The economy has always functioned in cycles, alternating between periods of growth and recession. These fluctuations are natural and have repeated throughout history, though new factors have altered their intensity or duration. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one such breakthrough with the power to transform this traditional pattern.
That’s the key takeaway from the ‘Digital Economy in Spain 2025’ report, conducted by Adigital and Boston Consulting Group, which identifies AI as a key driver of business competitiveness, helping companies become more efficient and innovative.
While its adoption is far from universal, few doubt that AI represents a major opportunity to relaunch the global economy, thanks to its ability to automate tasks, boost productivity, and transform creative processes making the ideation and building of solutions more democratic.
AI pushes Spain’s digital economy to 26% of GDP
The report reveals that in 2024, the digital economy accounted for 26% of Spain’s GDP, reaching €414 billion (a 17% increase from the previous year).
This double-digit growth, despite the challenging geopolitical and macroeconomic context, stems from accelerated digitalization in major sectors of the national economy such as finance, energy, and public administration.
And what phenomenon drove this acceleration in digital adoption across large companies and public entities? You guessed it: Artificial Intelligence.
“We’ve positioned ourselves as one of the leading countries in AI adoption among businesses, exceeding the European average with 9.3% of companies already integrating it into their processes,” the report notes. However, there’s an urgent need to strengthen financial resources directed toward AI investment.
“Leading AI countries combine investment in public infrastructure with a robust private investment ecosystem, fueling innovation and the growth of specialized companies. In 2023, the U.S. led private AI investment with €67.2 billion, followed by China (€7.76 billion). The UK, Germany, France, and Canada also posted notable figures, as did emerging economies like India, Israel, and South Korea, which are betting on AI to boost their competitiveness. In contrast, Spain registered just €360 million in private AI investment. To close this gap, it is essential to attract venture capital, foster public-private collaboration, and incentivize AI development in the business sector. The future of AI in Spain will depend on policies that reinforce private investment, support digital talent, and facilitate scalability,” Adigital emphasizes.
VDS: At the vanguard of AI’s revolution
This context is not new to Valencia. A region with a strong entrepreneurial tradition, the city has long placed its innovative and digital startup ecosystem at the core of its municipal strategy through numerous public-private initiatives and a remarkable ability to train and attract talent. And it’s fully aboard the AI train.
VDS is a perfect reflection of this. One of Europe’s flagship tech events, now in its eighth edition, will return on October 22–23 with AI as one of its central themes.
Under the theme “Collaborate Today. Transform Tomorrow,” VDS 2025 is set to bring together over 12,000 professionals from 120 countries, more than 3,000 startups, 1,500+ corporations, and 800 investors managing over €300 billion in assets during two intensive days.
VDS 2025 will dive into the latest trends and breakthroughs in deep tech and emerging technologies that are reshaping how we engage with the world. From AI, machine learning, and quantum computing to cybersecurity & defence, VR/AR, nanotech, and photonics, the event will offer a full picture of what’s next. It will also explore major innovation areas such as Smart Cities & Digital Infrastructure, Next-Gen Consumer Technologies, Talent & Future of Work, HealthTech & Longevity, Future of Energy & GreenTech, DeepTech & Scientific Innovation, and Aerospace Technologies, highlighting how profoundly technology is shaping the society we are building.
VDS 2025 will call for active engagement in the digital transition. As Juan Luis Hortelano, President of Startup Valencia, states: “Innovation is not an individual effort, but a shared mission where every voice and action matter”. With this vision, the international tech event invites entrepreneurs, startups, corporations, investors, and global tech leaders to build a more connected and sustainable future together.
Understanding AI’s impact on economic transformation
Back in 2007, Apple unveiled the iPhone. That first smartphone revolutionized the global economy, turning tech giants into hardware makers and shaking up telecom companies that had long dominated the mobile market. It also gave rise to an entirely new app-based ecosystem, transforming how we communicate, entertain, and live.
By 2011, Apple had become the most valuable company in the world, surpassing oil giant ExxonMobil. Before the iPhone’s launch, Apple’s market value was around $133.8 billion. A decade later, it had soared past $600 billion, more than quadrupling in value.
The iPhone is a textbook example of the kind of breakthrough that reshapes the economy. But that story is already dated. Today, the most valuable public company in the world is Nvidia thanks to soaring demand for its chips powering the AI boom.
Markets are signaling that AI’s impact will be even deeper and more widespread than that of the iPhone, permeating every industry. On the tangible side: chips, data centers, rising energy demands. On the intangible: new terms like agents, synthetic data, and cyber threats.
By the end of this decade, the AI market is expected to be worth between $1 trillion and $1.85 trillion. For perspective, global oil trade moves around $2 trillion annually. And AI has just started.
How to accelerate AI adoption in companies, according to Adigital
If we know that AI adoption boosts productivity, enhances efficiency, and, in the right hands, drives innovation—then the sooner we embrace it, the sooner we’ll reap its benefits.
To that end, the report by Adigital and Boston Consulting Group offers six key recommendations:
– Define a clear strategy.
– Foster a data-driven and agile company culture.
– Invest in talent and technology.
– Optimize data usage and technological infrastructure.
– Implement AI responsibly and sustainably.
– Establish mechanisms for oversight, evaluation, and collaboration.
The role of founders and corporate leaders is also crucial in building trust and providing a clear vision for AI adoption.
Artificial Intelligence is not just another tool, it’s a technological leap with the potential to redefine economic growth. Spain has the momentum, talent, and ecosystem to lead this transformation, and Valencia is a clear example of what’s possible when innovation, collaboration, and vision come together. With events like VDS and a thriving digital community, the city is not only embracing the AI revolution, it’s helping to drive it.
The time to act is now, because those who shape AI today will shape the economy of tomorrow.
