Spanish universities boost innovation with new partnerships and startup funding

The Generalitat of Valencia and the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) agreed to deepen cooperation on research, development and innovation. Deputy Vice‑President José Díez met with UPV rector José Capilla to discuss projects aimed at strengthening the Valencian industrial base, including aerospace engineering, automotive, artificial intelligence, sustainable mobility and industrial digitalisation. A highlighted initiative is the Beihang–Valencia Polytechnic Institute, a joint centre in China that will focus on higher‑education, research and technology development.

Separately, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) announced the Impuls UPC 2026 programme, granting financial support to 18 entrepreneurial projects – ten student‑led initiatives and eight start‑ups created by university staff. Selected projects range from green hydrogen electrolyzers and AI‑driven knowledge‑management systems to precision agriculture platforms and wearable devices for prosthetic feedback. The funding aims to accelerate development, market entry and the creation of new high‑tech companies linked to the university community.