This initiative is part of the open innovation programme promoted by the five science parks in the Valencia region with the support of the GVA’s Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism Department, and aims to connect researchers, businesses, public administrations and social entities around solutions for a more sustainable, resilient and regenerative tourism.
The event will address how technological innovation, culture, international cooperation and scientific knowledge can contribute to the regeneration of tourist destinations affected by extreme weather events, such as DANA, in the Valencian Community. In a context of transition towards more sustainable and resilient models, tourism is presented as a key sector to activate solutions that connect administrations, businesses and citizens with a regenerative vision of territorial development.
The conference will bring together a wide representation of the innovation ecosystem linked to tourism, with the participation of academic entities such as the University of Valencia, the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the Jaume I University, through its research groups in geography, tourism, sustainability and international economics. These include the UJI Tourism Institute, the LOCSUS research group of the Interuniversity Institute for Local Development (IIDL), the European project ECOSN2K, the SIV group (Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Services) or the HBIMSIG-projectTOURISM, focused on digitization and sustainability of heritage resources. Specialized bodies such as the Valencian Institute of Tourism Technologies (Invattur) and sector associations such as ADESTIC, which brings together innovative companies in the field of tourism in the Valencia region, will also be present, as well as the City of Finestrat, as a smart tourist destination. In the business sector, companies such as DeepSense, specialized in data analysis for improving the tourist experience; Tourism Intelligence, oriented to smart solutions for sustainable destinations; Kalmas, consultant focused on environmental management and tourism sustainability; and the company IOTSENS, dedicated to hardware and software technology in the fields of Internet of Things, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, among others. This diversity of actors underlines the vocation of the Innotransfer programme to foster public-private partnerships and knowledge transfer as a motor for tourism transformation.
The event will feature the institutional participation of Rosa Mª Donat, Vice-Rector for Transfer and Innovation of the University of Valencia; Francisco Javier Sogorb, deputy general director of Advancement of the Digital Society and the Digital Enabling Technologies of the GVA; and Pedro Carrasco, director of the Science Park at the University of Valencia. In the round tables and discussion spaces will be experts such as Marisa Vázquez de Ágredos, director of heritage of the University of Valencia; Rosa Mª Rodríguez Artola, director of the Institute of Tourism of the Jaume I University; Natalia Castro, coordinator of the program Platform Travellers Solidarity (Colombia); Esther Welters, CEO of Kalmas; Olivia Estrella, director of the Valencian Institute of Tourism Technologies (Invattur); Fran Vaquer, COO of DeepSense; Celia Romero, CEO of Inteligencia Turística; Gersón Beltrán, member of the board of directors of ADESTIC; Miguel Ángel Catalán, director of Smart Office at the City Council of Finestrat and CEO and co-founder of Inturtec. Researchers such as María José Viñals (UPV), Walesska Schlesinger (UV) and Adrián Ferrandis (UV) will also participate, as well as Ana Mafé García, from the Association Camino del Santo Grial, and Ignacio Llopis, Managing Director of IOTSENS.
In 2025, Spain is set to receive a new record of 98 million international tourists, with an estimated expenditure of 135.8 billion euros, representing a growth of 7.5% compared to the previous year. This dynamism consolidates tourism as one of the main economic engines of the country, with a forecast of tourism GDP growth of 4% in real terms, surpassing the entire Spanish economy. However, this growth is threatened by the effects of climate change. Studies by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) predict a fall in tourism demand of almost 10% during the months of July and August in scenarios of three degree temperature increase, and more than 15% if the increase reaches four degrees. These extreme weather events directly affect destinations, infrastructure and local communities, putting the sustainability of the sector at risk.
Against this backdrop, technological innovation, intelligent management and public-private partnerships are key to ensuring the resilience and sustainability of tourism in Spain, especially in regions such as the Valencia region, They seek to adapt to climate challenges and maintain their attractiveness as a tourist destination.
Attendance is free, but requires prior registration at this link.
Date: Thursday, 22 May 2025
Time: 10:00 (welcome coffee from 10:00)
Place: Marie Curie Auditorium, Science Park of the University of Valencia
For more information, you can contact the communication team of the Science Park University of Valencia Fundation.