Transform data into innovation for the future of water! At Aigües de Barcelona, we seek to respond to environmental and social challenges by using service data to transform it into a source of interdisciplinary innovation, in collaboration with universities and other entities in Catalonia’s innovation ecosystem.

The challenges that the AB Data Challenge aims to tackle:

• Detection of abnormal consumption: Advanced data analysis techniques offer new opportunities to understand and characterise water consumption patterns. In this context, the development of new variables and innovative analytical models opens up the possibility of identifying abnormal consumption behaviour with greater precision.
• Impact of global changes on water consumption: Water consumption patterns are constantly evolving, influenced by multiple external factors. This challenge seeks to develop analytical models that allow us to understand how different contexts (climate change, droughts, economic fluctuations or tourist pressure) affect domestic consumption habits, as well as the behaviour of large industrial and commercial customers.
• Water leaks and customer experience: Efficient management of water leaks is a fundamental challenge that directly impacts the customer experience. Each incident has particular characteristics that are reflected in consumption patterns and generate different responses from users. This challenge seeks to deepen understanding of the types of leaks and their relationship with the customer experience, from detection to resolution.
• Predicting incidents in smart meters: Water meter maintenance is essential to ensure service continuity and quality. This challenge seeks to develop innovative predictive models that, by analysing patterns in data transmission (such as a progressive decrease in the number of readings), make it possible to anticipate possible equipment failures or deterioration.
• Open innovation: In addition to the challenges proposed in the programme, AB Fecha Challenge is open to receiving and considering new proposals and initiatives submitted by participants. These new ideas must be aligned with the main objectives of the competition, which are to promote innovation in the use of data, encourage collaboration between different sectors and disciplines, and drive data-driven solutions to address social and environmental challenges.

Prizes of up to €6,000 for the winning teams! For more information, click here.

From the Àrea d’Emprenedoria i Formació del Departament d’Empresa i Treball , we want to continue mapping innovation in Catalunya with a new edition of Mapathon, a biennial event that highlights innovative entrepreneurship initiatives developed throughout the country.

Following the success of the 2023 edition, in 2025 we want to shake up the Catalan innovation ecosystem once again, connecting talent and sharing some of the best practices in innovation between companies and organisations, facilitating the exchange of experiences at all times.

To achieve this, we have scheduled four sessions where, with the help of the consulting firm Matteria, we will collectively analyse the strengths and growth potential of four ecosystems, identifying opportunities for collaboration and models that can be extrapolated between different territories.

Specifically, Mapathon 2025 will take us to:

• Penedès and Anoia: Tuesday, 11 November 2025.
• Ripollès and Berguedà: Thursday, 13 November 2025.
• Terres de l’Ebre: Tuesday, 18 November 2025.
• Alt Pirineu and Aran: Thursday, 20 November 2025.

Your participation is key to shaping the innovative future of Catalonia. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sign up and participate!

Are you ready to be part of Europe’s most influential blockchain event? With 6,000 attendees and 300 speakers, the European Blockchain Convention is back for its 12th edition!

Join us in Barcelona for two days of entertainment and discover the entire Web3 ecosystem in one place. Experience an unforgettable event with three stages, an expanded exhibition area, start-up competitions, VIP meetings and Europe’s largest cryptocurrency networking programme.

Tech Barcelona’s members have a 15% discount code with the code: TechBCN15 |  Ticket link

At SCEWC 2025, the Government of Catalonia stand in Hall 3, Stand D-50, will showcase innovations from 20 Catalan companies. They come from the engineering, energy, data analytics, and security industries and showcase the expertise and range of Catalonia’s urban innovation ecosystem.

Join the Catalonia Trade & Investment’s events and activities organized under the framework of SCEWC 2025.

Open Innovation Challenge:

If you are a technology provider or a startup, the Open Innovation Challenge at SCEWC 2025 allows you to present your urban solutions to major global corporations, institutions, and governments. Key organizations participating include Port de Barcelona, l’Energètica, Infraestructures.cat, Autoritat del Transport Metropolità, COMSA, REPSOL, EDP, and many more.

The Open Innovation Challenge will focus on a wide range of topics, such as energy efficiency, automation, improved mobility, robotics, electric vehicles, and new materials. By participating, you can discover these organizations’ specific challenges and request meetings with them if your solution fits. This is a unique opportunity to position your technology or startup at the forefront of urban innovation.

Meetings with the corporations can be held physically at the SCEWC in Barcelona from November 4-6 or online during the designated dates in late October and early November.

Participation is free of charge. Register on the Open Innovation Challenge platform as a tech or solution provider by October 29th.

Catalonia Urban Solutions:

Catalonia Urban Solutions is an on-site B2B and B2G event that connects international companies, entities, and institutions with Catalan suppliers. It offers cutting-edge, innovative solutions market-ready to be implemented or commercialized.

This matchmaking event, meetings 1:1 and personalised fair-guided tours, allows international participants to share their needs and interests with Catalan suppliers, showcasing their solutions; it helps set pre-scheduled meetings and arrange fair-guided tours, cost-efficiently generate valuable leads and partnerships. By attending, participants can stay ahead of industry trends and network with key players worldwide.

Do you have an idea, a project, or simply want to enjoy a unique entrepreneurial experience?

