Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Económicas
Research Areas
R&D, Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Observatory in the Region of Valencia 2026

R&D, Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Observatory in the Region of Valencia 2026

Project start date: 2026
Project end date: research in progress
Funding institution: Fundación LAB Mediterráneo

In 2024, Fundación LAB Mediterráneo, in collaboration with the Ivie, launched the LAB Observatory on R&D, Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship in the Region of Valencia with the aim of monitoring the evolution of the Valencian economy’s position, both nationally and internationally, across the areas that guide the Foundation’s activities. The project continued throughout 2025, with improvements made to both the indicator system and the presentation of results. In 2026, Fundación LAB remains committed to updating the Observatory and tracking developments in innovation, research, entrepreneurship, and technology in the Region of Valencia. The Observatory is intended to serve as a tool for designing public and private initiatives that support the transition toward a knowledge- and technology-based productive model and help narrow the productivity gap between the region and the Spanish and European averages.

The Observatory’s core component is the continuous update of its indicator system, which is structured around five broad areas. The first provides an overview of the Valencian economy and is composed of ten key indicators. The remaining four areas reflect the main pillars of Fundación LAB’s activities: Research and Development; Intangibles and Business Innovation; Technology and Digitalization; and Entrepreneurship and Human Capital.

In addition, the project includes the preparation of a dedicated study aimed at measuring the progress of digitalization among firms in the Region of Valencia. The analysis approaches the issue from multiple perspectives and combines different quantitative methodologies. Building on the study produced in 2025, this new report seeks to provide a deeper understanding of both the extent and the nature of digitalization among Valencian firms.

RESEARCH TEAM

Universitat de València and Ivie
Valencian Foundation Rei Jaume I Awards and Ivie
Universitat de València and Ivie