Technological innovation has driven the growth of 22@ since its creation in 2000, based on a pioneering project of urban, economic, and social renewal and innovation, to turn it into an attractive urban environment for knowledge and technology-intensive activities.
During these 25 years, Barcelona's innovation district has become a technological and business hub, thanks to a unique ecosystem that brings together large companies, business accelerators, startups, venture capital investors, and academic and research (applied) and innovation institutions. The combination of the above with the maintenance of residential and neighborhood uses makes 22@ a distinctive model of our city.
From this district, which occupies Barcelona's historic industrial neighborhood of Poblenou, Eurecat has been developing differential technological solutions for more than a decade that contribute to business innovation, the creation of quality employment, and the economic and business dynamism of the city and the country, and which also have an impact worldwide.
Our presence in the district allows us to confirm that one of the keys to the success of 22@ has been its ability to combine productive activities with technological development and innovation, betting on knowledge and the provision of infrastructures and equipment as a formula to attract talent and business activity and generate a real impact on the economic and social fabric.
The convergence of these factors has contributed to transforming ideas into operational solutions and accelerating industrial adoption, because innovation does not depend solely on the volume of knowledge generated, but on the ability of companies to transform it into value.
Some indicators confirm the success of the model. A large percentage of the more than 12,000 companies hosted by 22@ are newly created, with knowledge and technology having a great weight among them. Of these companies, a very high percentage are also internationalized, demonstrating that the two factors, innovation and international competitiveness, are mutually reinforcing.
In a context of profound geopolitical and technological changes, this vision is especially necessary, because many of the great current industrial challenges precisely demand this capacity to generate an ecosystem, as 22@ does and has been doing since its origins.
The Barcelona technology district therefore reaches its 25th birthday recognized as a model of international success and as a hub for the digital economy and innovation. Looking to the future, it is essential that it maintains its innovative essence connected with the needs of industry and reinforcing those characteristics that define its uniqueness; very much linked from its beginnings to collaborative innovation, networking, and creative sectors, ICT, media, digital health or urbantech.
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