This meeting brought together representatives of the HUB to reflect on the current situation following the DANA disaster in our region, as well as to review the achievements of recent years and define the roadmap for 2025.
The meeting began with a warm welcome by Iván Salazar, president of the HUB, who highlighted the importance of joint efforts to boost the sports ecosystem in the Valencian Community. During the presentation of the 2023-2024 activity and financial report, Quique Alcántara, secretary of the association, provided a detailed overview of the activities carried out. He explained the strategic alignment of the HUB's activities with the four helices of innovation: academia, businesses, public administrations, and citizens. This collaborative model aims to position the HUB as a connector between these stakeholders, essential for driving transformative initiatives and creating a meaningful impact on the sports ecosystem. In this context, key achievements included:
- Recognition as the Technical Secretariat of the Valencian Community Sports Industry Cluster by the Generalitat Valenciana, reflecting confidence in the HUB's capacity to lead strategic initiatives in the sports field.
- Post-DANA coordinated actions, carried out in collaboration with institutions such as the Sports Chair at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, GEPACV, the FELISA Foundation, and others, maintaining ongoing contact with the regional Sports and Industry Directorates. These efforts resulted in a catalog of sports products and services developed by regional companies, alongside specific donations for the sector.
- Recognition as a European cluster by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), a certification that opens doors to new European projects and strengthens the HUB's position on the international stage.
The meeting also allowed the sharing of plans for 2025, with a special focus on the Open Call of the INSHAPE project, in which the HUB participates as part of the consortium. This call will offer HUB members and Valencian companies the opportunity to collaborate on European co-development projects aimed at tackling specific challenges in sports and physical activity.
Following the presentations, attendees approved both the 2023-2024 activity and financial report and the plan of activities and budget for the upcoming year.
In the Extraordinary Assembly, held immediately afterward, a single item on the agenda was addressed: the modification of the association’s fiscal year. It was agreed to align it with the calendar year, closing on December 31. This proposal was unanimously approved.
Consolidating our vision for the future
We will continue working to build a dynamic, sustainable, and connected sports ecosystem, with a strong commitment to addressing the challenges and needs of 2025. In the coming year, our association will keep leading strategic initiatives that strengthen innovation and cooperation in the sports sector, fostering projects that drive the economic and social development of our communities.
In particular, we will continue supporting recovery efforts following the DANA disaster, a challenge that has tested the resilience and solidarity of our ecosystem. We will focus on expanding the actions already initiated, such as the promotion of the catalog of sports products and services developed by companies in the Valencian Community, while coordinating efforts with institutions to foster new collaborations that directly benefit the sports sector.
Our goal for 2025 is not only to recover what was lost but also to move forward toward a stronger, more innovative model prepared for future challenges. We invite all members and collaborators to actively participate in this transformative phase, joining the collective effort to turn our vision into tangible, positive outcomes. Together, we will strengthen a sports sector that stands out for its sustainability, innovation, and ability to respond to adversity.
