Airbus Geotech

Airbus GeoTech

Airbus GeoTech is a specialized digital geospatial hub and subsidiary of Airbus Space Digital. While Airbus has massive aerospace hubs in Toulouse, its GeoTech division is primarily headquartered in Barcelona, Spain.

Key Focus Areas

  • Stratospheric Observation: A world leader in HAPS (High Altitude Platform Station) technology. They developed StratObserver, an advanced optical system capable of real-time video and 18cm resolution from the stratosphere.
  • Geospatial Intelligence: Specialized in transforming satellite and drone imagery into actionable 2D and 3D mapping data for urban planning and infrastructure development.
  • Aeronautical Products: Development of electronic Terrain Obstacle Databases (eTOD) and Airport Mapping Data Bases (AMDB).

Locations

  • Barcelona Headquarters: Main center for R&D, engineering, and geospatial production.
  • Madrid Office: Located in Getafe, providing additional support for geospatial and aerospace engineering.
  • Toulouse (Parent Hub): While not the primary “GeoTech” site, Airbus Defence and Space Toulouse remains the global center for satellite manufacturing and mission control.

Notable Projects

  • StratObserver: A project utilizing the Zephyr high-altitude aircraft to provide persistent surveillance over specific regions for months at a time.
  • Digital Cartography: Over 30 years of experience delivering vector maps, urban datasets, and topographic databases to more than 200 international customers.
SEAT:CODE

SEAT:CODE

SEAT:CODE (Center of Digital Excellence) is the digital innovation hub and software development center of the automotive brand SEAT S.A.. Founded in 2019, it is located in the 22@ tech district of Barcelona. 

Core Mission

SEAT:CODE drives the digital transformation of SEAT and CUPRA, shifting the company from a traditional car manufacturer to a digital mobility service provider. It employs over 280 digital experts from 14+ nationalities. 

Key Solutions and Projects

  • Giravolta: A proprietary Software as a Service (SaaS) mobility platform that allows cities and companies to manage 100% digital vehicle fleets, including car-sharing and bike-sharing.
  • Connected Car Apps: Development of the My SEAT and My CUPRA apps, which centralize charging management, vehicle data, and remote connectivity services.
  • SEAT MÓ: Managing the digital infrastructure for micromobility services, such as electric scooters and motor-sharing in Barcelona.
  • Industrial AI: Utilizing big data and artificial intelligence to optimize factory logistics, supply chains, and predictive maintenance for production lines.
PEPSICO-Barcelona

PepsiCo Digital Hub Barcelona

PepsiCo’s Digital Hub in Barcelona is a major global center of excellence focusing on data science, analytics, and digital transformation to drive innovation. The hub, acting as a startup incubator, plans to employ up to 400 professionals, focusing on AI and machine learning. 

Key Aspects of the Barcelona Digital Hub:

  • Purpose: The hub acts as a center of excellence for PepsiCo’s global digitalization programs, aiming to accelerate innovation, improve time-to-market, and reduce operational costs.
  • Role & Function: It serves as a hub for technology and data analytics, supporting PepsiCo’s supply chain and digital efforts. It also acts as an incubator for internal culture change.
  • Talent & Diversity: The hub has a diverse team of professionals specializing in data science, machine learning engineering, and product management.

The hub is part of PepsiCo’s global strategy to improve its technological capabilities alongside a similar center in Dallas

Amazon Tech Hub Barcelona

Amazon Tech Hub Barcelona

Amazon Tech Hub Barcelona is focused on Machine Learning Research and Development Centre and a Seller Support Hub and serve as a key international hub for Amazon in Southern Europe. Here are the key details regarding Amazon’s tech hub in Barcelona:

Core Functions & Specialized Centers

  • Machine Learning R&D Centre (Opened 2017): This office focuses on enhancing Amazon’s AI and machine learning capabilities.
  • Seller Support Hub: A multilingual center that provides support to small and medium-sized businesses in France, Italy, and Spain that sell on Amazon Marketplace.
  • Key Focus Areas: The tech hub concentrates on software engineering, IT consulting, cybersecurity, and back-end development.
  • Corporate Offices: Located in the Poblenou neighborhood, the corporate offices manage various European operations.

Job Opportunities and Environment

  • International Environment: As a major hub in Europe, English is a primary working language, alongside Spanish and others, due to the multilingual team serving Southern Europe.
  • Roles: Typical positions include Machine Learning Engineers, Software Development Engineers, Data Scientists, and Logistics Analysts.
  • Growth: The Barcelona hub has been a major creator of high-skilled jobs in Catalonia since its inception.

