The New Barcelona Post converses this month with Eric Antràs, one of the young people participating in the leadership and city program taught by Barcelona Global, Barcelona 2040. Antràs is a project manager at NTT Data, and works leading digital transformation and supply chain optimization projects.
The objective of this series of interviews is for this new generation of leaders to share their vision of the Barcelona of the future they aspire to, as well as their impact proposals for the improvement of the city.
--- What do you expect from Barcelona in 2040?
--- I expect a sustainable Barcelona, with efficient mobility and urban planning focused on people. A dynamic and digitized city that fosters innovation while preserving its cultural essence. This means finding the balance between global openness and internal development, between attracting international talent and promoting and recognizing local talent.
--- Which city would you compare Barcelona to?
--- I am ambitious, I would compare it to Sydney and New York for their balance between quality of life, global connectivity, and economic development. Both are vibrant cities, with strong tourist and technological appeal. Sydney has managed to combine its economic growth with the preservation of its natural environment, offering modern urban spaces alongside large green areas and beaches. New York, on the other hand, stands out for its business dynamism, its cultural diversity, and its ability to attract talent from all over the world, serving as a global financial and technological epicenter. The combination of these models could inspire Barcelona to enhance its competitiveness and sustainability.
--- Which city model do you think Barcelona's should resemble?
--- Barcelona should be inspired by cities like Singapore, which has achieved a balance between economic growth, sustainability, and efficient mobility. Singapore is a benchmark in planned urbanism, with green infrastructures, advanced transport policies, and an innovation ecosystem that drives its global competitiveness. However, its restrictive political model poses challenges in terms of citizen participation and individual freedoms, which must be considered when adapting its best practices to a democratic and participatory context like Barcelona's.
"The city must continue to bet on a balanced development model"--- What is the main challenge Barcelona must solve in the coming years?
--- The main challenge is sustainable growth. Affordable housing, efficient mobility, and the diversification of the productive fabric are key to preventing gentrification and ensuring opportunities for all. Furthermore, the city must face the challenge of wage competitiveness, especially with the arrival of digital nomads who work remotely for foreign companies with salaries higher than local ones. This creates a gap that affects residents and distorts the labor market and the cost of living. Barcelona must find mechanisms to retain local talent and foster working conditions that allow it to compete in this new globalized environment. And, (in an ironic tone) perhaps also consider a limit on brunch spots, before all of Barcelona ends up turned into a showcase of avocado toasts and matcha lattes.
"Barcelona is an ecosystem where everything coexists"--- What do you think should be the role of new generations and their involvement in the city's development?
--- New generations must lead the digital and sustainable transformation of the city, promoting a model of active participation in decision-making and betting on innovation and entrepreneurship. In addition, students must be highly prepared, as Barcelona's future is global and so is the competition. Quality education and the development of digital skills will be key for young people to compete in an increasingly internationalized market.
--- Which business sectors do you think Barcelona should bet on?
--- After completing the Barcelona Global program, I have seen that all sectors are very relevant to the city. Although we are more advanced in some than in others, Barcelona is an ecosystem where everything coexists, and the effort has to be adjusted very precisely. I believe that, if anything the program has taught me, it is that no one has absolute certainty to answer this question. What I do have clear is that the city must continue to bet on a balanced development model, in which medicine, technology, logistics, tourism, industry, science, and culture work together to build a global, strong, and competitive Barcelona.