Barcelona, July 14 2025. – Tech Barcelona has signed a strategic alliance with the Consorci Sanitari Alt Penedès-Garraf (CSAPG) to promote technological and digital innovation in the field of health and integrated care throughout the territory.

This agreement will allow us to:

• Bring startups and other solutions to the public health system.
• Foster a culture of innovation and knowledge transfer.
• Build a more digital, sustainable and people-centred care model.

Miquel Marti, CEO of Tech Barcelona: “From the association we are committed to a shared innovation model throughout the territory, which emphasises the sustainability of the health system, the facilitation of home care, the responsible and shared use of data and the agile implementation of solutions. The ultimate goal has to be to improve the lives of all people, and we can do this through technology and in collaboration with driving entities such as CSAPG”.

Dr. Maria Gloria Torras Boatella, Director of Teaching, Research and Innovation at CSAPG: “From the Consorci we are committed to open innovation and access to solutions and actions that enhance it. The CSAPG is a favourable environment for activating, piloting, validating and integrating innovative health solutions. Establishing stable relationships with entities such as Tech Barcelona reinforces our strategy”.

Barcelona is on the right track. Beyond consolidating its position as the leading startup ecosystem in Southern Europe and the fifth at the European Union (only behind Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and Stockholm), the recent report published by StartupBlink highlights the rapid growth the city is experiencing. Specifically, Barcelona has seen a 40.4% increase compared to the previous year, the fourth-highest growth rate among the world’s top 50 startup ecosystems. This growth has allowed the city to overtake global hubs like Hong Kong and Moscow, now ranking 33rd worldwide.

The report notes that Barcelona already leads in sectors such as leisure, cleantech, traveltech, and gaming. Now, new opportunities are emerging, aligned with Europe’s strategic priorities, in deep tech areas such as biotechnology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

European initiatives like the arrival of one of the EU’s seven AI Factories (which will give startups access to cutting-edge technology), national programs such as the creation of a €353 million fund led by the CDTI and the EIF to invest in deep tech startups, and local efforts like the funds promoted by Ajuntament de Barcelona to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem are clear examples of the kind of strategic commitment that will allow us to remain competitive and strengthen our technological autonomy within the European and global context.

• Talent Garden, SheBlooms, The Social Hub, Karisma, Circles House, and Manglar are joining Tech Barcelona’s network through partnerships that give their members access to the association’s exclusive services and benefits.
• With nearly 1,500 members, Tech Barcelona is the leading voice of Barcelona’s tech and digital ecosystem, and one of the most prominent in Europe.

Barcelona, May 6, 2025 – Tech Barcelona, the private non-profit organization that connects and strengthens the city’s tech and digital ecosystem, has signed collaboration agreements with six local and international entrepreneurial communities to expand its impact and support the integration of new members.

Through these agreements, members of Talent Garden, SheBlooms, The Social Hub, Karisma, Circles House, and Manglar will be able to join Tech Barcelona and gain access to networking spaces, participation in events and activities, and opportunities to showcase their projects and build relationships with investors, companies, and public institutions, among others.

“These communities, both local and international, play a key role in supporting entrepreneurship and fostering talent,” said Miguel Vicente, President of Tech Barcelona. “With these partnerships, we want every entrepreneur—regardless of where they start—to find in Tech Barcelona a platform for support, visibility, and connection. We are building bridges and making integration easier in order to keep developing a more competitive, connected, and inclusive tech and digital ecosystem. Ultimately, our goal is to become the global platform that brings the entire ecosystem together, where collaboration and partnerships keep the community united.”

Six communities, one ecosystem: more diverse and better connected

The six communities share a common mission: to create support networks, drive innovation, and improve access to resources for entrepreneurs. They do so through different formats—ranging from physical spaces like coworking and coliving hubs to digital platforms—with complementary approaches that span sustainability, female entrepreneurship, and more. Together, they represent a global network of over 70,000 professionals, including startups, freelancers, and SMEs.

• Talent Garden is a community of 3,000 active members—startups, scaleups, and corporations—and a wider network of around 65,000 professionals across 15 campuses in five European countries. In Barcelona, it operates a 4,500-square-meter campus in the city’s 22@ tech district.
• SheBlooms is an international community of women entrepreneurs focused on supporting female-led ventures through access to capital and education.
• The Social Hub is an international network of hybrid spaces that combine hotel, student residence, coliving, and coworking. With a presence in over 15 European cities, The Social Hub Barcelona is its largest location, spanning 3,000 square meters.
• Karisma is a Barcelona-based social club made up of more than 250 entrepreneurs and creatives.
• Circles House is a boutique coliving and coworking community located in the Sarrià-Sant Gervasi district, designed for entrepreneurs and digital nomads.
• Manglar, Spain’s first solidarity-based coworking space, operates in the Gràcia neighborhood. In addition to offering workspaces, it provides strategic and financial consulting services to startups and SMEs. Two-thirds of its profits are reinvested into social initiatives.

Tech Barcelona, the leading voice of the tech ecosystem

The association, created by and for entrepreneurs in 2013, has built an ecosystem of nearly 1,500 members (entrepreneurs, investors, tech and digital leaders, and representatives from major corporations) and over 110 partner organizations, leaders in various sectors and technologies. From large companies like CaixaBank, Damm, Mango, Nestlé, and Novartis, to institutional partners such as ACCIÓ, Barcelona Activa, and ICEX; business schools and universities like ESADE, EAE Business School, and IQS; research centers like I2Cat and Eurecat; organizations such as Foment del Treball, the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona, or the Port of Barcelona; international tech hubs like Freenow and IFCO; and hospitals like Vall d’Hebrón, Hospital de Bellvitge, and i4Kids-Hospital Sant Joan de Déu.

