Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of September 10, 2026, from CDTI, publishing the Agreement with the Universitat de València and the Red Innpulso Association for the Chair «Arrels: Innovation and local governance for climate resilience» |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | September 21, 2026 |
| Entry into force | September 8, 2026 |
| Signatory bodies | CDTI (Center for Technological Development and Innovation, E.P.E.), Universitat de València, Red Innpulso Association |
| Main affected parties | Municipalities, researchers, technology companies, citizens linked to local climate innovation |
| Category | Education / R&D&i |
| Legal basis | Article 48.8 of Law 40/2015 on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector |
Municipalities and technology companies working on climate adaptation have had since September 8, 2026 a new institutional channel to access funding, training and R&D&i projects. The Chair «Arrels: Innovation and local governance for climate resilience» arises from the agreement between CDTI, Universitat de València and Red Innpulso, published in the BOE on September 21, 2026 in compliance with article 48.8 of Law 40/2015 on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector.
The name «Arrels» (roots, in Valencian) reflects the place-based approach of the initiative: solutions are designed from and for the territory, with direct involvement of local actors.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement creates and regulates the functioning of the «Arrels» Chair with a set of specific activities detailed below:
| Type of activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Training programs | Design and delivery of specialized training in social innovation, local governance and climate resilience |
| University master's degrees | Development of postgraduate programs linked to the chair's subject matter |
| Scholarships | Calls for scholarships for researchers and professionals in the field of local climate innovation |
| R&D&i projects | Development of research, development and innovation projects with territorial focus |
| Dissemination events | Knowledge transfer events between academia, municipalities, companies and citizens |
The methodological approach is place-based: co-creation of solutions is carried out with active participation of municipalities, companies and citizens, not as passive recipients but as agents of the process.
The role of each signatory is differentiated:
- CDTI: provides institutional backing and the capacity to finance technological and innovative projects.
- Universitat de València: leads the academic, training and research activity of the chair.
- Red Innpulso: provides its network of municipalities with the «City of Science» distinction without economic commitment, acting as a bridge between academia and territories.
Economic and operational impact
The regulation does not establish specific economic amounts or budget allocations in the published text. However, the operational impact for the parties involved is relevant in several areas:
- For municipalities in the Red Innpulso network: access to R&D&i projects, scholarships and training without direct economic contribution from the municipality, since Innpulso participates without financial commitment.
- For technology companies: new collaboration channel with CDTI and Universitat de València in climate innovation projects with potential for public funding.
- For researchers and academics: opening of scholarship calls and postgraduate projects in an area of growing institutional demand and European funding.
- For the climate adaptation value chain: the chair acts as a connection node between public funding (CDTI), knowledge (UV) and territorial demand (municipalities), reducing coordination costs for joint projects.
CDTI is Spain's main public body for financing business R&D&i, making this agreement a lever for preferential access to its instruments for actors linked to the chair.
Who does it affect?
- Municipalities integrated in the Red Innpulso network with the «City of Science» distinction, which can participate in chair projects and training.
- Municipalities not integrated in Innpulso seeking funding or collaboration on climate adaptation projects and wanting to explore joining the network.
- Technology companies with activity in social innovation, urban sustainability, energy efficiency or climate resilience.
- Researchers and academics from Universitat de València and other institutions wanting to participate in projects or apply for scholarships.
- Citizens and civil entities linked to co-creation processes of climate solutions at the local level.
- CFOs and company executives evaluating public-private collaboration opportunities in R&D&i with CDTI funding.
Practical example
A medium-sized municipality with the «City of Science» distinction from Innpulso —for example, a municipality of between 20,000 and 100,000 inhabitants with an ongoing climate action plan— can leverage the «Arrels» Chair as follows:
- Contacts Universitat de València through the chair's channel to identify research lines applicable to its territory (water management, heat waves, sustainable mobility).
- Co-designs an R&D&i project with the university, which can apply for CDTI funding as it is institutionally backed by the agreement.
- Incorporates a local technology company as a project partner, which also gains access to CDTI instruments.
- The municipality's technical staff and the company can access the chair's training programs and master's degrees to strengthen internal capabilities.
The result: a climate adaptation project with public funding, academic backing and knowledge transfer to the territory, at no cost for the municipality thanks to Innpulso's role in the agreement.
What should companies do now?
- Identify if your municipality belongs to the Red Innpulso network with the «City of Science» distinction: it is the entry requirement to access chair activities through the municipal channel.
- Contact Universitat de València to learn about scholarship calls, master's degrees and R&D&i projects activated under the «Arrels» Chair umbrella.
- Review CDTI's catalog of instruments applicable to local climate innovation projects, especially public-private collaboration ones.
- Evaluate joining the Red Innpulso network if your municipality is not yet part of it: the «City of Science» distinction is the gateway to the chair's ecosystem.
- Incorporate this channel into your R&D&i strategy: if your company works in urban sustainability, energy efficiency or climate adaptation, this agreement opens a new collaboration line with public funding without needing to start from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Arrels Chair and who finances it?
The «Arrels: Innovation and local governance for climate resilience» Chair is a university chair created through an agreement between CDTI (Center for Technological Development and Innovation, E.P.E.), Universitat de València and the Red Innpulso Association. The agreement was signed on September 8, 2026 and published in the BOE on September 21, 2026. Red Innpulso participates without economic commitment; the published text does not detail specific budget allocation.
Which municipalities can participate in the Arrels Chair?
Municipalities integrated in the Red Innpulso network with the «City of Science» distinction are those with direct access to chair activities through the agreement. Municipalities that do not yet have this distinction can explore joining Innpulso as a prior step to access the chair's ecosystem.
What specific activities will the Arrels Chair develop?
According to the published agreement, the chair will develop: specialized training programs, university master's degrees, scholarship calls, R&D&i projects with territorial focus and dissemination events. The methodological approach is «place-based», with co-creation of solutions alongside municipalities, companies and citizens.
When does the Arrels Chair agreement enter into force?
The agreement entered into force on September 8, 2026, the date of its signature. Publication in the BOE was carried out on September 21, 2026 in compliance with article 48.8 of Law 40/2015 on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector, which requires publication of agreements entered into by public sector entities.
How can a technology company collaborate with the Arrels Chair?
Technology companies with activity in social innovation, urban sustainability or climate resilience can collaborate through R&D&i projects co-designed with Universitat de València and backed by CDTI. The agreement establishes a public-private collaboration framework that facilitates access to CDTI's financing instruments for projects developed within the chair's scope.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is purely informational in nature and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-19617
