Alicante will once again aim to be the European Capital of Innovation in 2027, after being a semi-finalist in the 2026 process. This year, the bid will be territorial, encompassing all municipalities in the l'Alacantí region, as well as Elche, to showcase the functional area between the province's two most populous cities. The bid has the support of the Provincial Council and the Generalitat, as announced by the mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala.
The awarding of this recognition by the Council of Europe will not only place the Alicante territory on the European innovation map but also grant access to European funds for developing already submitted programs. These include proposals related to public transport management, wastewater treatment, and the implementation of charging stations for electric vehicles, coordinated by the Mancomunidad de l'Alacantí.
Projects such as 'Vertido Cero' (Zero Discharge) or 'Alicante Agua Circular' (Alicante Circular Water) are also included, aiming to improve the treatment of purified water for agricultural reuse and prevent its discharge into the sea. Barcala highlighted these as "highly innovative projects" with a "regional vocation".
The process to bid for the recognition involves refining the current application, incorporating Alicante's innovation strategies and new technologies, as well as new regional projects and contributions from Elche. The potential of the business areas of both cities and initiatives like 'Alicante Futura' or the agreement between the Generalitat and the Telefónica Foundation to establish a Campus 42 are emphasized.
Once the new actions are compiled, the bid will be registered for evaluation, with a resolution expected between October and November. Should the distinction be achieved, an activity calendar for 2027 is planned, similar to Alicante's gastronomy capital status in 2025.
Barcala stressed that the expansion of the proposal to include l'Alacantí and Elche, with the support of the Provincial Council, forms "a very powerful bid" to promote the province and showcase its economic potential and talent. It aims to represent nearly one million people.
The president of the Provincial Council, Toni Pérez, expressed the institution's support, thanking Alicante's project for its "generosity" in including other territories, such as El Baix Vinalopó. He noted that it integrates almost 50% of Alicante's population, with a strong focus on innovation and technology, and that the Council fully backs the bid.
