During the visit, the Regional Minister learned first-hand about the activity of the VSC and its close collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA), which over the past 15 years has helped consolidate an ecosystem of scientific and technological excellence with international projection. The visit included an institutional presentation of the consortium and a tour of the ESA-VSC European High Power Radiofrequency Laboratory, a leading facility in its field at European level.
José Capilla has stressed that “the Valencian Space Consortium is a clear example of how collaboration between public administrations, universities and international organisations generates top-level scientific capabilities and positions the Valencian Community at the forefront of the space sector.”
The Rector has also highlighted that “the UPV has firmly committed to promoting infrastructures such as the VSC, which not only strengthen research but also help attract talent and create opportunities for our students and the business ecosystem.”
In this regard, he underlined the strategic nature of the consortium, created in 2010 by the Valencian Regional Government, the Valencia City Council, the Universitat Politècnica de València and the University of Valencia, with the aim of coordinating efforts in the space sector and enhancing the international competitiveness of the region.
“Space is now a key sector for economic and social development, and having facilities such as those of the VSC places us in a privileged position to take part in major European challenges,” Capilla added.
The visit was attended by the Regional Minister for Education, Culture and Universities, María del Carmen Ortí; the Rector of the Universitat Politècnica de València, José Capilla; the Regional Secretary for Universities, María Esther Gómez; the President of the Executive Commission of the Valencian Space Consortium, Vicente Boria; the Managing Director of the VSC, David Argilés; the Executive President of the Rei Jaume I Awards Foundation, Javier Quesada; representatives of the European Space Agency such as David Raboso and César Miquel; the Vice-Rector for Innovation and Transfer at UPV, Salvador Coll; and the Vice-Rector for Research at UPV, Belén Picó, among other institutional, scientific and technological representatives.