Tech Barcelona and Innovally have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to structurally connect Barcelona’s tech ecosystem with the rapidly growing high-tech hub around Almere and the wider Dutch network. The collaboration aims to build a lasting bridge between startups, scaleups, corporates, investors, knowledge institutions and public partners in both regions, with a shared focus on accelerating European cooperation in high tech, dual-use and defence-related innovation, energy, mobility and urban development.

The agreement was signed at 4YFN, the international startup event held during Mobile World Congress Barcelona. The partnership links two of Europe’s fastest-developing innovation regions. Barcelona is home to Southern Europe’s largest tech ecosystem. Tech Barcelona, the independent non-profit that has driven the city’s tech agenda since 2013, represents more than 1,500 member companies and connects over 100 corporate partners. The wider Catalan startup ecosystem reached a record 2,400 startups in 2025 and attracted more than €1.1 billion in investment.

Almere is rapidly developing into the Netherlands’ fifth high-tech hub. Semiconductor company ASM International is investing hundreds of millions of euros in a new global headquarters and R&D centre on the city’s forthcoming High Tech Campus. TNO is conducting a feasibility study for a national semiconductor research institute at the same site. Innovally, launched in January 2026 as the successor to the Green Innovation HUB, acts as the region’s innovation platform for digital and high-tech innovation. Both regions share the ambition to build the next generation of sustainable, digital and secure cities.

Strengthening Europe’s strategic position

The collaboration is built around three pillars: knowledge sharing, network exchange and acceleration. Through joint sessions, both partners will share insights, trends and best practices from their ecosystems around the core themes of high tech, dual-use innovation, energy, mobility and urban development.

They will also open up their respective networks to facilitate introductions between companies and stakeholders, and increase visibility for each other’s flagship programmes and events in Spain and the Netherlands. Through an annual Accelerator Day, the partners aim to turn these connections into concrete collaborations, pilots and projects between companies and organisations from both regions.

In addition, Tech Barcelona and Innovally will jointly explore opportunities in European funding programmes, including initiatives related to AI, urban innovation and dual-use technologies.

A European corridor for innovation

The collaboration comes at a time when European strategic autonomy is high on the political agenda. By connecting Barcelona’s mature, internationally oriented tech community with Almere’s growing high-tech cluster, the partnership aims to create a corridor for knowledge, talent and business that strengthens both regions and Europe’s competitive position.

Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona: “Through this collaboration we connect Barcelona’s tech ecosystem with one of the most dynamic emerging high-tech regions in the Netherlands, creating new opportunities for our communities and contributing to a more connected and competitive Europe.”

Danny Frietman, Project Director of Innovally: “For Innovally, this is an important step to strengthen the international positioning of Almere and Flevoland and to give our companies and partners direct access to a leading Mediterranean innovation ecosystem.”