Join Startup Weekend Perpignan, from October 17th to 19th 2025 in Le Soler (near Perpignan).

In 54 hours, participants from all walks of life – developers, designers, marketing specialists, students, entrepreneurs – come together to transform ideas into real projects.

On the programme: pitches, mentoring, prototyping, co-living and lots of collective energy!

An ideal opportunity to connect the French and Catalan ecosystems in a cross-border and creative spirit.

Tech Barcelona members have access to an exclusive promotional code – TECHBCN – which allows them to register for the event free of charge.

More information and registration at this link.

CEO Connection is a space designed for you, the one leading a small business and looking to grow, collaborate, and learn.

Along your journey, you’ve probably heard phrases like “You’re so brave!”, because often the environment makes things difficult with complex paperwork, tax, accounting, labor management, competitors…

That’s why we decided to create a tailor-made experience for you and your business.

We will have Mireia Trepat, co-founder of Freshly Cosmetics, who will share her journey and challenges together with Andrea Vilallonga, host of our CEO Frequency podcast, where you’ll be part of the live audience and have the chance to ask questions.

The event will continue with a practical workshop led by Susana Mondéjar, consultant and trainer specializing in interpersonal communication, where you’ll learn to communicate with more confidence and empathy in uncomfortable situations. Through group dynamics, you’ll discover key tools to manage conflicts and turn daily challenges into growth opportunities for you and your business.

Finally, we’ll wrap up with a networking space where you can truly connect by sharing challenges, doubts, experiences, and much more.

Leading should not be a lonely task, nor take up every hour of your day. Let’s change the rules of the game. We’re waiting for you! 🚀

With more than 20 investments in this field and as pioneers in supporting start-ups in the pre-seed and seed phases, BStartup Banco Sabadell is opening its investment call for the eighth consecutive year, targeting projects in the field of health: Medical Devices, Diagnostics, Therapeutics & Drugs and e-Health. The investment will be used primarily to validate the technology, research and business model, with the aim of promoting the leap to the next stages of development, bringing the projects closer to the market and society.

In addition, in this edition, the selected projects will have the opportunity to present their proposals in person, not only to the BStartup Banco Sabadell team, but also to the main health investment funds in our country that are joining in to support new initiatives in their early stages: AdBio partners, Aliath Bioventures, Asabys Partners, Clave Capital, Columbus Venture Partners, CG Health Ventures, Inveready, Invivo Partners, Nina Capital and Ysios Capital. The 20 best projects will present their start-ups and receive direct feedback at the hearings to be held in November, while the eight finalists will participate in an exclusive DemoDay in front of the fund partners, followed by a networking lunch with them.

BStartupHealth will invest up to €200,000 in each of the three finalist projects.

Are you developing a scalable solution to help bring internet access to unconnected schools worldwide? 📶 This is your opportunity to make a global impact where it’s needed most.

Giga has officially launched the Giga Accelerator, an open call for proposals to scale open-source digital connectivity solutions for schools in underserved and remote areas.

Benefits

The program aims to support organizations like yours through an acceleration journey, offering benefits such as:

💸 $50,000 in equity-free funding to supercharge your growth
🧠 Expert mentorship from industry leaders in tech, business, and policy
🌍 Global visibility through Giga’s network, with access to potential partners and investors
🧪 Pilot opportunities to test and scale your solution in real-world environments
🎤 Exposure through demo days and international showcases (including MWC Barcelona 2026)

Get more information on Giga’s website: https://giga.global/accelerator-programme/

AI is no longer grounded in theory. From air traffic control to urban air mobility, frontier technologies are reshaping how we move, connect, and build the systems of tomorrow. Join us for an evening of talks, debate, and networking with leaders driving digital transformation in how we fly and move.

Our Speakers

Amad Malik – CTO at ATOS/Eurocontrol

Talk: AI, Air Mobility, and the Systems That Build the Future

With nearly three decades across aerospace, finance, and healthcare, Amad is pioneering AI-enabled air traffic management and urban air mobility. He’ll reveal how aerospace breakthroughs ripple into infrastructure, logistics, and smart cities – and why building the future is a matter of design, not chance.

Antonio Cabeza – Senior Engagement Manager at ALG

Talk: AI in the Skies – Real Transformations in Aviation and Transport

An aeronautical engineer with an MSc in Big Data & Advanced Analytics, Antonio has led projects with EASA, EUROCONTROL, and the European Commission. He’ll share practical use cases where AI is already improving safety, optimising operations, and driving smarter decisions across airports and airlines.

DeepTech Talks is where frontier technology meets real-world application. Whether you’re an engineer, founder, or tech leader, expect sharp insights, strong opinions, and the connections that move ideas forward

European ports are facing growing pressure to reduce waste, improve resource use, and meet circular economy targets. However, many still struggle to turn regulations into practice.

On October 7, Blue Room Innovation, ICLEI and CircularInvest invite you to a webinar focused on the circular economy in ports. You will hear from two leading authorities: the Port of Amsterdam and the Port of the Balearic Islands, as well as Portnet – Circularport (funded by the Ports 4.0 program), the digital solution that streamlines port waste flows through blockchain technology.

The webinar will also open a space for discussion: what are the practical barriers to circularity? What is needed to go beyond regulatory compliance and rethink port operations?