food tech Archives - Innovation Safari

MediaMarkt Technology Hub

MediaMarkt operates two distinct international hubs in the Barcelona area:

Global Business Services (GBS) Hub, focused on international financial and administrative operations
Technology Hub, dedicated to digital retail innovation.

1. Global Business Services (GBS) Hub

This center serves as the international financial engine for the MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group across Europe. It unifies administrative, accounting, and financial processes for 11 countries, including Germany and Poland.

2. MediaMarktSaturn Technology Hub

The Tech Hub is the “engine” powering the digital transformation for over 1,000 stores and the group’s global online business.

Focus: Developers, UX designers, and system architects here build the group’s retail platform using modern stacks like Node.js, React, and AI-powered automation.
Strategic Offices:
Pier01 (Tech Barcelona): Located in the Barceloneta neighborhood, this space is designed to foster collaboration with the city’s broader tech ecosystem.
El Prat Headquarters: Tech teams also utilize the main campus, which features a modern 9,500 m² facility with coworking areas and employee wellness amenities.

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

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.

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 Wine Open Innovation Safari

Explore one of Europe’s most unique ecosystems of wine, tradition and innovation

Location: Barcelona – Themes: Wine / AgriTech / Sustainability / Food Innovation – Duration: One Day

The Barcelona Wine Innovation Open Innovation Safari is a one-day immersive experience designed for professionals who want to explore how tradition and innovation are transforming the wine industry.

Led by Certified Innovation Safari Sherpa Francesc Saldaña, this Safari introduces explorers to the Catalan wine ecosystem, where wineries, research centers and innovation initiatives are redefining viticulture, production, sustainability and wine experiences.

During the experience, explorers will discover how winemakers, researchers and innovators are combining heritage with technology to create new products, processes and business models across the wine value chain.

Explorers will explore topics such as:

wine innovation and sustainability
precision viticulture and AgriTech
digitalization of wine production
new wine experiences and consumer trends

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 wine ecosystem:

Familia Torres – A global benchmark in sustainable wine production, leading innovation in climate adaptation, regenerative viticulture and carbon neutrality.
INCAVI – A research and innovation center focused on improving wine quality, sustainability and technological development in the sector.
Recaredo – A reference in biodynamic and long-aging sparkling wines, combining tradition with innovation in production processes.
Vallformosa – A winery transforming the sector through digitalization, sustainability and new business models in wine production and distribution.

Participants will:

explore vineyards, wineries and innovation environments
meet professionals and innovators shaping the future of wine
join an innovation workshop with other explorers focused on sustainability, digitalization and new consumer experiences
discuss how wine innovation can inspire new products, services and business models in other sectors

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

What explorers will gain

Explorers will learn and design by:

discovering emerging trends in wine and agri-food innovation
understanding how tradition and technology can coexist
connecting with key players in the wine ecosystem
generating ideas and inspiration for new products, experiences and business models

Who Should Join

corporate innovation leaders
food & beverage professionals
entrepreneurs and startup founders
sustainability and AgriTech professionals
tourism and experience design professionals
professionals from any sector interested in tradition-driven innovation

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

Join this Open Safari

Limited group to ensure a high-quality exploration experience.

Barcelona Gastronomy Open Innovation Safari

Explore one of Europe’s most creative gastronomy innovation ecosystems

Location: Barcelona – Themes: Gastronomy Innovation / Food Experience / Culinary Concepts – Duration: One Day

The Barcelona Gastronomy Open Innovation Safari is a one-day immersive experience designed for professionals who want to explore how gastronomy is evolving through creativity, technology, new consumer trends and innovative restaurant concepts.

Barcelona is one of the most vibrant gastronomic cities in the world. Beyond traditional restaurants, the city has become a living laboratory for new culinary experiences, innovative business models and creative food concepts.

During this Innovation Safari, explorers will discover how chefs, entrepreneurs and food innovators are redefining gastronomy, combining creativity, sustainability and customer experience.

