Economy, Tax, Economic Promotion and Tourism

With the goal of establishing a system of public-private governance where all research and innovation is transferred to public and private institutions, the Barcelona Innovation Coast (BIC) is being strengthened as a leading platform for innovation and the promotion of knowledge transfer to Barcelona and its metropolitan area. 

The plan is to provide the BIC with the resources needed to carry out its projects, with lines of work such as scientific diplomacy, a research facility programme and support for both the biohealth sector and the tech sector (specifically in relation to chip design, quantum communication, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity).

Implementing the agreements set out in the scientific capital convention to increase Barcelona’s resources and visibility in the field of science and technology. This involves attracting investment, scientific infrastructure, conferences and scientific events to the city in order to cement Barcelona’s role as a city of science, thus enabling outstanding careers in science and research to be recognised through the European Hypatia Prize for scientific excellence, among other awards.

To plan the spread of science-related urban areas, Barcelona City Council will develop a Knowledge, Research and Innovation Facilities Programme. This plan, which will be coordinated with the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), involves creating well-defined areas adapted to the sector’s needs, thus facilitating the establishment and expansion of scientific infrastructure and facilities. 

Six initiatives for knowledge, research and innovation have been identified in the city: 

• To lead the Ciutadella of Knowledge major urban transformation project in order to establish a scientific ecosystem in Parc de la Ciutadella.
• To strengthen the Diagonal Besòs Campus as a driver of economic activity, innovation, knowledge and green talent.
• To support the Diagonal Health Hub projects, such as the construction of the Nou Clínic (hospital) and the resizing of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
• To consolidate the Zona Nord-Collserola area as a hub for health and life sciences, led by the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute and the new CaixaResearch Institute.
• To boost the 22@ area as an innovation hub for economic activity and technology transfer.
• To support the La Industrial+ project, a new, greener and more sustainable innovation hub on the Escola Industrial site.

Barcelona is committed to strengthening its global competitiveness by promoting research and innovation. This commitment will take the form of a proposed byelaw on tax breaks for research and transfer, aimed at attracting and retaining R&D-intensive companies in the city, with a twofold objective: to strengthen the business fabric and attract talent and innovation.

The new Crea Feina Investiga Programme will be launched to provide financial support for the strategic recruitment of scientists and researchers with the goal of improving the competitiveness of the city’s business network. Several grant programmes have also been proposed as a way of strengthening research into urban challenges and support scientific careers in Barcelona.  The idea is to launch two key calls for proposals every two years: the Call for Research and Innovation, in collaboration with the “la Caixa” Foundation, and the Call for Youth and Emerging Research. There will also be support for climate emergency and urban innovation projects through the Proactive City programme.

The Fraunhofer Society, Europe’s largest and most prestigious applied research organisation, is going to open its first Spanish centre in Barcelona, which will play a key role in the priority goal of furthering knowledge transfer. Barcelona City Council, in collaboration with the Spanish and Catalan governments, is leading this initiative to boost Catalonia as a scientific hub for biomedicine and bioengineering, thus increasing its competitiveness throughout southern Europe. The new headquarters will be located in the Barcelona Science Park in a partnership with the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).

Plans are in place to once again hold the City and Science Biennial in 2025 and 2027. This is a project with a large-scale impact to help position Barcelona as a leader in scientific ethics, art and science, and the 2025 and 2027 editions will seek to cement the Biennial’s role as a leading event in scientific ethics, highlighting the fusion of art and science and promoting outreach, education and international cooperation in science.

The annual Science Festival will also continue to bring together city residents and the city’s scientific community, while the Citizen Science Office will keep promoting participatory citizen science.

The Prometeus programme will continue to support disadvantaged youth, helping to guarantee access to university and lifelong learning. The STEAM Barcelona Plan will also be developed further as a way to continue fostering scientific and technological knowledge, skills and careers, with a gender perspective, across the entire educational community.

Another goal is to promote Barcelona as a university city for both Spanish and international students, providing support for students from outside the city through the Barcelona International Welcome Desk (BIWD) and the Barcelona Centre Universitari (BCU).