BNEW has been born to be global and to stay, it positions Barcelona in the world and as a standard-bearer of the new economy.

In the midst of lockdown, Pere Navarro Morera (Terrassa, 1959), special delegate of the State in the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), led the birth of the Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW) a year ago, a hybrid event, in-person and online, totally innovative, 100% professional and aimed at boosting the reactivation of the economy in the midst of a pandemic crisis. The first edition of BNEW, held the first week of October 2020, was a success, with more than 11,000 registered people from 111 countries and the participation of 400 speakers.

It was not, however, a flash in the pan: BNEW returns and will do so this year with even more force, doubling its proposal. The CZFB already has the machinery in motion again to organize a second edition of this event between October 5 and 8, as Navarro explains to The New Barcelona Post, in a conversation where he also shows great optimism with the reindustrialization process of the Nissan factory and where he announces an "imminent agreement" on the sale price of the land that will allow the expansion of Mercabarna.

-- Has BNEW come to stay?

Yes, we want it to be held every first week of October. Not even another pandemic can stop BNEW, because it is an event that was born vaccinated! In the midst of lockdown, we decided to invent something new, an innovative format, totally different from the others and that would be protected from the virus, since the digital platform we developed allowed following the different thematic axes online, with the advantage that it also made the event global. It is a formula that worked very well and that positively surprised us.

--What is the objective you set for BNEW?

--We want to be useful and create economic activity, to be a meeting point, for networking, for creating a business network aimed at boosting the new economy. In the first BNEW there were more than 25,000 contacts between high-level people from companies. Of the 11,000 registrations, 1,800 were startups, that is, emerging companies that were very interested in taking advantage of the event to get in touch with other companies and with large business groups and vice versa. With the first BNEW, it was about being there, being present at a very complicated economic moment, of much pessimism, we had to transmit the message that there are many possibilities for economic growth.

--And this year, what will be the central element?

--This is the year of the relaunch, we think that in October the economy will be making a very important leap and the last quarter can exceed all forecasts and BNEW wants to be part of this trend. An interesting characteristic of this event is that it is not sectoral, but rather wants to boost the new economy in general and connect worlds that usually do not touch or look at each other. We mix different aspects and themes and we think that many opportunities can arise from this. In the first BNEW we had five thematic axes: logistics, e-commerce, digital industry, real estate sector and new economic zones. This year we return to these areas and add five more: sustainability, mobility, talent, science and BNEW City, a more recreational channel to experience the city and that will offer all kinds of gastronomic, cultural and design-related activities.

--What are your expectations for this second edition?

--Last year we were selling smoke, it was something that had never been done before and the response was very good. Now we start from a successful experience and what we will do is perfect it. In the first BNEW, physical presence was limited, but this year, if health restrictions do not prevent it, we will have more in-person public in the different scenarios of the ten thematic axes. We are perfecting the digital platform and this time the conferences can also be followed from the mobile phone, which will further facilitate participation. We also double the number of speakers, instead of 400 we will have 800, with the challenge of greatly increasing the capacity to transmit knowledge and promote business generation.

--Where will the sets for each thematic axis be located?

--BNEW is a successful formula because it is very much linked to Barcelona. All the venues are emblematic spaces of the city, reference points where we can set up a studio that allows us to offer an impeccable streaming signal. This year we will repeat at the Estación de Francia, at Casa Seat and at the Movistar Center in Plaça Catalunya, but BNEW will also take place at La Pedrera, at the Roca Gallery and in another space that I cannot yet specify. It will also be emblematic and will allow us to have a large outdoor space where we can gather between 500 and 1,000 attendees, although it will depend on the evolution of the pandemic.

--What budget is the CZFB working with for this second edition?

--I cannot give you the figure; but in 2020 we allocated about two million euros and managed to balance the accounts thanks to the companies that trusted us. All the sponsors were very satisfied and obtained a positive return and this year they are repeating and we will also have new sponsors.

--What participant target have you set?

--I cannot tell you, we think it will be more than 11,000, which in any case is already a very successful figure. We are doubling themes and speakers, we will have more in-person attendance... the pace of registrations is working well. Another good indicator is the fact that in the second call for the BNEW Startup Innovation Hub, 110 startups have signed up to participate, compared to 76 in the first year.

