Technological institutes in the Valencian Community lead Spain’s technological capabilities in Security and Defence, securing 23% of the latest national CDTI call

Technological institutes belonging to the Network of Technological Institutes of the Valencian Community (REDIT) have consolidated their position as leaders within the Spanish R&D&I system in the strategic field of Security and Defence, securing 23% of the budget allocated to technologies in this area in the latest Cervera call of the CDTI (€11.5 million), in a context marked by the strengthening of Security and Defence policies at both European and national level. This leadership is reflected in the outcome of the call, which places the technological institutes of the Valencian Community as the leading national network within the programme, accounting for more than 21% of its total budget (€15.1 million).

REDIT, a strategic player in Security and Defence

REDIT highlights that these results reflect the ability of Valencian technological institutes to anticipate strategic challenges and transfer advanced knowledge to industry and public policy.

As Fernando Saludes, President of REDIT, states: “The technological institutes within REDIT, together with IVACE+i, form a successful strategic tandem in public–private collaboration that has been developing key capabilities in dual-use technologies for years, with applications in both civilian and defence contexts. In light of the results achieved in the latest Cervera call, I believe that the Valencian Community has a robust technological ecosystem, ready to contribute to major Security and Defence challenges through applied knowledge, innovation and public–private collaboration. In this regard, we firmly support a regional project in which, under the leadership of the Consell and coordinated by the CEV, with the collaboration of the Chambers of Commerce, all existing business and scientific-technological capabilities in this field can be brought together. Ultimately, this represents both a challenge and an industrial opportunity to enhance our competitiveness as a region. REDIT’s position is very clear in this respect: full coordination and alignment with the Consell and the CEV to shape this unique regional strategy in Defence.”

Furthermore, “the concentration of investment and projects within our Network demonstrates that technological institutes are an essential lever, together with the business fabric they collaborate with, to strengthen our technological sovereignty in strategic areas for Europe and Spain”.

This leadership reinforces the role of the Network as a benchmark scientific and technological infrastructure for the development of advanced solutions in Security and Defence at a time when Europe is promoting strategic autonomy and strengthening its critical technological capabilities.

Technological specialisation in security and defence

Analysis of the funded projects reveals a clear specialisation of REDIT technological institutes in areas directly linked to Security and Defence, with a strong focus on information and communication technologies, artificial intelligence, the human factor and human–machine interaction, advanced simulation, robotics, and protection systems against complex threats.

Specifically, the Instituto de Biomecánica (IBV) is involved in three key projects in the field of Security and Defence: TACTIX, aimed at researching technologies for immersive simulation environments in tactical operations with multisensory interaction; GUARDIANES, which integrates health technologies into drones and advances AI governance; and the COMANDO project, focused on human–machine interaction in multimodal autonomous systems (UAV, UGV, USV).

This leadership places the Valencian Community in a strategic position to actively contribute to future national and European defence and security programmes, in a context of increasing public investment and the consolidation of specialised regional ecosystems.