The City Council is reviving this Network—originally established in 2009—and relaunching it as a strategic tool to maintain ties with natives of Valladolid who are pursuing their careers outside Spain.
Valladolid Mayor Jesús Julio Carnero announced this afternoon the launch of a new call for financial aid designed to facilitate the return of talent from Valladolid currently building professional careers outside the region of Castile and León. The announcement was made during a meeting of the Valladolid Ambassadors’ Network held in the City Hall Reception Hall, attended by a large group of the 130 ambassadors currently affiliated with the Network; these individuals reside in over 35 countries across every continent (Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania).
The aid—part of the «Volvemos a Valladolid 2025-2026» (Returning to Valladolid 2025-2026) program and approved today, December 29, by the Governing Board—includes grants of up to 10,000 euros per beneficiary. These are non-repayable subsidies intended to cover expenses associated with returning to the city from outside the Autonomous Community of Castile and León. The initiative, promoted by the Valladolid Innovation and Economic Development Agency (IdeVa), has an initial budget of 50,000 euros, which could be increased by an additional 50,000 euros depending on demand. Individuals who meet the requirements specified in the call for applications may be eligible for the grant; these requirements include, among others, having been born in or resided in Valladolid for at least 12 months, and having lived and worked outside Castile and León for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the grant application, with an obligation to establish residence in the city for at least two years upon their return, as evidenced by a municipal registration certificate.
Two grant application processes have been launched:
– Individuals who returned to Valladolid from outside the Castile and León region during 2025 may apply for the grants until January 31;
– and for those returning in 2026, the application period will remain open until November 30.
The announcement was made during the Ambassadors Network’s first major in-person gathering since its reactivation. Originally established in 2009, the network has been revived and revitalized by the City Council as a strategic tool to maintain ties with Valladolid natives building careers abroad and to leverage this human capital for the city’s economic, cultural, and social development and global profile through the «Valladolid Now» initiative.
As the mayor stated, «They are Valladolid’s best advocates and representatives abroad, acting as the eyes and hands of our municipality in their cities of residence. They are an essential part of an international Valladolid and now have a dedicated website: www.embajadoresvalladolid.com.»
The event marked the first major in-person meeting of this expatriate community in its new phase—envisioned as an open, diverse, and growing network. It comprises professionals from various fields (business, economics, academia and vocational training, innovation, tourism, culture and the arts, sustainability, and social sectors) who maintain active ties with Valladolid from locations around the globe.
In his address, the mayor highlighted the initiative’s value in transforming the concept of «brain drain» into «talent export,» emphasizing that «Valladolid is a city capable of generating human capital with an international reach.» He also underscored the ambassadors’ role as active agents in promoting the city abroad and as an essential part of «Valladolid Now» in supporting efforts to attract investment.
The event was also attended by the Rector of the University of Valladolid, Antonio Largo Cabrerizo; the Rector of the European University Miguel de Cervantes, David García López; and the President of CEOE Valladolid, Carlos Magdaleno, demonstrating the institutional, academic, and business support behind the launch of this initiative.
A highlight of the day was the presentation by Alba Morales—a digital creative and illustrator at Accenture Song Middle East, a Valladolid ambassador in Dubai, and the creator of the new Valladolid ambassador brand. She explained the brand concept and shared her international professional experience, reflecting on the role the network can play in connecting global talent with their home city.
Presentation of awards
During the gathering, Honorary Ambassador awards were also presented to two distinguished University of Valladolid (UVa) alumni residing abroad—María Almudena Sevilla and Alexandre Pérez—in recognition of their professional achievements and their commitment to promoting Valladolid from abroad.
Following the official speeches, the event continued with networking sessions organized by continent, bringing together ambassadors and companies from Valladolid. These sessions were designed to foster ideas, contacts, and potential future collaborative projects, thereby reinforcing the network’s participatory and relationship-building nature.
The City Council has emphasized that the Valladolid Ambassadors Network is being relaunched with a commitment to continuity and growth, serving as a key tool to strengthen the city’s international profile and advance a development model rooted in people, talent, and cooperation. This network focuses, above all, on individuals—coming from diverse backgrounds and countries—who share a common origin and a desire to continue contributing to the shared project of Valladolid and «Valladolid Now,» particularly regarding the attraction of investment.