On the international stage, Tech Barcelona is part of GIFT, a network of international hubs that includes BeCentral (Brussels), Maria01 (Helsinki), and H7 (Lyon), which organizes joint activities and facilitates connections between European entrepreneurs and investors. Additionally, it channels its policy strategy in Brussels through Allied for Startups, working alongside national organizations such as ADigital and Startup Valencia.

Barcelona is synonymous with opportunity for tech talent. In this context, the Banco de España announced in March the creation of its new innovation and development center in the city, a unique opportunity for 25 professionals passionate about artificial intelligence and data science. At Tech Barcelona, we spoke with Mónica Moles, Head of the User Process Support Unit at Banco de España, to understand the role this center will play and the importance of its team.

What role will this new experimentation and development center of the Banco de España in Barcelona play?

It will play a key role in the digital transformation and oversight of AI in the financial sector. This center will focus on experimenting with and developing new technologies, leveraging the human capital and computational capabilities available in Barcelona, including collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC).

On the one hand, it will develop the Banco de España’s strategic AI and new technology projects, while also applying an experimentation approach to use cases involving AI both within the institution and across the banking sector as a whole.

The personnel selection process launched by the Banco de España, which closes on April 28, seeks to staff the Barcelona center with qualified, experienced professionals to take on this challenge.

What types of projects and initiatives will be developed here? What technologies will be used?

Initially, the Barcelona center will develop the strategic AI projects identified by Banco de España, while progressively incorporating new technologies. We aim to promote the application of AI in all of the bank’s functions related to the financial sector, from financial stability and supervision to monetary policy and internal operations.

Projects such as conversational assistants and AI-based systems to enhance information management could be transformational for daily operations. These assistants will be developed within multi-agent architectures using the latest available technologies.

Here are some examples of the projects we are working on:

• Analysis of public communication from the European Central Bank (ECB): AI can analyze how the ECB’s statements and communications influence financial markets.
• Measuring uncertainty: Evaluating economic uncertainty based on various data sources such as news and social media. AI can identify patterns and trends that affect the economy, providing more accurate tools for decision-making.
• SupTech tools for banking supervision: AI can detect anomalous behavior and potential fraud, improving the Banco de España’s supervisory capabilities.

In terms of technology, these professionals will have access to all necessary resources to develop these projects: access to large language models, computing power both in our data center and in the cloud, cognitive systems, generative AI tools, and modern development platforms.

What kind of profiles are being recruited in this first phase?

The selection process is structured around two main profiles: artificial intelligence and data science.

The roles involve developing quantitative tools using machine learning techniques, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence for the analysis, modeling, acquisition, visualization, and storage of data to improve the institution’s analytical and forecasting capabilities in economic and financial matters.

For both profiles, the requirements are: an official university degree with a minimum of 240 ECTS credits; at least three years of professional experience within the last eight years in roles related to these positions; and English proficiency at a B2 level.

What would you say to a data scientist or AI engineer who has never considered working in the public sector? What makes this opportunity stand out?

Trabajar en el Banco de España significa colaborar en sus funciones como banco central nacional y como miembro del Sistema Europeo de Bancos Centrales (SEBC), contribuyendo, entre otras, a su labor como supervisor del sistema bancario español, junto al Banco Central Europeo en el marco del Mecanismo Único de Supervisión (MUS). Esto supone, en ocasiones, trabajar en colaboración con otros bancos centrales en el desarrollo de proyectos con un carácter internacional y multidisciplinar.

Working at Banco de España means contributing to its functions as a national central bank and as a member of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), participating in its role as supervisor of the Spanish banking system, alongside the European Central Bank under the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). This often involves collaborating with other central banks on international, multidisciplinary projects.

Banco de España values diversity and promotes excellence, with heterogeneous teams that bring a variety of perspectives, leading to better outcomes. Diversity is welcomed and appreciated in all its forms for the richness it brings. Additionally, the Bank offers numerous career development opportunities and options for international growth.

In the fields of data science and artificial intelligence, this means working on unique projects with access to exclusive central bank data and high analytical value. This includes macroeconomic data, financial transactions, and detailed statistics that allow for deep and precise analysis.

Moreover, working at a central bank provides the opportunity to collaborate with experts in economics, supervision, regulation, and technology. This interdisciplinary collaboration enriches the work environment and allows for tackling complex problems from multiple perspectives in a setting that values ethics and responsibility in the use of AI. These roles allow professionals to directly contribute to economic stability and growth. The decisions and analyses made can influence monetary policy, financial stability, and banking supervision, positively impacting both the economy and society at large.

How do you think this center could influence the future of Spain’s economy?

The new experimentation and development center in Barcelona has the potential to significantly shape the future of Spain’s economy.

At Banco de España, we aim to support financial institutions in leveraging artificial intelligence and the full range of digital technologies already in place. Above all, the Bank will contribute its specialized expertise and deep understanding of the banking sector to oversee AI-related processes.

In addition, the center will foster collaboration with academic institutions, research centers, and private companies, attracting specialized talent in emerging technologies.

In short, the center will not only enhance the Bank of Spain’s efficiency and supervisory capacity, but also drive technological innovation, attract talent, create new economic opportunities, and contribute to better-informed economic policymaking—positively influencing the future of Spain’s economy.