The Valencia of 2004 is a forward-moving city that has developed in economic and social terms more quickly than Spain’s other main cities since 1994 and which has also experienced even faster growth in the last five years. Various studies point to the great strides the city has made in the leadership spheres defined in 1999, particularly as an Advanced Knowledge City. In specific terms, the strategy has allowed the city to develop and move ahead, guiding it towards specific spheres of leadership in Mediterranean Europe. Implicit in this process is the need for renewal so as to continue shaping the future. The progress of the city depends on the setting of new goals.

Fundamental changes have also occurred around us and these must be integrated into the city’s strategy. The most important of these changes concerns the transition to the Knowledge Society (Knowledge-Driven Economy, individuation of social relations, the organisation of time, etc.) along with the importance – in the case of Valencia – acquired by aspects of intangible development.

Likewise, the successive phases of the city’s strategy have seen a transition from strategic planning to strategic urban development and management.

At the end of 2003 Valencia was announced as the venue for the next America’s Cup, representing a new landmark in the future development of our city. The new strategy must, therefore, find a response to the challenges and objectives the city has been set: to maximise the media, economic and social impact of such an important event by concentrating on additional activities and to ensure continued economic and social development post-America’s Cup.

To sum up, the strategy now needs to be guided in a new direction that fosters and consolidates the city’s current position with regard to leadership spheres and its socio-economic development. This must be achieved, however, through the new vision or perspective of an advanced city in the information/global or knowledge age, capitalising on the impact of the America’s Cup and ensuring Valencia’s continuing progress after the event so it can maximise the potential of this development.

The CEyD will take an active role in promoting the renewal of this strategy, encouraging citizens to participate in and debate the process through various channels such as the Foresight Groups, committees and citizens’ forums.

+ More information about New Estrategy (Information in Spanish)