Alicante – October 30, 2026 – The Port Authority of Alicante once again demonstrates its commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration with the university ecosystem by participating as a collaborating entity in the 16th edition of the Miguel Hernández University's Start-up Creation Marathon, promoted through its Science Park.
More than 120 entrepreneurs, with nearly one hundred innovative projects, have submitted their candidacies for this new edition, with 50 initiatives promoted by 69 entrepreneurs selected to participate in a program that will allow them to advance in the definition, development, and consolidation of their business proposals.
The projects cover very diverse areas, from health and new functional foods to circular economy, social and environmental impact, cosmetics, footwear, fashion, and the application of artificial intelligence to different sectors.
The Port Authority's collaboration is part of its strategy to promote open innovation and strengthen the relationship between the Port of Alicante, the university, companies, and entrepreneurial talent, fostering the generation of solutions that can contribute to improving the competitiveness, sustainability, and technological transformation of the productive fabric.
In this regard, the Port of Alicante understands innovation as an open process, in which connection with universities, knowledge centers, companies, and start-ups allows for the generation of new opportunities and brings technologies and solutions capable of responding to the present and future challenges of logistics, sustainability, digitalization, and the port-city relationship to the port environment.
50 Selected Initiatives
The 16th edition began on Monday, October 26, in the Quorum II building on the Elche campus of Miguel Hernández University. During the inaugural day, participants learned about the program's operation and met the team of mentors who will accompany them during the development of their projects.
The selected initiatives will receive strategic mentoring, sectoral advice, specific training for start-up creation, legal and communication services, as well as access to infrastructure to develop their projects. In addition, they will be eligible for over 50,000 euros in funding, along with various special awards.
During the inauguration, the promoters also had the opportunity to present their business proposals and establish contact with representatives of the different entities supporting the program.
A Broad Ecosystem of Collaboration
The new edition of the Marathon is sponsored by Banco Santander, Planeta Huerto, Convotis Iberia, Vegabaja Packaging, Laboratorios Quinton, and the new addition of Lean Finance, in addition to the support of the UMH Footwear Chairs "San Crispín" and "Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Polo Club-UMH."
Along with the Port Authority of Alicante, FEMPA, INESCOP, AEPA, Agilmark Patentes y Marcas, the Business Association of Biotechnology of Alicante (AEBA), and the Professional Association of Environmentalists of the Valencian Community participate as collaborating entities.
The call also includes special awards promoted by the FISABIO Foundation, the Social Council of the UMH, and the Science Park itself, in addition to the "Altea Emprende" award, sponsored by the Altea City Council.
Since the launch of its entrepreneurship programs in 2012, the UMH Science Park has advised more than 2,000 entrepreneurs and around 1,500 business projects, has distributed more than one million euros in initial funding, and has contributed to the promotion of more than 200 start-ups.
Another Step in the Port's Innovative Strategy
Participation in this program allows the Port Authority of Alicante to continue approaching the entrepreneurial ecosystem of the province and identify projects, technologies, and new ideas with potential application in the port sector.
This collaboration adds to the different initiatives that the Port of Alicante is developing to consolidate an open innovation model, based on cooperation with universities, companies, start-ups, and other knowledge agents, with the aim of turning the port area into a favorable environment for testing, developing, and scaling innovative solutions.
