The second edition of Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW), organized by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), kicks off this Tuesday, October 5, with a record number of attendees: 12,000 registered people from 145 nationalities and the participation of 800 speakers, half of them women. The hybrid event ---in-person and online--- has also doubled the thematic areas that will be addressed to analyze and seek solutions to the problems of the new economy, so to the aspects debated last year ---logistics, Real Estate, e-commerce, digital industry and economic zones--- sustainability, science, mobility, talent and city have been added.
Over the next four days, from October 5 to 8, Barcelona will once again transform into the world capital of the new economy with the celebration of more than 200 sessions, equivalent to 240 hours of content. One of BNEW's strong points will continue to be its networking program to generate contacts among all attendees at the event, being the only large multi-sector event that allows synergies between companies and professionals from very diverse activities, but always with innovation as a unifying point. In its first edition, BNEW fostered more than 25,000 contacts among the various companies attending the event. BNEW's exclusive technological platform will be responsible for cross-referencing all the data of all attendees, and companies will be able to take advantage of all visibility opportunities through the BVillage space. Business relationships are an activity of great interest that, according to the general director of the Consorci, Blanca Sorigué, began in early September "the moment registration opened."
The event will begin with the institutional inauguration ceremony presided over by the mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, who will be accompanied by the Government delegate in Catalonia, Teresa Cunillera, and the secretary of economic affairs and European funds of the Department of Economy of the Generalitat, Maria Matilde Villarroya Martínez; in addition to the special delegate of the State in the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona, Pere Navarro, and the general director of the entity, Blanca Sorigué. The inauguration will take place at the Estació de França in Barcelona, one of the city's emblematic spaces which, along with La Pedrera, Movistar Centre, Casa SEAT, Roca Barcelona Gallery and La Boqueria, will be the setting for the multitude of sessions that will be held.
In its first edition, BNEW facilitated more than 25,000 contacts between the various companies attending the eventThe special delegate of the State in the Consorci de la Zona Franca, Pere Navarro, highlighted during the presentation of the event that "BNEW 2020 turned Barcelona into the world capital of the new economyand this year will be the same." In addition, the event organizers emphasize that Barcelona New Economy Week generates 200 direct jobs and another 700 indirect jobs, contributing in turn to the local economy.
Most of the 12,000 participating companies will be represented by senior executives, and of the total, more than a thousand are startups. It should also be noted that, with 50% internationality, the largest participation comes from Spain, Venezuela, and Colombia. In this regard, Navarro mentioned the delivery of awards for the best innovation of BNEW, where the most innovative startup from each of the sectors present will be recognized. An event that will be held on Thursday, October 7, and will be attended by the First Vice President and Minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño, at Estación de Francia. Finally, the same venue will host the closing of the event, on Friday, October 8, with the participation of the Minister of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, Raquel Sánchez.