The Port Authority of Alicante has unveiled a regulatory ordinance for its technological sandbox, a framework designed to allow experimentation with new processes and solutions in logistics and port activities under controlled, real-world conditions.
The presentation event featured remarks from key figures including Luis Rodríguez, president of the Port Authority of Alicante; Amparo Navarro, rector of the University of Alicante (UA); the ordinance's author, Yolanda Bustos, a professor of Civil Law at UA; and José Manuel Ramos, head of Innovation at the Port Authority.
This initiative marks the first time in Spain that a port has established an ordinance specifically regulating a controlled testing environment for innovation. The ordinance, which began development in July 2025, outlines defined procedures, evaluation criteria, and a legal framework that enables companies, entrepreneurs, researchers, and technology developers to test their projects within the port area.
During the presentation, Luis Rodríguez highlighted the ordinance as a significant step towards preparing the Port of Alicante for future challenges. He stated, “We want to be a magnet for attracting innovation and implementing it. We aim for the port to become a reference point for those with innovative solutions, a place where ideas find opportunities and can be transformed into useful solutions for society and our entire productive system.”
Amparo Navarro, rector of the University of Alicante, emphasised the ordinance's importance in providing legal security for the operations of the port's technological testing bank. She described it as “a completely novel regulation in a port environment that we take great pride in, especially as a successful case of pioneering knowledge transfer.” Navarro also praised the work of ordinance author Yolanda Bustos, noting that her expertise in civil liability, testing environments, and innovative air mobility represents a significant advancement in the collaboration between the University of Alicante and the Port of Alicante.
Bustos remarked that “port environments in Spain must also be on par with other European initiatives.” She believes that “the Alicante ordinance can serve as a reference for other port authorities looking to regulate their own testing banks.”
The new sandbox aims to attract talent and projects, enhance the port's efficiency and competitiveness, and facilitate the responsible integration of new technologies while maintaining safety, environmental protection, and the guarantees necessary for port operations. José Manuel Ramos stated, “Our goal is to equip ourselves with the necessary tools to attract innovation and be the first to adopt that technology.”
