The professor of Applied Economics at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV), Francisco Mas, has presented the study ‘Levers to improve the competitiveness of the Valencian Community: analysis and prioritization’, which took place this morning at the Valencian Business Confederation (CEV) and was attended by more than 120 people. The report has been promoted by the Network of Technological Institutes of the Valencian Community (REDIT) and has had the support of the Valencian Innovation Agency (AVI).
“We must understand competitiveness not only as aspects related to business performance, economic activity, but also as a complete vision that includes social well-being and the situation of people”, has indicated More.
REDIT director, Gonzalo Belenguerhas been in charge of inaugurating the event, placing special emphasis on the need for all agents to work together to improve the competitiveness of the Valencian region At national and international level.
In addition, he wanted to express a plea in favor of young people, such as “key force in innovation and progress of society”. “Investment is a key factor to improve the competitiveness of a region. In infrastructure, education and skills development it can improve the region’s quality of life and make it more attractive to businesses and workers. In addition, in technology and innovation it can boost economic growth and create high-quality jobs”, has secured.
The main conclusions of the study focus on the key factors to improve the competitiveness of the Valencian Community, being the the most outstanding private R+D+istability with a budget guarantee and collaboration between system agents.
The results have also revealed that lifelong learning is an essential element to guarantee a quality, efficient and effective qualification, with which to have human resources with an innovative culture. The joint vision of the experts is that a plan or design of policies is needed that allows all the components of the regional scenario to improve globally.
Likewise, Mas has stressed that “There is a change in trend in the Valencian Community, there is a greater commitment to R+D+i and innovation and that is a good indicator. It must be taken into account that, when we compare ourselves with other regions, the structural situation is not always the same”.
The president of REDIT, Fernando Saludes, and Andrés García Reche, vice president of the AVI, have been in charge of closing the act thanking the attendees for their presence. Greetings has started: “Today more than ever we have to talk about the team. We must be able, each one in our role, as specialized agents, businessmen, authorities and also as a society, to identify the levers and activate them to increase our competitiveness and firmly bet on a productive model where innovation, technology and knowledge are development and growth factors at the service of future generations”.
“Competitiveness is a multidimensional and intertwined concept, as Professor Mas has explained to us very well. Improving it requires not only the coordinated effort of different actors, but also the combination of the different factors that sustain competitiveness. In REDIT We are convinced that, with everyone’s efforts, we will be able to achieve that better future that we all want for the following generations”it is finished.
For his part, the executive vice president of the AVI, Andres Garcia Reche, has underlined the Agency’s commitment to improving the productivity of companies through its different aid and incentive programs: «The AVI is acting precisely on the points of improvement of which this report warns, providing a stable innovation strategy in the long term and far from electoral cycles; reinforcing the hiring of scientific-technical profiles in companies; and promoting the interconnection of the agents that constitute the Valencian innovation system”.
“These incentives are not unrelated to the significant growth in investment in R+D+i in companies in the Valencian Community in recent years, with an increase of 7% since 2019, according to the INE”, Garcia Reche has indicated.
