The headquarters of Textil Alcoyana hosted the presentation of the project this Wednesday, themed «200 Years Imagining the Future». The commemoration aims to recover one of the most significant chapters of Alcoy's industrial and educational history and project its future as a university and innovative city. The program of activities will take place throughout 2027 and 2028, with the goal of involving institutions, companies, the educational community, and citizens.
The event brought together the president of Textil Alcoyana, Rafa Pascual; the mayor of Alcoy, Toni Francés; the director of the Alcoy Campus of the UPV, Pau Bernabeu; and Manuel Gomicia, responsible for coordinating the events. The choice of Textil Alcoyana's headquarters holds significant historical meaning, as in 1828, the drive of the textile entrepreneurship led to the creation of technical studies to provide qualified professionals for technological transformations.
Rafa Pascual highlighted the close historical link between the textile industry and technical training, emphasizing the role of entrepreneurs two centuries ago who understood the importance of worker qualification. Meanwhile, Toni Francés underscored the significance of the UPV for the city and celebrated the commemoration as an opportunity to recognize the educational and industrial legacy.
Pau Bernabeu emphasized the importance of reviving the spirit that enabled the birth of technical studies, recalling that it was the entrepreneurs themselves who promoted training capable of meeting factory needs. He highlighted that the relationship between university and business remains a key identity trait of the academic institution, committed to training professionals.
Manuel Gomicia presented the general lines of the project, conceived as a collective celebration. The proposal seeks to recognize two centuries of technical training, recover Alcoy's industrial and educational memory, strengthen collaboration between institutions and businesses, and promote the city's projection. The program will be structured around four axes: memory, training, city, and future.
A shared organizational model is proposed, featuring an organizing committee and five specialized subcommittees (Exceptional Public Interest Event, technical, historical, educational, and communication). Institutional objectives include promoting necessary support to request the bicentenary be declared an 'Acontecimiento de Excepcional Interés Público,' which could facilitate support through tax incentives.
The roadmap includes an initial phase to define the calendar, organization, and resources, aiming to launch the public program in 2027. The central event is proposed for October 2028. The commemoration intends to involve the entire city in a shared reflection on its industrial and educational trajectory and the challenges for future technical training.
