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.