her three-year review, Catalá highlighted the creation of over 1,000 public housing units, the best Social Security affiliation figures in two decades, and the renewal of the EMT bus fleet with 222 new buses.
In tourism, a "quality" model has been promoted with strict regulations for tourist apartments. In security, 257 new Local Police officers have been incorporated, and 100 new positions are planned for 2026. A Metropolitan Master Plan and a Strategic Infrastructure Plan have also been announced to make Valencia self-sufficient in drinking water.
Finally, the mayor emphasized an annual saving of 52 million euros through tax reductions, the reduction of municipal debt to historic lows, and an increase in neighborhood investment exceeding 439 million euros.
