Discover Ca l’Alier, the city’s space for innovation and digital technologies

Ca l’Alier is a former textile factory from the mid-nineteenth century, now converted into an urban innovation platform in Barcelona. The building is an example of how the industrial heritage is being repurposed for new uses and international public-private collaboration. Ca l’Alier is also a model of sustainable industrial architecture, having been transformed into a smart building with sensors and devices for efficient management. It uses solar and photovoltaic energy, reuses grey water, controls energy consumption and makes the most of rainwater. 

We invite you to visit this vibrant multicultural innovation and technology centre and to discover first hand the three institutions that use it:

• Fundación Barcelona Institute of Technology Habitat (BIT Habitat), whose goal is to strengthen urban innovation and smart technology in different spheres with an ethical, sustainable and responsible use of data and technology.
• The Cisco Innovation Centre in Barcelona, which is committed to the transformation of global strategies and local innovation, combining cutting-edge technologies with real-world solutions. It's at the forefront of adopting emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum physics, cybersecurity and sustainability through conceptual testing. Ca l’Alier is also the home to a Cisco centre for the design of latest-generation chips.
• Giga Technology Centre in Barcelona. Giga is an initiative by the ITU and UNICEF to connect every school in the world to the internet. The Giga Technology Centre in Barcelona is the research and development hub for cutting-edge tech goods and services based on open-source software to help governments to plan, roll out and maintain school connectivity.

PROGRAM

6:00 pm             Arrival and welcome by the Barcelona International Welcome - Barcelona City Council team

6:10 pm            Presentation of the Ca l’Alier building and the activitiy of the Foundation Barcelona Institute of Technology Habitat (BIT Habitat) by:

• Michael Donaldson, Commissioner for Digital Innovation, E-Administration and Good Governance with Barcelona City Council and Director General of Fundación BIT

6:20 pm             Presentation of the Cisco Innovation Center in Barcelona by:

• Xavier Azemar, Head of Cisco Innovation Labs Spain

6:30 pm             Presentation of the Giga Technology Centre in Barcelona by:

• Gregori Mora, Co-leader of the Giga Technology Centre in Barcelona, ITU
• Naroa Zurutuza, CTO and Co-leader of the Giga Technology Centre in Barcelona, UNICEF

6:40 pm             Guided tours of each institution in three groups (20 minutes per space)

7:45 pm            End of event

Free face-to-face event, with registration in advance and limited capacity.