Explorers will explore topics such as:

New restaurant concepts and dining experiences
Innovation in gastronomy business models
Food culture and urban trends
Customer experience in restaurants
Creative culinary entrepreneurship

Innovation Safaris allow explorers to experience innovation where it actually happens, interacting directly with chefs, entrepreneurs and hospitality innovators.

The Experience

During this Safari, explorers will visit one of Barcelona’s most interesting gastronomy innovation hotspots, discovering how restaurants can become laboratories for creativity, experience design and business innovation.

Possible hotspots for this Open Innovation Safari include:

Time Out Market Barcelona – Located in Maremagnum, Time Out Market brings together some of the city’s most creative chefs and culinary concepts under one roof.

Explorers will discover how curated food markets are transforming the gastronomy sector by combining quality cuisine, brand storytelling and experiential dining.

Enigma – Experimental Gastronomy Concept – Enigma represents a new generation of immersive dining experiences, where gastronomy, storytelling and spatial design combine to create a unique culinary journey.

Explorers will discover how restaurants can become experiential innovation platforms, pushing the boundaries of traditional dining.

Espai Quirky Eatery – A highly original restaurant concept in Barcelona known for its creative atmosphere, unconventional design and playful gastronomic experience.
Parking Pizza – Design-driven restaurant concepts.
Bar Brutal – Food trends start in small cultural hubs.
Honest Greens – How restaurant concepts scale internationally.
Disfrutar – Creative gastronomy as R&D.
El Nacional – Gastronomy as experience architecture.
Sartoria Panatieri – Craft gastronomy and product innovation.

Explorers will discover how creativity, design and storytelling can transform a simple meal into a memorable experience.

What Explorers Will Gain

Explorers will learn and design by:

Exploration walk at different gastronomy hotspots
Understanding how gastronomy evolves through creativity and innovation
Discovering new restaurant concepts and business models
Learning how experience design shapes customer perception
Innovation workshop with other explorers: Connecting with entrepreneurs and innovators in the gastronomy ecosystem

Participants will also generate ideas and inspiration for new culinary experiences, hospitality concepts or food-related innovation projects.

Who Should Join

Hospitality professionals
Restaurant owners and chefs
Entrepreneurs in food and gastronomy
Corporate innovation leaders
Tourism and experience design professionals

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

Join this Open Safari

Limited group to ensure a high-quality exploration experience.

If you want to experience one of Europe’s most creative gastronomy ecosystems, join the Barcelona Gastronomy Open Innovation Safari.

IRTA

The Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA) is a public research institute owned by the Government of Catalonia, specialized in the agrifood sector. It aims to modernize and boost the competitiveness of the industry through scientific innovation.

While headquartered in Barcelona (Torre Marimon), it has a network of research centers, experimental farms, and labs across Catalonia (Lleida, Tarragona, Girona, etc.).

Goal: To ensure a sustainable and healthy food supply while supporting the rural economy.

Focus: The entire food value chain “from farm to fork.

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 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.

Recinte Torribera

Recinte Torribera is a large, multi-use complex located just north of Barcelona. Originally a medieval farmhouse (masia) rebuilt in the 18^th century, it was transformed in the early 20^th century into a landmark “mental clinic” and has since evolved into a major university and research hub.

Key Areas and Functions

Torribera Food and Nutrition Campus (University of Barcelona): This is the site’s most prominent current feature. It is a specialized campus entirely dedicated to food sciences, nutrition, and gastronomy. It houses research labs, the UB-Bullipèdia Unit (a collaboration with chef Ferran Adrià), and various bachelor’s and master’s programs.
Architectural Heritage: The complex is an exceptional example of Novecentista architecture. It was designed by renowned architects Rafael Masó and Josep Maria Pericas, featuring symmetric pavilions, gardens, and a distinctive neo-Gothic church with a black tile pinnacle.
Healthcare and Research: The site still maintains a healthcare role as home to the Centre Dr. Emili Mira, a psychiatric and mental health facility managed by Parc de Salut Mar.
Nature and Sports: Bordering the Serralada de Marina Natural Park, the enclosure offers green spaces for walking and relaxation. It also includes the Torribera Sports Complex, which features swimming pools, tennis courts, and archery facilities.