The 22@ looks to its future with good expectations and with the purpose of diversifying the uses of the district so that its activity is not limited to the work environment, but transcends to residential use and also to areas such as culture and leisure. "We have to facilitate things happening in the district," as highlighted by the new president of 22@Network Barcelona, an association that brings together companies and institutions from the Barcelona technology district, with around 260 members.
Since taking office in June, succeeding Enric Urreta, the also general director of Inetum Catalunya and her board have set as a priority to guarantee the balanced growth of 22@ and to establish it as "a world reference in sustainability, equality, and collaboration."
— How do you advance in this triple direction?
— We face the new stage from these priorities, and the new board will do so by refocusing on innovation. We come from a time when there has been much talk about offices, urban planning, and construction and, without neglecting it, now we want to return to focusing on our origin: innovation. For this reason, we have to find the balance between the urban planning sphere and that of technology, innovation, and talent. With this objective, the new board includes representatives from universities such as UOC and UPF, as well as innovative companies and entities such as Eurecat and Mobile World Capital, without neglecting Real Estate.
— The district also seeks a balance between the activities it hosts.
— A balance must be found between growth and people being able to live and work in the district, to avoid potential inequalities from increasing. With this objective, we promote public-private collaboration, especially in the housing sector, to ensure there are affordable options. The City Council shares this ambition for 22@, and knows it must set itself tasks.
— Should the uses of the district be diversified beyond business and residential?
— We have to facilitate things happening in the district. The 22@ must have spaces with an attractive cultural and leisure offer, in addition to services for the citizens who reside in it. In a context where teleworking has come to stay, although now with some slowdown, what companies want is to guarantee the continuity of a flow of people in the district.
— How can companies contribute to this goal?
— Companies must network more among ourselves, so that we get to know each other and collaborate more.
— The traditional office model is also changing.
— Companies now design their offices with sustainability criteria and, above all, with shared leisure spaces. Companies are changing to be more collaborative and dynamic, to seek the ease and flexibility that makes employees want to come to the offices.
— Does the conversion of buildings like Estel, the former Torre Sabadell, and Aura, the former Corte Inglés on Francesc Macià, into cutting-edge offices affect 22@?
— Now our priority is innovation, technology, and talent: that is our focus. When we emphasize this, innovation and technology transfer will increase. Then, everything will be more dynamic, and we will achieve the objectives that 22@ needs, which involve having more spaces for startups and living labs to materialize proof of concepts in the district.
— How is this commitment to innovation and technology materialized?
— By diversifying. Technology itself is very important, but now we have to find the applicability of all the innovation, talent, and technology we have to transform other emerging sectors, such as health and creative industries. To do this, we are having conversations to generate networks and an ecosystem.
— What are the key pieces in this ecosystem?
— When 22@ was planned 20 years ago, it was done with a great vision for the future, and not only spaces were built, but also this ecosystem. A virtuous circle must be generated with companies and training centers. Just like two decades ago, now companies, technology, and talent must be aligned, through universities and training centers.
— Was this ecosystem what motivated Inetum's move to 22@ three years ago?
— Before, we were located in the center, but we were waiting for an opportunity to move the company to 22@. Here, you walk around and you cross paths with all the key elements of the ecosystem. And it is this ecosystem that is being generated as a value factor that companies want to integrate into.
— Technology companies repeatedly warn of the lack of talent in the sector. How should talent be generated, attracted, and retained?
— Universities and initiatives like Barcelona Activa's reskilling programs contribute in this direction. And one must be very attentive: as technology has so many different facets and so many possibilities, often the employee is motivated by their work depending on the project they are assigned to. That's why you have to look at people's concerns; if they perform a job that motivates them, you no longer need to retain them, because you are already building their loyalty, because they enjoy their work.
— Can boosting the now insufficient presence of female talent in the technology sector help alleviate this shortage of professionals?
— We come from a very masculinized world and a technology sector that is also especially masculinized. Spaces must be created to give visibility to female professionals and share success stories, as is done in the Dones en Valor commission of 22@ Network, of which I was president.
— What implications can it have that a woman is now at the head of the entire association?
— The presidency of a woman shows that we are in a moment of change. The future is in our hands and, with will, with knowledge and with alliances, we will go in the right direction, without a doubt.
— What role does 22@ want to play in Barcelona?
— We want a 22@ without borders: we are an engine of attraction for the entire city of Barcelona. Although there is a delimited district, we want to generate networks and collaborate with companies and innovation centers beyond what the district itself is.
— Also in the international sphere?
— Precisely, we want to make a comparison between 22@ and other innovation districts worldwide. From this benchmark will emerge initiatives to be developed in Barcelona, and also international alliances.
— What do these alliances consist of?
— We contemplate exploring new collaborations and advice to districts that have just started their activity and want to be leaders in innovation and ask us how we did it. We start from a willingness to collaborate and advise as consultants open to the world. The 22@ brand is a pioneer and continues to be an international benchmark, but other territories have also accelerated, and we must have the ambition and the will to maintain this position as pioneers, also in innovation and talent.