Wider Barcelona/Catalonia Logistics

  • Logistics Network: Beyond the corporate tech hub, Amazon operates several logistics sites in the Barcelona area, including a large fulfillment center in El Prat, a center in Martorelles, and a logistics center in Castellbisbal.
Glovo Yellow Park Barcelona

Glovo Yellow Park Barcelona

Glovo Yellow Park Barcelona is the innovation hub and the international headquarters for GLOVO and also it serves as the company’s primary global center for engineering and data. 

Key Details of the Barcelona Tech Hub

  • Capacity: The 30,000  facility can house nearly 3,000 employees and brings all engineering, data, and product teams under one roof.
  • Sustainability: The campus is LEED Platinum certified, featuring solar panels, 57% water consumption savings, and 36% energy savings.
  • Work Environment: Offers a hybrid model (typically 2 days working from home) and vibrant spaces designed to foster “Glownership” and collaboration.

Innovation & Ecosystem Programs

Beyond its daily operations, the hub serves as a springboard for the wider startup community: 

  • Glovo House: An initiative launched in 2022 to support Glovo alumni in building their own startups by providing resources and mentorship.
  • Glovo Startup Lab: An annual competition (most recently held for Ukrainian startups) that offers cash prizes and internships at the Barcelona headquarters for winning founders.
  • Focus Areas: The hub drives innovation in Q-Commerce (Quick Commerce), logistics optimization, and AI-powered customer experiences like “Discovery Wall” and AI gifting assistants. 
Nestle Digital Hub Barcelona

Nestle Digital Hub Barcelona

Nestle Global IT Barcelona Hub is a major digital center with over 600 professionals from 50+ nationalities driving the company’s digital transformation. It focuses on AI, e-commerce, and Industry 4.0, serving as a key innovation engine for Nestlé’s global operations, emphasizing sustainability, diversity, and collaboration with local tech talent.

Key Aspects of the Nestlé Barcelona Hub:

  • Focus Areas: The hub works on cutting-edge technologies including Machine Learning (ML), IoT, advanced analytics, and IT security to support Nestlé’s global brands and supply chain.
  • Digital Transformation: It serves as a central hub for developing digital products and services, fostering innovation within the FMCG industry.
  • Talent & Diversity: The team consists of over 600 specialists, with 40% of leadership positions held by women, fostering a multicultural work environment.
  • Collaboration & Location: Located in the Barcelona tech ecosystem, the hub partners with local institutions to drive innovation.
  • Innovation Lab: The hub features an IT Lab testing emerging technologies.
Danone Digital Hub

Danone Digital Hub Barcelona

Danone has established a Digital Hub in Barcelona, focusing on innovation, technology, and plant-based production. The French multinational, which was founded in Barcelona over 100 years ago, opened a Digital Hub in the city in September 2022 to accelerate its digital transformation.

Key Aspects of Danone’s Innovation in Barcelona:

  • Digital Hub (IT & Data): This hub focuses on innovation and digitization projects for the company’s business processes. It is designed to create synergies between global and local roles, with the goal of coordinating and scaling digital projects globally.
  • Focus Areas: The hub concentrates on tech and data analysis, aiming to make these major strategic differentiators for Danone.
  • Plant-Based & Hybrid Factory: Located in Parets del Vallès (Barcelona), Danone operates a facility that was transformed into the first hybrid factory in Europe. It produces both dairy products and plant-based alternatives (such as Alpro, Activia, and Oikos).

The initiative in Barcelona is part of Danone’s broader effort to innovate in the food and beverage industry while emphasizing sustainability and technology, with the new center expected to create over 30 new jobs in its initial phase

Barcelona Retail Tech Open Innovation Safari

Barcelona Retail Tech Open Innovation Safari

Explore one of Europe’s most dynamic ecosystems of retail, consumer experience and digital innovation

Location: Barcelona – Themes: Retail Tech / Customer Experience / Omnichannel / AI – Duration: One Day

The Barcelona Retail Tech Open Innovation Safari is a one-day immersive experience designed for professionals who want to explore how technology is transforming the retail sector and consumer behavior.

Led by Certified Innovation Safari Sherpa Francesc Saldaña, this Safari introduces explorers to the retail innovation ecosystem of Barcelona and Catalonia, where global brands, startups and innovation hubs are redefining the future of shopping through digitalization, data and new customer experiences.

During the experience, explorers will discover how retailers are integrating physical and digital channels, leveraging data and AI, and creating new formats that enhance engagement, personalization and operational efficiency.

Explorers will explore topics such as:

  • retail tech and digital transformation
  • omnichannel and phygital experiences
  • AI and data-driven personalization
  • new retail formats and customer journeys

Innovation Safaris allow professionals to experience innovation where it actually happens.

