Miquel, it has been more than 10 years since the creation of Tech Barcelona, formerly Barcelona Tech City. What were your objectives?
The association was founded in 2013 by a group of entrepreneurs with the goal of helping other entrepreneurs. At that time, Barcelona was in a state of ‘primordial soup’; that is, it had all the elements and potential to create a powerful technological and digital ecosystem, but it needed a spark: an association that could foster collective awareness and structure collaboration to transform this potential into a tangible reality. Following this path, this private non-profit initiative, born from the city’s entrepreneurial ambition, has become one of the largest in Europe, with more than 1,400 members, 90 collaborating corporations, and 3 Piers—spaces that integrate innovation and technology into the city center.
To what extent have these objectives been achieved? How do you rate Barcelona as an ecosystem for startups compared to other major cities?
The change has been enormous. Just 10 years ago, no one talked about startups in the city, and now we have become the second favorite European city for entrepreneurs to create their startup, trailing only Berlin. We have moved from imitating global innovation models to creating our own model, with nothing to envy in cities like Paris, London, or Stockholm. We have evolved from being primarily an e-commerce cluster to developing an interconnected ecosystem of technology and science-based startups, corporations, research centers, and institutions.
In short, we have gone from being known for tourism and good food to consolidating technology and entrepreneurship as part of the city’s value proposition, becoming a powerhouse capable of attracting global companies and investment. Examples of this are the hosting of international congresses such as the Mobile World Congress, Smart City Expo, or ISE, as well as the decisive commitment of multinationals like AstraZeneca or Sony (and there are already 140 hubs).
What are the challenges and needs of the technology sector? How should they be addressed?
One of the great challenges Barcelona faces, and at the same time an opportunity, is to drive the transition from science to the market. We have excellent research and teaching staff, who have managed to position Catalonia as the third European region in terms of publications in advanced therapies, and the eighth in the world in active clinical trials, for example. Now we need companies that can channel this innovation to achieve the final goal: to have a positive impact on society. We must do this together, through public-private collaboration, and with technology as the engine to transform industries such as healthcare, mobility, retail, and energy, with the added challenge of prioritizing sustainability.
The Catalan technology sector faces other challenges, of course, such as the gap between the demand and supply of technological profiles, the gender gap, issues linked to taxation, or the lack of local investment when startups want to reach more advanced rounds. We address these every day at the local, national, and international levels through our activity.
What does Tech Barcelona offer entrepreneurs? What requirements must they meet to be part of the community?
We offer a meeting point, connections, and knowledge, designed for their business growth and development. Our activity allows entrepreneurs to connect with the wide network of startups, corporations, investors, and other agents in our ecosystem, providing the necessary platforms to give visibility to their projects. We also generate knowledge and share experiences, whether through in-person events like content sessions and workshops, or through our online channels. Additionally, we promote strategic projects such as the Urban Tech Campus, a set of spaces (Pier01, Pier03, and Pier07) that aim to concentrate talent in specific areas and bring innovation and solutions closer to where the main users—the citizens—live.
We want everyone to be able to enjoy these benefits. Therefore, the only requirements to be part of this community of 1,400 members are to work in the digital and technological sectors and to be involved in the Barcelona ecosystem.
The role of startups is often dismissed in the sense that very few manage to consolidate and grow. What do you think about this?
The value of startups is found not only in the number of those that eventually consolidate, which is also important, but in their role as an engine of innovation and agents of change. Entrepreneurs foster a culture in which mistakes are seen as learning opportunities. Compared to more monolithic organizational structures, startups and spin-offs represent daring, speed, and flexibility. They are an essential element for progress.
Our slogan is “I am what I want to be.” And you, are you?
Without having pronounced it as a slogan, my decision-making at both personal and professional levels has always been based on freedom. Therefore, to the extent that I have been able, I have always tried to be what I wanted to be at every moment.
