ALICANTE has been named the Spanish base for the European artificial intelligence investigation centre. The provincial capital will now become part of the European Lab for Learning & Intelligent Systems (ELLIS) network, which aims to give the competitive edge over the US and Asia in terms of IA, and which is made up of some 20 centres in 10 European nations and Israel. The news Alicante had been chosen was made public this week in Vancouver at a gathering of the international scientific community. Valencia government president Ximo Puig maintained the approval of Alicante's candidacy was the result of his administration's backing for the idea that "the Valencian Community, and Alicante in particular, becomes a reference point in southern Europe for investigation into new technology and in an inclusive IA, centred on people and which increases the productivity of the socio-economic structure." It is, Puig said, "a great opportunity to attract excellent talent to the Valencian Community and to Alicante, and well as to highlight the value of what we already have."