energy Archives - Innovation Safari

BSC Barcelona Supercomputing Center

The Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) is Spain’s national supercomputing facility and a leading research institution in Europe. Established in 2005, it is most famous for housing the MareNostrum supercomputer.

A Unique Setting: High-Tech in a Chapel

One of the BSC’s most striking features is its location. The supercomputer is housed inside the Torre Girona, a 19th-century de-consecrated chapel on the Campus Nord of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). Seeing the glowing glass box of MareNostrum inside the classic stone arches of the chapel makes it one of the most beautiful data centers in the world.

MareNostrum 5

The latest iteration, MareNostrum 5, is among the most powerful supercomputers globally. It is designed to support a wide range of scientific fields, with a specific focus on boosting Artificial Intelligence (AI) and European chip technology.

With a team of over 1,300 experts, the center focuses on:

Life Sciences: Personalizing medicine and simulating drug interactions.
Earth Sciences: Modeling climate change and predicting air quality.
Computer Sciences: Designing the next generation of European processors.
Engineering: Simulating complex fluid dynamics for aircraft or city infrastructure.

IRP Systems Europe

IRP Systems recently established its European R&D Headquarters in Barcelona, Spain. This Israeli-based company is a leading provider of high-performance electric powertrain solutions, specifically software-defined motor controllers for electric vehicles.

The Barcelona Europe Hub

Strategic Role: The Barcelona office serves as the company’s business and R&D center for Europe. It provides local customer support and manages design-win activities across the continent.
Local Ecosystem: IRP Systems is a member of the CIAC (Clúster de la Indústria d’Automoció de Catalunya), collaborating with major local players like SEAT and B-Tech to drive clean mobility innovation in the region.
Key Projects: The hub recently signed a commercial agreement with Silence Urban Mobility, Europe’s leading urban mobility OEM based in Barcelona, to provide advanced Dynamic 6 motor controllers for their electric platforms.

Schneider Electric Digital Hub Barcelona

Schneider Electric Digital Hub Barcelona is a major international center focusing on digital transformation, energy management, and industrial automation. Supporting over 700 people, the hub specializes in AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and e-commerce, aimed at driving sustainability and Industry 4.0 innovations.

Key Aspects of the Barcelona Innovation/Digital Hub

Digital Transformation Core: The hub focuses on developing EcoStruxure™ platforms, AI integration, and managing global data and cloud projects.
Focus Areas: Key initiatives include smart city technologies, data center management, and building efficiency.
Talent Hub: With over 700 employees, the hub serves as a key European hub for IT infrastructure, CRM, and cybersecurity experts.
Customer & Innovation Lab: This facility provides personalized experiences and expert consultation to test and validate products for customers.

Visitor and Business Opportunities

In-person Visits: The Customer & Innovation Lab Europe in Barcelona offers personalized, guided tours to explore new products and technologies.
Virtual Experiences: Schneider provides virtual tours and 3D experiences, allowing users to interact with energy management technology remotely.
Innovation Summits: The Barcelona office is heavily involved in hosting major industry summits, bringing together partners to discuss energy efficiency.

The hub serves as a central point of reference for the company’s global operations, particularly in cybersecurity strategy, managing international projects from Barcelona.

VIBIA Lab

The main VIBIA showroom and headquarters are located in Barcelona, featuring a massive 2,050m² space designed by Francesc Rifé and Sònia Pellicer. The showroom showcases innovative lighting systems arranged as “small architectures,” featuring a, “Light your Way” space for interaction.

Vibia Showroom Highlights (Barcelona Headquarters):

Design & Structure: Designed by Francesc Rifé Studio, it features a pink-colored lattice entrance, featuring a 1,170 m2 area dedicated to showcasing products.
Exhibition Space: Organized like a “small architecture” experience with lattice screens, curtains, and curated lighting collections.
“Light Your Way” Hub: A core interactive area designed for visitors to experience and customize lighting projects.
Connecting Terrace: A designated outdoor area designed by Josep Lluis Xuclà.

International Presence:

Sydney Vibia Hub: A new, dedicated Vibia Hub was established at the Euroluce showroom in Sydney to express the brand’s “Shaping Atmospheres” concept in Australia.
Project Showrooms: Vibia lights significant partnership spaces, such as the Cosentino showroom in Toronto, demonstrating their lighting technology in tailored environments.

The VIBIA LAB acts as a key gathering point for designers and architects to explore Vibia’s focus on lighting designed for wellbeing.

Barcelona Urban Lab

Barcelona Urban Lab uses the city as a live testing ground for innovative urban projects. It provides companies with real-world public spaces to pilot new technologies—such as smart sensors for parking or advanced mobility solutions—before they are commercialized. Backed by the Barcelona City Council, this initiative aims to promote economic growth, improve public services, and transform the city into a hub for smart technology and sustainability.

Ca l’Alier is a leading urban innovation center located in Barcelona’s Poblenou district. Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century textile factory, it serves as a collaborative hub where technology companies, startups, and the city council work together to develop smart city solutions. It is a symbol of the city’s commitment to sustainability and digital transformation.

Key Aspects:

Location: Primarily focused in areas like the 22@ innovation district.
Objective: To overcome regulatory barriers for startups and companies testing innovative products in natural environments.

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.

ICFO

ICFO (The Institute of Photonic Sciences) is a world-class research center located in Castelldefels, just outside Barcelona. It is dedicated to the science and technology of light (photonics) and is widely considered one of the top research institutions in Europe.

Key Mission and Research

Founded in 2002 by the Government of Catalonia and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), ICFO focuses on using light to solve global challenges in:

Health: Developing advanced imaging and laser tools for non-invasive medical diagnostics and therapies.
Energy: Researching high-efficiency solar cells and sustainable energy harvesting.
Information Technology: Leading innovations in Quantum Computing, cryptography, and ultra-fast optical communications.

Innovation and Industry

ICFO is highly focused on “knowledge frontier” research that leads to real-world applications:

KTT (Knowledge & Technology Transfer): The institute has a dedicated unit to bridge the gap between lab research and the market.
Spin-offs: ICFO has launched over 15 startups (such as Quside, LuxQuanta, and Sixsenso) specializing in quantum security, environmental monitoring, and biomedical devices.
Graphene Hub: It hosts the Graphene Center, exploring the “wonder material” for flexible electronics and next-gen sensors.

ALBA synchrotron

The ALBA Synchrotron is a large research infrastructure, located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona). It is a fundamental pillar of the Spanish and European research arena, offering to academic and industrial users a wide variety of state-of-the-art instrumentation.