Zaragoza offers to be a pilot city in Europe to test Google tools

The mayor of Zaragoza, Natalia Chueca, has proposed that the Aragonese capital become a pilot city in Europe for testing new Google tools and products. This initiative was proposed during her institutional trip to Silicon Valley, where she held an intense day of work with strategic meetings with some of the world’s leading technology companies. The proposal was made during an international city forum held at Google headquarters, which was also attended by mayors and governors from various countries.

During his speech at the forum, Chueca highlighted Zaragoza’s ability to adapt to the technological and regulatory challenges of the present, emphasizing that the city has a sandbox ordinance that facilitates the adaptation of technological innovations to European regulations. This condition, he explained, makes Zaragoza an “ideal urban laboratory” for the deployment of new digital solutions. The proposal was presented directly to Google Vice President Cris Turner, with the aim of opening a preferential avenue for collaboration between the company and the city.

The mayor took advantage of her stay in Silicon Valley to present Zaragoza’s technology ecosystem to other major corporations. During her visit to Meta’s headquarters, she outlined the advances in innovation and digitalization the city is promoting, sparking the company’s interest in exploring possible avenues for participation in Zaragoza’s technology hub. “Meta wasn’t yet aware of the potential of our city, but we’ve managed to capture its attention,” Chueca stated.

HIGH LEVEL MEETING

The day concluded with a high-level meeting at Salesforce offices, attended by representatives from the California Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Spanish Female Managers in Silicon Valley. At this meeting, Chueca shared Zaragoza’s vision of how to combine sustainability and competitiveness to advance more balanced and environmentally responsible global economic development.

“Today we have taken very important steps to position Zaragoza as a leading city in innovation, sustainability, and attracting talent on the international stage,” the mayor stated at the close of the event. During these three days of institutional mission, she met with executives from Google, Meta, and Microsoft, a milestone that, in her own words, “demonstrates Zaragoza’s strong international position as a smart city and a leading city in digital transformation.”

After their visit to Silicon Valley, the Zaragoza delegation will now travel to Miami to continue their institutional agenda. On this new leg of the trip, Chueca will be accompanied by the Minister of Economy, Digital Transformation, and Transparency, Carlos Gimeno. There, they will hold meetings with institutional and business leaders and will be joined by representatives of Zaragoza’s economic network, including local business leaders and members of the Zaragoza Maritime Terminal, with the aim of strengthening the city’s international presence.