Valladolid Sandbox

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Valladolid's Sandbox: A Pioneer in Spain

Valladolid, Demonstrator City (Valladolid, Ciudad Demostradora), is, in Spain, a pioneering sandbox —a controlled testing environment that collaborates with the public and private sectors for applied innovation and research. The City Council provides urban spaces, municipal services, and assets to companies, start-ups, researchers, and various entities, allowing them to implement specific innovative projects on the ground and in a real-world setting.

This is a pioneering proposal in our country, as highlighted by the Guide to Controlled Testing Environments published in July by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities.

Innovation for Businesses and Citizens

"Municipal goods and services" can be used "as a testing ground for business innovation projects," with the aim of improving the efficiency of municipal public services and enhancing the quality of life for citizens. The sectors addressed include mobility, energy efficiency, the environment, culture, tourism, education, energy transition, logistics, and goods delivery, among others.

Innovative Projects?

What is meant by 'innovative projects'? These are projects that have completed an initial development phase in the company or laboratory and need to test the practical functionality of services or products in public facilities, or through the managers or individuals who access municipal public services.

Flexible and Free Service

A simple, open, and flexible service is offered managed through the Valladolid Agency for Innovation and Economic Development, Ideva. A technical committee from the City Council will assess the technical, economic, and financial viability of the projects as well as their impact, being put to test, without the need to pay a public space usage fee, for a limited period of time and under strict supervision by the regulator.

In the event of success, it may be possible to establish an agreement between the public and private entities, with the City Council participating in a certain percentage of the project's profits.

Innovation for the "Climate Mission"

The Valladolid Sandbox has been directly linked to the action plan of the Valladolid Climate Agreement, the roadmap for the European Mission “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”. As a result, advanced technologies for the sustainable management of green spaces are already being tested, such as those developed through Campo Grande, Valladolid’s Green Engine | IdeVa, while future initiatives will focus on the decarbonisation of a city working towards net-zero emissions.

As a Demonstrator City, Valladolid will foster local economic development and digital transformation across all productive sectors, strengthening public-private collaboration and reinforcing a new sustainable and smart economic model in line with the Valladolid Innovation and Smart City Plan (SmartVA!).