Barcelona Creative Industries

Barcelona Creative Industries Open Innovation Safari

Explore one of Europe’s most vibrant creative innovation ecosystems

Barcelona is one of Europe’s leading hubs for creative industries and cultural innovation. From design and digital media to fashion, architecture, audiovisual production and immersive technologies, the city has built a dynamic ecosystem where creativity meets technology and entrepreneurship.

This one-day Innovation Safari offers a curated immersion into the organisations, studios and innovation spaces shaping the future of the creative economy.

During the safari, explorers will meet founders, creators and innovation leaders who are redefining how creativity drives economic value, brand experience and digital transformation.

The safari includes:

• Introduction to the Barcelona creative ecosystem
• Visits to innovation hotspots in design, media or creative technology
• Conversations with founders, creators or innovation leaders
• Guided reflection using the Innovation Safari methodology

The Experience

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

  • Barcelona Design Hub (DHub) – One of Europe’s most important centres for design and creative industries. DHub combines museum, innovation space and industry platform connecting designers, companies and institutions.

Key insight: Design as a strategic driver of innovation and competitiveness.

  • Mediapro / MediaPro Studios Innovation Hub – A global leader in audiovisual production, media technology and immersive storytelling. The visit explores how content creation, media production and digital technology converge to create new forms of entertainment and communication.

Key insight: The industrialisation of creativity in the media economy.

  • Sónar +D / Barcelona Music & Creative Technology Ecosystem – one of the world’s most influential platforms for creative technology, music innovation and digital culture. The hotspot visit explores how artists, technologists and entrepreneurs collaborate to shape the future of creativity.

Key insight: Where art, technology and entrepreneurship intersect.

  • IDEAL Centre d’Arts Digitals – IDEAL is one of Europe’s most advanced centres dedicated to immersive digital arts and audiovisual experiences. The space combines creative storytelling, immersive technologies, virtual reality and large-scale projections to create new forms of cultural expression.

Key insights: Visitors can explore how artists, technologists and designers collaborate to produce next-generation creative experiences that blend art, technology and entertainment.

  • OFFF Barcelona / Creative Digital Culture Ecosystem – OFFF is one of the world’s most influential communities in digital creativity, design and visual innovation. Through events, collaborations and international networks, OFFF connects designers, studios, brands and creative technologists.

Key insight: Creative communities as engines of innovation ecosystems.

Who Should Join

This Innovation Safari is designed for explorers interested in:

• creative economy
• brand innovation
• digital media
• cultural entrepreneurship
• design-driven innovation

After this safari, explorers will:

• understand how creative industries generate economic value
• discover how creativity drives innovation across sectors
• learn from organisations combining design, technology and storytelling
• identify new opportunities for collaboration with creative ecosystems

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

Join this Open Safari

Limited group to ensure a high-quality exploration experience.

Corporates-Hub

Barcelona Corporate Innovation Hubs Open Innovation Safari

Explore how global corporations innovate from Barcelona

Location: Barcelona – Themes: Corporate Innovation / Open Innovation / Technology Hubs – Duration: One Day

The Barcelona Corporate Innovation Hubs Open Innovation Safari is a one-day immersive experience designed for professionals who want to explore how global corporations are building innovation capabilities through technology hubs and innovation centers.

Over the past decade, Barcelona has become one of Europe’s most attractive locations for corporate innovation hubs, hosting technology centers and global capability centers from multinational companies across sectors such as mobility, finance, energy, healthcare and digital technologies.

During this Innovation Safari, explorers will experience how corporations organize innovation, collaborate with startups and research centers, and develop new products and digital solutions from their Barcelona hubs.

Explorers will explore topics such as:

  • Corporate innovation strategies
  • Global capability centers and tech hubs
  • Open innovation and collaboration with startups
  • Digital transformation inside large organizations
  • Talent and technology ecosystems

Innovation Safaris allow explorers to experience innovation where it actually happens, interacting directly with corporate innovation leaders and understanding how large organizations create and scale innovation.

