About us

The Municipal Institute of Information Technology (IMI) is a local independent Barcelona City Council body that was set up in 1990 to provide Barcelona City Council and the public companies under its wing with all their Information and Communication Technology Services.

IMI is aware of the importance of ICTs in today’s society. That is why the Institute is playing a crucial role in the city, not just as a technology benchmark but also as a key piece in the territorial equilibrium and in promoting local entrepreneurship. This vision includes projects from a very diverse range of areas which ensure the ongoing improvement of municipal services and resources.

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Discover municipal technology

A tour of the main technological milestones that Barcelona has achieved as a pioneering city in the consolidation of new information technologies.

Innovem

The spectacular impact of ICT and computing in improving municipal management and optimising and increasing the efficiency of processes and workplaces.

Coneixem i transformem

The way the city is seen and understood, through the collection and management of various datasets relevant to the city, its digital evolution and the influence of this evolution on decision-making, contributes to Barcelona’s transformation in key aspects such as mobility, the environment and taxation.

Ens acostem

Our efforts to make municipal information and processes accessible to city residents, so that their tasks are easier and more flexible.

Connectem

How we have linked up various City Council departments and roles, particularly in regard to municipal fibre optics and the mobility provided by mobile technology.

Donem suport

How technology is used to make improvements, strengthen social cohesion, support prevention and security services, and help disadvantaged groups. Cities focus not only on services, but also on people.

Participem

ICT is used as a means for interaction and dialogue, with the aim of progressively empowering a more active and engaged public.

Construïm

How Barcelona has even changed its physiognomy, in order to become a smart city, and ultimately a digital city.

Somiem

All the technology that enables us to dream of a better city, to meet the challenges of the future and to ensure that what once seemed impossible becomes a reality.

History in pictures

Year 1975. COM Ronda Sant Pau. Systems planning and technical team.

1967: The Municipal Computing Centre (COM) is created, later becoming the Municipal Insitute of Information Technology. Director: Manuel Fernández de Castro.

Emblem COM

1984: PCs are already appearing in Barcelona City Council. There are 35 by 1985 and 350 by 1987.

1989: City Council's first fibre optic network is already up and running.

1989: City Council's first fibre optic network is already up and running in 4 buildings: the Plaça Sant Jaume building, the statistics and Public Roads building, the Torre de Colom and the Ronda de Sant Pau building.

Facade

January 1990: The Municipal Institute of Information Technology is created, run by Ernest Maragall and headed by the then Deputy Mayor, Joan Clos. It is conceived as an independent institute to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the IT services in Barcelona City Council's various departments.

IMI

1996: Functions relating to the management, quality control and protection of baseline data (local population register, map of the city, etc.). 

IMI's Articles of Association

2005: The IMI's Articles of Association are approved and the institute is organised as part of the Municipal Manager's Office. 

25th anniversary of the IMI

2015: IMI celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Sentilo, wins third position in the cross-border category

2017: Barcelona's Sentilo platform for sensors and actuators comes third in the cross-border category and receives the certificate of excellence in the Sharing & Reuse Awards. The system earned the award for its exceptional contribution in the creation of more efficient public services for citizens.

Agile methodology

2018: The Office for Agile Transformation starts life: The office spearheads and promotes the agile organisational transformation of the IMI through a set of dynamics, practices and processes which should equip the IMI with the tools to handle new agile demands from the Barcelona City Council.

e-headquarters

2019: Barcelona City Council's e-headquarters becomes operative, in line with Act 39/2015, of 1st October, on common administrative public procedures and Act 49/2015, of 1st October, on the legal regime for the public sector.