At the Chair for Urban Energy Transition, we have always maintained that the energy transition is a marathon, not a sprint. Therefore, receiving the Local Award 2025 in the conCIENCIA & TRANSFERENCE category holds special meaning for us: it not only celebrates our recent successes but also validates a work philosophy we have been building for years.
The IPfest jury valued our ability to connect engineering with social needs, recognising a trajectory dedicated to ensuring that clean energy also serves as a tool for social justice.
Leadership with a vision for the future
The projects that are a reality in Valencia’s neighbourhoods today are the result of a solid, long-term academic strategy. This award is, above all, a recognition of the vision of those who have led this project:
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Professor Tomás Gómez Navarro, who directed the Chair from 2018 to 2020. His work was fundamental in establishing the foundations of our collaboration with the city and defining the guidelines for a people-centred transition.
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Our current director, Professor Carla Montagud Montalvá, who has been at the helm since November 2020, is consolidating the Chair as an international benchmark, promoting the practical application of our research and strengthening ties with the social fabric of Valencia.
Thanks to their direction and the drive of the entire research team, the Chair has evolved and adapted to the challenges of each moment.
Science with real impact: From theory to neighbourhoods
The conCIENCIA award highlights initiatives with the greatest social impact. Our work, built year after year, has enabled us to transition from theoretical models to tangible solutions that improve our neighbours’ lives. Examples of this cumulative effort include:
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The fight against energy poverty through Solidarity Energy Communities, such as the one initiated in Parque del Oeste.
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The development of diagnostic tools that allow us to understand energy inequality across the city’s districts.
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Technical support in the decarbonization of neighbourhoods like Benicalap and Illa Perduda is the result of years of study and cooperation.
A shared success
Knowledge transfer is a bridge built from both sides. This recognition of our trajectory would not be possible without the constant trust of the Ajuntament de València, the Fundació València Clima i Energia, and València Innovation Capital. Together, we continue to demonstrate that public universities are an indispensable engine for urban transformation.
This award drives us to continue working with the same rigour and commitment that brought us here.