--Is the commitment to internationalization maintained?

--Absolutely, BNEW was born to be global, it is an event that very clearly promotes Barcelona in the world and positions it as a standard-bearer of the new economy and new opportunities. We focus on the Atlantic world ---America, Europe and Africa--- and we do not rule out having a foothold in other cities in the future, such as Lisbon, London or Dubai, although Barcelona will always be the reference. Why not make the live streaming of BNEW start in Barcelona and connect as the day goes on with other cities and end up going around the world? These are dreams of the future...

We do not rule out in the future that BNEW will have a foothold in other cities, such as Lisbon, London or Dubai, although Barcelona will always be the reference

--I believe that the management model we currently have is the correct one. In our plenary there are representatives from all political parties and social agents; it is a very plural plenary presided over by the mayor of Barcelona and it works very well. The CZFB has shown that it is useful not only for the city of Barcelona, but for the entire country.

--For a long period, the CZFB carried out a powerful real estate promotion activity. What currently focuses the entity's efforts?

--The CZFB manages an important public heritage: the Zona Franca industrial estate. We are self-financed with the income we obtain from rents and we allocate all profits to economic promotion and revitalization activities, such as the Logistics Exhibition, the Meeting Point or now BNEW. It is true that we have plots to build housing in the Sant Andreu barracks or in the Marina del Prat Vermell, we will do it, but our priority now is to create opportunities linked to the new economy and that is why we have promoted one of the most important 3D printing incubators that exist and projects like DFactory Barcelona.

The management model we currently have is the correct one; the CZFB has shown that it is useful not only for the city of Barcelona, but for the entire country

--The goal is to inaugurate a first phase of 17,000 square meters in autumn, with the challenge of promoting industry 4.0 and bringing together in one space everything related to digitalization, sustainability, 3D printing, robotics, or sensor technology. DFactory wants to be an initial core for creating jobs linked to the new industry. This first phase can provide work for about 500 people and will be a center for innovation, prototyping, and a collaborative space between different companies. But there will be a second phase, with 70,000 more square meters, which will be a manufacturing space. We already have two large multinationals committed to DFactory, HP and Huawei, which can act as drivers for many other companies. HP is key in the 3D business, while Huawei has seen in this initiative a framework to boost artificial intelligence applied to industry.

--When do you expect to have a solution for the 518,000 square meter plot occupied by Nissan, which will become vacant on December 31?

--By autumn, we should have very solid alternatives on the table. I am convinced that this issue will be resolved well, both for the affected Nissan workers and for the economic activity of the industrial park.

--Many names and many projects have emerged, but what phase are we in exactly?

--Good news is about to come out. The Reindustrialization Commission has received 41 proposals, all of them very innovative. A tender was held and KPMG was awarded the valuation of the different initiatives, and now we are in this analysis phase. It is logical that Nissan workers are restless and want quick results, but in this world, quick results are sometimes counterproductive because it can happen that in three years we have another disappointment. We must ensure very well who sets up here; we cannot put just any company. The commission is doing a good job, Nissan and the unions are also collaborating. We will go through a period of tensions, but I am sure that the result will be positive and that jobs will be recovered and we will have solid future companies in this space.

I am sure that the result will be positive and that Nissan jobs will be recovered and we will have solid future companies in this space

No, no, the idea is that the majority of square meters should be industrial. There can be a logistics part, especially that linked to the last mile, which is much needed and creates more jobs. Regarding the number of companies, I believe that none of the projects that have reached us can occupy the entire Nissan plot, but from my point of view, I think this is good. I prefer different companies to come, and if one day one of them has a problem, prevent everything from being left hanging again. It's better to put your eggs in different baskets.

--Another pending issue is the expansion of Mercabarna. The operation already has a green light, but it's not quite finalized, right?

Yes, we have it approved and now we are closing the loose ends of the agreement. It is not an easy issue, as we are two public institutions that have to defend our interests. We want to have the numbers very clear and agree on a sale price for the land that is fair for them and for us. We are almost in agreement and about to close the matter. We think that it can be made effective immediately.