The city of València has established itself as a «European reference in digital innovation and virtual worlds at the 2nd Virtual Worlds Day United Nations,» as reported by its city council in a statement. It has also highlighted that the Valencian capital will host the annual assembly of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds, Artificial Intelligence, and Citiverse of the United Nations next November.
The Councilor for Tourism, Innovation, and Investment Attraction in València, Paula Llobet, is participating this week in the 2nd Virtual Worlds Day of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the high-level session on public policies and sustainable digital transformation taking place in Turin organized by the United Nations, as specified by the city council.
Llobet has participated in the session ‘Pioneering policies on virtual worlds for the Pact for the Future,’ along with representatives from governments of Kenya, Namibia, and Finland, as well as members of organizations such as the FAO and other global leaders in the digital field.
The councilor has presented València’s strategy to integrate emerging technologies — such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, digital twins, or blockchain — into public policies.
«València aims to establish itself as the reference hub for innovation in the Mediterranean. We have a growing technological ecosystem, a strong commitment to sustainability, and a firm belief in disruptive technologies,» stated the municipal official.
The València City Council has specified that one of the central axes of Paula Llobet’s intervention «has been the urban Sandbox» of this city, «the first ordinance of its kind approved in Spain.» «It is an innovative regulation that governs the use of the city as a real testing ground to check innovative solutions with economic, social, or environmental impact, opening the door to experimenting with new technologies in a regulated environment,» emphasized the local administration.
Likewise, it has been announced that the Valencian capital «also leads the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) on Local Digital Twins oriented towards the Citiverse» and is part of the Executive Committee of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds & AI.
«We find numerous synergies between both initiatives, such as the Sandbox, the toolkit for digital twins, and city networks, which are good examples of common themes between both initiatives,» the councilor asserted.
In this context, the city of València is applying the Citiverse to sectors such as urban planning, public services, and smart tourism, and is studying its use in the prevention of climate disasters, such as the recent floods in October.
SMART TOURISM
The councilor has also stated that «tourism, one of the key sectors» of València, «is transforming with immersive technologies based on AI that allow virtual exploration of historical heritage, promoting València worldwide and reducing the impact of mass tourism.»
Among the highlighted projects in this area is the immersive experience centered on the Holy Grail and «an innovative tool for monitoring tourist flows within the framework of the Smart Tourist Destinations Platform being developed at the state level,» specified the City Council.
«COMMITMENT»
During the event in which Paula Llobet participated, it was announced that València will host the annual assembly of the Global Initiative on Virtual Worlds, Artificial Intelligence, and Citiverse of the ITU, a specialized agency of the United Nations, next November.
Previously, within the framework of the València Digital Summit, the award ceremony for the 1st UN Citiverse Challenge in the startups category will take place.
«València’s participation in this international forum reflects the commitment to an inclusive, safe, and sustainable digital future, in line with the Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Commitment of the United Nations,» stated the councilor, who expressed that «the city is advancing in its positioning as a global reference in the application of emerging technologies to build smarter, more resilient, and inclusive communities.»