The experience

The Safari combines curated exploration with interactive activities designed to encourage learning, discussion and inspiration.

Explorers will explore key innovation hotspots across Catalonia’s retail ecosystem:

  • Mango – A global fashion retailer leading digital transformation, omnichannel integration and data-driven retail strategies.
  • Desigual – A brand known for experimenting with customer experience, retail formats and digital engagement.
  • Girona Next – A regional innovation hub connecting retail, tourism and digital transformation initiatives.
  • La Roca Village – A benchmark in experiential retail, combining physical retail with premium customer experience and tourism-driven innovation.

Participants will:

  • explore innovative retail environments and flagship stores
  • meet professionals and innovators shaping the future of retail
  • join an innovation workshop with other explorers focused on customer experience, digitalization and new business models
  • discuss how retail innovation can inspire transformation across industries

This immersive approach helps participants better understand how Retail Tech ecosystems operate in practice.

What explorers will gain

Explorers will learn and design by:

  • discovering emerging trends in retail and consumer behavior
  • understanding how technology transforms customer experience
  • connecting with key players in the retail ecosystem
  • generating ideas and inspiration for new retail concepts and business models

Who Should Join

  • corporate innovation leaders
  • retail and e-commerce professionals
  • marketing and customer experience managers
  • entrepreneurs and startup founders
  • digital transformation leaders
  • professionals from any sector interested in customer-centric innovation

Participants from different sectors are encouraged to join and share perspectives.

Limited group to ensure a high-quality exploration experience.

BCN_OS_Smartcity-Digital

Barcelona Exponential Digital Open Innovation Safari

Explore one of Europe’s most advanced ecosystems of digital and exponential innovation

Location: Barcelona – Themes: Exponential / Digital Innovation / AI / Data – Duration: One Day

The Barcelona Exponential Digital Innovation Open Innovation Safari is a one-day immersive experience designed for professionals who want to explore how digital technologies and exponential thinking are transforming businesses and industries.

Led by Certified Innovation Safari Sherpa Francesc Saldaña, this Safari introduces explorers to the Barcelona digital innovation ecosystem, where research centers, technology leaders and innovators are developing cutting-edge solutions in areas such as AI, big data and advanced digital systems.

During the experience, explorers will discover how exponential organizations leverage digital technologies, data and new methodologies to create scalable impact and disrupt traditional industries.

Explorers will explore topics such as:

  • exponential innovation and digital transformation
  • artificial intelligence and data-driven models
  • big data analytics and visualization
  • new digital products and services

Innovation Safaris allow professionals to experience innovation where it actually happens.

The experience

The Safari combines curated exploration with interactive activities designed to encourage learning, discussion and inspiration.

Explorers will explore key innovation hotspots in Barcelona’s digital ecosystem:

  • Barcelona Supercomputing Center – A leading European infrastructure where explorers will discover how advanced computing enables simulation, forecasting and data-driven innovation.
  • ICFO – Institute of Photonic Sciences – A world-class research center where explorers will explore cutting-edge applications of photonics, AI and new materials such as graphene.

Participants will:

  • explore advanced digital and research environments
  • meet innovators and experts working on AI, data and exponential technologies
  • join an exponential transformation workshop focused on OpenExO principles and real tools
  • design and present their own Core & Edge projects based on insights generated during the day
  • connect with other explorers and innovators during networking sessions

This immersive approach helps participants better understand how Digital and Exponential ecosystems operate in practice.

What explorers will gain

Explorers will learn and design by:

  • discovering key attributes of exponential organizations
  • understanding how digital technologies enable scalable innovation
  • connecting with research centers and digital ecosystem leaders
  • generating ideas, projects and new business opportunities

Who Should Join

  • corporate innovation leaders
  • digital transformation managers
  • entrepreneurs and startup founders
  • technology and data professionals
  • public sector and innovation ecosystem managers

Participants from different sectors are encouraged to join and share perspectives.

Limited group to ensure a high-quality exploration experience.

ESADE Creapolis

ESADE Creapolis

Esade Creapolis is a premier innovation and business park located on the Esade campus in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, designed to bridge academia and industry. It acts as an open innovation hub for startups and corporations, featuring modern workspaces, specialized labs, and the Rambla of Innovation to foster collaboration and entrepreneurship.

Concept: A unique ecosystem connecting students, researchers, and company professionals.

Key Features: Over  of space housing corporations, startups, and academic areas, including the #RamblaOfInnovation.

Services: Startup accelerator, corporate innovation consulting, and flexible workspaces.

Goal: To stimulate creative thinking, open innovation, and real-world application of academic research. 

Essentially, it is a business school-led innovation hub where firms co-locate to work with faculty and students to foster innovation.