Science and Innovation

With the aim of establishing public-private governance, where all research and innovation is transferred to public and private institutions, the Barcelona Innovation Coast (BIC) is to be consolidated as a reference platform for innovation and the promotion of knowledge transfer in Barcelona and its metropolitan area.

The aim is to provide the BIC with the necessary resources for the deployment of its activity, with lines of work such as scientific diplomacy, a research equipment program, and to promote, on the one hand, the BioHealth sector and, on the other, the technology sector of chip design, quantum communication, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Develop the agreements included in the scientific capital agreement to increase Barcelona's resources and visibility in the scientific and technological field. This involves attracting investment, scientific infrastructures, congresses and scientific events in the city to consolidate Barcelona as a city of science. This positioning is also achieved by recognizing careers in the field of science and research with the Hypathia Award, a European prize for scientific excellence, among other awards.

In order to plan the distribution of urban areas related to science, the Barcelona City Council will develop a Program of knowledge, research and innovation facilities. This plan, which will be coordinated with the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB), contemplates the creation of well-defined zones adapted to the needs of the sector, which will facilitate the location and expansion of scientific infrastructures and facilities.

Six areas of knowledge, research and innovation have been identified in the city of Barcelona:

• Leading the great urban transformation that means the Ciutadella of Knowledge project to consolidate a scientific ecosystem in the Ciutadella Park.
• Reinforce the Diagonal - Besòs Campus as a catalyst space for economic activity, innovation, knowledge and "green" talent.
• Support the projects of the Diagonal Health Axis, such as the construction of the New Clínic and the sizing of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
• Consolidate the northern zone - Collserola as a pole of life sciences and health, with the leadership of the Vall d'Hebron Research Institute and the new CaixaResearch Institute.
• Promote 22@ as an innovation hub for economic activity and technology transfer.
• Accompany the Industrial+ project, a new, greener and more sustainable innovation hub on the Industrial School site.

Barcelona is committed to strengthening its global competitiveness by promoting research and innovation. This commitment will be materialized in a proposed tax relief ordinance for research and transfer, aimed at attracting and retaining R&D intensive companies in the city, with a double objective: to strengthen the business fabric and attract talent and innovation.

Regarding IBI tax relief, the 95% IBI tax relief for research centers and universities is maintained, but a new IBI rebate is envisaged for economic activities considered of special interest or municipal utility in companies that invest in research and innovation, based on collaborations with universities, research centers, spinoffs and deep tech startups. With regard to the IAE, it provides for bonuses from 50% for investments in fixed assets of more than €1M, job creation and for companies that establish innovation centers or startups in the city.

The new Crea Feina Investiga Program will be implemented, with financial aid to promote the strategic hiring of scientific and research personnel to improve the competitiveness of the city's business fabric. Also to strengthen research on urban challenges and support for scientific careers in Barcelona, the consolidation of several lines of subsidies is proposed.  Two key calls for proposals will be promoted biannually: the Call for Research and Innovation, in collaboration with the "la Caixa" Foundation, and the Call for Young and Emerging Research. In addition, support will be given to projects focused on climate emergency, and projects focused on urban innovation through the Proactive City program.

To achieve the priority objective of promoting knowledge transfer, the establishment in Barcelona of the first center in Spain of the Fraunhofer Institute, Europe's largest and most prestigious applied research organization, will be key. The Barcelona City Council, in collaboration with the Government of Spain and the Generalitat de Catalunya, is promoting this initiative that will strengthen Catalonia's position as a scientific hub in biomedicine and bioengineering, increasing its competitiveness throughout southern Europe. The new headquarters will be located in the Barcelona Science Park and will be a partnership with the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC).

It also seeks to consolidate the Barcelona Deep Tech Node initiative as an instrument to support start-ups and deep tech spin-offs. This involves expanding venture capital funds to €60M in 4 years, which will take into account deep tech investments, and consolidating the Barcelona Deep Tech Summit as the main meeting of the knowledge transfer ecosystem. Also to favor the establishment of international applied research centers that promote transfer and innovation in the BioHealth and technology sectors.

The City and Science Biennial of 2025 and 2027, a tractor project that helps to position Barcelona as a benchmark in the field of scientific ethics and art and science, is planned to be held again. The 2025 and 2027 editions will seek to reaffirm the Biennial as a benchmark event in scientific ethics, thus highlighting the fusion of art and science and promoting dissemination, education and international cooperation in the scientific field.

Likewise, the annual Science Festival will continue to be organized as a meeting place for citizens and the scientific ecosystem of the city, and to continue promoting citizen and participatory science through the Citizen Science Office.

Two outstanding programs are maintained, such as the Prometeus program, to guarantee access to university and lifelong learning through the support and accompaniment of young people with unfavorable socioeconomic realities. Also to develop the STEAM Barcelona Plan, to continue promoting knowledge, skills and scientific and technological vocations, with a gender perspective among the entire educational community.

We also want to promote Barcelona as a university city on a national and international scale, which is why we propose to accompany the landing of university students from outside the city through the Barcelona International Welcome Desk (BIWD) and the Barcelona University Center (BCU).