The Experience

During this Safari, explorers will visit one of Barcelona’s leading corporate innovation hotspots and discover how multinational companies develop technology, digital products and new business models from their Barcelona innovation hubs.

Possible hotspots for this Open Innovation Safari include:

  • Corporate Technology Hub in 22@ Innovation District – Barcelona’s 22@ district has become one of Europe’s most important locations for corporate technology hubs. Many multinational companies have established digital innovation centers here to develop global digital products, software and advanced technologies.
  • Global Capability Center of a Multinational Company – Many global companies operate Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in Barcelona, responsible for developing strategic capabilities such as AI, data analytics, cybersecurity and digital platforms.

Explorers will:

  • Exploration walk at the innovation corporate hubs
  • Explore how corporations leverage Barcelona’s talent ecosystem to accelerate innovation and digital transformation.
  • Learn how these hubs collaborate with headquarters and other global teams to create scalable innovation.
  • Innovation workshop with other explorers: Discuss how open innovation frameworks enable corporations to connect internal capabilities with external ecosystems.
  • Mapping Opportunities with corporate innovation ecosystems

What Explorers Will Gain

Explorers will learn and design by:

  • Understanding how global corporations organize innovation hubs
  • Discovering how multinational companies collaborate with startups and ecosystems
  • Exploring real examples of corporate digital transformation
  • Learning how corporate innovation hubs operate and scale globally

Participants will also generate ideas and inspiration for corporate innovation strategies within their own organizations.

Who Should Join

  • Corporate innovation leaders
  • Executives responsible for digital transformation
  • Strategy and business development professionals
  • Entrepreneurs and startup ecosystem actors
  • Public sector and economic development leaders

Explorers from different sectors are encouraged to join and exchange perspectives.

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

Join this Open Safari

Limited group to ensure a high-quality exploration experience.

22@ network

22@ Network Barcelona

The 22@Network Barcelona is a private business association founded in 2004 that acts as the primary representative for companies and organizations within the 22@ Barcelona innovation district.

Its main mission is to foster an ecosystem of innovation by connecting the diverse actors within the district to increase their competitiveness and collective impact. 

  • Networking Hub: It brings together over 250 members, including large multinationals (like Microsoft and Amazon), SMEs, startups, universities, and research centers.
  • Sector Representation: It serves as a bridge between the private sector and public administrations, such as the Barcelona City Council.
  • Digital Transformation: It positions the district as the epicenter of digital growth and technological leadership in Barcelona. 
EURECAT HOTSPOT

Eurecat

Eurecat is the leading technology center in Catalonia and the second-largest private research organization in Southern Europe. It serves as a bridge between scientific knowledge and industrial application to boost business competitiveness.

A provider of applied R&D, technological services, and specialized training for companies.

Main Services

Training: Highly specialized professional courses via Eurecat AcademyOver 650-700 professionals, an annual income of approximately €50–52M, and a portfolio of over 150 patents.

Applied R&D: Custom innovation projects for SMEs and large corporations.

Infrastructure: Access to more than 20 specialized laboratories and pilot plants for testing and prototyping.

Barcelona Smart City Open Innovation Safari

Barcelona Smart City Open Innovation Safari

Explore one of Europe’s leading urban innovation ecosystems

Location: Barcelona – Themes: Smart City / Urban Innovation / Mobility – Duration: One Day

The Barcelona Smart City Open Innovation Safari is a one-day immersive experience designed for professionals who want to explore how cities are using technology, data and innovation to improve urban life.

Led by Certified Innovation Safari Sherpa Francesc Saldaña, this Safari introduces explorers to Barcelona’s urban innovation ecosystem, one of the most recognized Smart City environments in Europe.

During the experience, explorers will discover how technology, entrepreneurship and public policy combine to transform cities into more efficient, sustainable and connected environments.

Barcelona has become an international reference in urban innovation through initiatives related to digital infrastructure, smart mobility, open data and sustainable urban development.

