Barcelona

As one of the most visited cities in Spain, Barcelona is the centre of vibrancy on the Mediterranean coast and home to a great deal of creativity, innovation and business. Apart from its extensive range of world-famous cultural and historical attractions like the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell and La Pedrera, the city is known for its captivating nightlife and a wide variety of performing arts. With its high level of cosmopolitanism and a multicultural lifestyle, Barcelona is often referred to as one of the coolest cities in Europe.

Industrial activity has grown especially in the Barcelona area. Half of the Catalan economy is directly or indirectly related to the innovative, dynamic and diversified industrial sector.

Food, chemicals, motor vehicles, energy and pharmaceuticals are the main industrial sectors. And today, this strong industrial base and a powerful ICT sector are key elements that make Catalonia a driving force in Industry 4.0.

According to data published by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, foreign direct investment in Catalonia reached an annual average (2015-2019) of €4.73 billion. Catalonia has been recognised by the Financial Times as the first region in southern Europe in foreign investment for 2020 and 2021.

The capital of Catalonia has become a global benchmark for smart cities and hosts some of the most prestigious international conferences and fairs in this sector, including the Smart City Expo World Congress, the Smart City Campus, and the Mobile World Congress.