DFactory Barcelona has positioned the Catalan capital as the epicenter of the new economy. The space, driven by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), has become the largest Industry 4.0 ecosystem in southern Europe, favoring synergies between start-ups, innovation centers, laboratories and large corporations. DFactory hosts a total of 30 companies in robotics, 3D printing, AI, blockchain technology or virtual reality. It is a meeting space between the most innovative technologies and the best talent, the keys to develop new technologies. All these innovations are unveiled each year at three key events organized by the CZFB: the Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW), the Barcelona Woman Acceleration Week), focused on value-added activities to move towards gender equality, and SIL Barcelona, the International Logistics Exhibition. Following the closing of BNEW a few days ago, where ASCAME had the chance to participate in, Mr. Pere Navarro, Special Delegate of the State in the CZFB, tells us about the new business and industrial paradigm that has emerged as a result of digitalization and the unstoppable advance of new emerging technologies, such as AI, cloud computing or the 4.0 economy.
What is your assessment of the 5th edition of BNEW 2024, which ended a few days ago?
The assessment is very positive. The first important fact is that this is the fifth edition, which confirms the consolidation of a forum that emerged in October 2020, at the worst moment of the pandemic, to create a space where we could talk about the new economy and new hopes. What we set out to do at that time was to ensure that this forum would have continuity. So we have achieved that objective. Secondly, we have improved the participation and attendance data with respect to 2023. Some 170 start-ups have participated in the sessions we have held, tripling the number registered last year, which means that entrepreneurs see BNEW as the ideal space for networking, exchanging knowledge and information, and growing their business. In addition, 1,600 start-ups have attended any of the scheduled sessions. Thirdly, I would like to highlight the more than 10,000 networking contacts in this edition, 2,000 more than in 2023. We are talking about thousands of CEOs and professionals from different sectors and from more than 100 countries who have seen in BNEW a unique opportunity to explore ways of collaboration, formalize agreements or even generate new joint projects.
One of the sectors represented this year was aviation, especially for its commitment to innovation and sustainability. Are these two concepts the basis of any project or company in the new economy?
Absolutely. If we talk about the new economy, we must necessarily talk about innovation and sustainability. On the one hand, emerging sectors, such as aviation, are incorporating cutting-edge technologies that reduce their carbon footprint, improve the efficiency of their processes and also the services offered to the customer. On the other hand, all new economy companies, both large corporations and smaller ones, are incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals in all their economic activity.
If we talk about the new economy, we must necessarily talk about innovation and sustainability. Emerging sectors, such as aviation, are incorporating cutting-edge technologies that reduce their carbon footprint, improve the efficiency of their processes and also the services offered to the customer. In addition, all new economy companies are incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals in all their economic activity
This edition of BNEW has focused on seven thematic areas: aviation, digital industry, sustainability, mobility, talent, health and experience. In what sense do these areas represent the most emerging sectors of the new economy?
The truth is that we could have chosen other thematic blocks, but we had to narrow the focus and we thought that these seven were the most representative of the new economy today. The important thing is that this event is multisectoral and that all sectors can interrelate. There are specific fairs and congresses on a particular sector, such as Mobile or Alimentaria. Here, on the other hand, they are all mixed together. And what is most interesting is that sustainability is related to mobility, the retention and attraction of talent affects any economic sector, the field of health not only has to do with the prevention and treatment of diseases but also with the new business opportunities that have arisen as a result of new technologies and new consumer demands. The more traditional industries have been transformed and have adapted very quickly to the new business paradigm. BNEW is the space where all of them can interrelate.
The Talent session discussed the crucial role of young people in the new economy. What was the main conclusion drawn?
In this session we talked about how important it is to retain and attract talent in the new economy. Today, this is one of the main challenges for any company, as many have difficulty finding professionals with the necessary skills to grow their businesses. The panelists emphasized the new training needs arising from the changes in consumption and production patterns planned by the new economy. In particular, they emphasized the training of tech employees, the new emerging talent in AI, the digital talent market, senior and female talent and the role of young people in the economy of the future.
Will women have the prominence they deserve in this new industrial and business paradigm?
In general, the industrial and logistics world is very masculinized. But, on the other hand, in the new economy we are seeing more parity and equal opportunities. There are more and more women entrepreneurs turning a good business idea into an innovative company and growing their business. We have seen this at BNEW and, above all, we see it every year at BWAW, where we explain more and more success stories. With these events we also manage to make women entrepreneurs an example to follow for young people who are thinking of starting a business, both men and women.
There are multiple definitions of DFactory: a technological ecosystem, a prototyping building, a hub for the development of Industry 4.0, the 4.0 district of the Barcelona metropolitan region. Which definition is the most accurate?
DFactory is the international reference complex for Industry 4.0 that we want to permeate the entire Zona Franca industrial park in Barcelona. Our goal is that this industrial park becomes the 4.0 district not only of the city of Barcelona, but also of its metropolitan area and of the country, and that it also becomes a pole of attraction at international level for Industry 4.0 companies and for attracting talent. This is not an aspiration, but a reality that will be consolidated with the planned expansion with 70,000 square meters more where there will be innovation and manufacturing centers related to new technologies. We are seeing that there are companies that want to locate their technology center somewhere in Europe and that choose DFactory because of its capacity to relate different ways of manufacturing different products.
In what sense does the future of Barcelona and its metropolitan area depend on the most disruptive economic sectors?
Barcelona has always been characterized as an innovative, lively, attractive city in terms of economic development and professional opportunities. From the CZFB we contribute to enhance this brand by adding the element of industry 4.0. And we do so by recovering the historical tradition, since it is in this same space where the SEAT factory was located in the 1960s with the same innovative and industrial spirit as today, creating jobs and implementing cutting-edge technologies.
in the new economy we see more parity and equal opportunities. There are more and more women entrepreneurs turning a good business idea into an innovative company and growing their business. We have seen this at BNEW and, above all, at BWAW, where we explain more and more women' success stories
Is it feasible to export this innovative DFactory ecosystem to the Mediterranean region?
I see it as viable especially in the Southern Mediterranean countries, because those in the East are affected by terrible war conflicts. There are many emerging countries from the south that come to visit us because they are interested in replicating the DFactory model. But replicating this model is not so easy, it is not just about building a building like DFactory. The success of our model lies in the entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem that already existed in Barcelona. So the main advice we give them is to create this environment, to build a solid base. And when they do, the next step would be to create innovation centers where different activities coexist and where synergies are created to promote projects and products together. We also advise them to promote public-private collaboration from the outset, which is also the reason for DFactory’s success.
I see that in all these countries there is a great desire to move forward with initiatives such as the one we have promoted in Barcelona. And, most importantly, they have the right talent to make it possible, as we see in the companies coming from Africa, with a young population that is highly prepared and where digital transformation is already a reality. What they need is security from a legal point of view but also at a geopolitical level, where parity is also guaranteed.
What is your next goal at the helm of DFactory and CZFB?
We are very excited about everything we do, each of the projects we are involved in. But more than talking about projects, we’d rather talk about realities. Now what we have to do is to continue working so that this pole of attraction for Industry 4.0 grows and becomes an international benchmark. And that the events we organize, such as BNEW, SIL or BWAW grow, consolidate and adapt to the new circumstances of the moment. Personally, I am very inspired by the experiences of the companies that come to DFactory and participate in our events, everything they explain to me about the innovations applied to their services and products, is something that allows you to constantly learn. It is a great satisfaction!