Explorers will explore topics such as:

  • Smart city innovation
  • Urban mobility solutions
  • Digital infrastructure for cities
  • Data-driven urban management

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

The experience

Explorers will explore a key innovation hotspot in Barcelona’s urban innovation ecosystem:

  • 22@Barcelona – the city’s main innovation district and a global reference for urban regeneration driven by technology, startups and knowledge institutions.

Explorers will:

  • Exploration walk the innovation district and learn about its transformation from an industrial area into a technology hub
  • Explore how companies, startups and research centers collaborate in the district
  • Expert Keynote: Understand how urban planning and innovation ecosystems can reinforce each other
  • Innovation workshop with other explorers: Discuss the role of cities as platforms for innovation

This immersive approach helps explorers better understand how urban innovation ecosystems operate in practice.

What explorers will gain

Explorers will learn and design by:

  • understanding how cities create innovation districts
  • discovering how public and private actors collaborate in urban innovation
  • connecting with Barcelona’s innovation ecosystem
  • generating ideas and inspiration for urban transformation initiatives

Who Should Join

  • corporate innovation leaders
  • urban planners and city officials
  • technology and mobility professionals
  • entrepreneurs and startup founders
  • researchers and academics

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

Join this Open Safari

Limited group to ensure a high-quality exploration experience.

Barcelona FoodTech Open Innovation Safari

Barcelona FoodTech Open Innovation Safari

Explore one of Europe’s most innovative FoodTech ecosystems

Location: Barcelona – Themes: FoodTech / AgriTech / Future of Food – Duration: One Day

The Barcelona FoodTech Open Innovation Safari is a one-day immersive experience designed for professionals who want to explore how innovation and technology are transforming the future of food.

Led by Certified Innovation Safari Sherpa Francesc Saldaña, this Safari introduces participants to the Barcelona FoodTech ecosystem, where startups, research centers and food companies are developing new solutions related to alternative proteins, sustainable food production and digital food systems.

During the experience, explorers will discover how entrepreneurs, scientists and innovators are working together to create new technologies and business models that are reshaping the global food industry.

Explorers will explore topics such as:

  • FoodTech innovation
  • Alternative proteins
  • Sustainable food systems
  • Digital transformation in the food industry

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 a key innovation hotspot in Barcelona’s FoodTech ecosystem:

  • IRTA – One of the most important agri-food research centers in Europe.

Participants will:

  • Exploration walk at the innovation spaces
  • Meet startups and innovators working on the future of food
  • Innovation workshop with other explorers: Discuss emerging trends in sustainable food and alternative proteins
  • Explore how FoodTech startups scale internationally

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

What explorers will gain

Explorers will learn and design by:

  • discovering emerging trends in FoodTech innovation
  • understanding how FoodTech startups develop and scale new products
  • connecting with entrepreneurs and innovation organizations
  • generating ideas and inspiration for new products and business models

Who Should Join

  • corporate innovation leaders in the food industry
  • entrepreneurs and startup founders
  • food industry executives
  • researchers and academics
  • public sector innovation managers

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

Join this Open Safari

Limited group to ensure a high-quality exploration experience.

Hotspot PIER01

Pier01 BarcelonaTech

Pier01 is the flagship international technology hub of Tech Barcelona, located in the historic Palau de Mar building in the Barceloneta district. Originally a 19th-century port warehouse, it was transformed into a 11,000 m² innovation campus that Forbes once recognized as one of the top five hubs in the world. 

Tech Barcelona is an independent private non-profit association that works to reinforce Barcelona as a model of the international digital and technological ecosystem.

Key Features & Community

  • Startup Ecosystem: It houses over 100 companies and 1,000+ professionals, ranging from early-stage startups and venture builders to large corporate innovation labs.
  • Major Residents: Notable entities include The Collider (Mobile World Capital Barcelona’s venture builder) and various incubators.
  • Facilities: The building features a large coworking area, showrooms, conference rooms, and a famous rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the Port Vell.