BSC

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.
Barcelona New Textile Open Innovation Safari

Barcelona New Textile Open Innovation Safari

Explore one of Europe’s most innovative ecosystems of textile, fashion and material innovation

Location: Barcelona – Themes: Textile Innovation / Fashion Tech / Sustainability / New Materials – Duration: One Day

The Barcelona New Textile Open Innovation Safari is a one-day immersive experience designed for professionals who want to explore how innovation is transforming the textile and fashion industry.

Led by Certified Innovation Safari Sherpa Oriol Ribera, this Safari introduces explorers to the textile innovation ecosystem of Barcelona, where fashion brands, research centers and technology players are developing new solutions in sustainability, advanced materials, digital manufacturing and circular economy.

During the experience, explorers will discover how designers, engineers and innovators are redefining textiles through new materials, production processes and business models that combine creativity, technology and sustainability.

Explorers will explore topics such as:

  • textile innovation and sustainable materials
  • circular fashion and new business models
  • digital manufacturing and smart textiles
  • new consumer trends in fashion and retail

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 textile ecosystem:

  • Textile Institute (AITEX) (collaborations and innovation reference) – A leading center in textile innovation, sustainability and advanced materials research.
  • Mango – A global brand driving innovation in design, digitalization and supply chain transformation.
  • Eurecat – A key technology center working on advanced materials, smart textiles and industrial innovation.
  • Buff – A company transforming textile production through innovation in materials, sustainability and global product design.

Participants will:

  • explore textile innovation environments, labs and companies
  • meet professionals and innovators shaping the future of textiles and fashion
  • join an innovation workshop with other explorers focused on materials, sustainability and new business models
  • discuss how textile innovation can inspire transformation across industries such as retail, health and mobility

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

What explorers will gain

Explorers will learn and design by:

  • discovering emerging trends in textile and fashion innovation
  • understanding how sustainability and technology converge in materials
  • connecting with key players in the textile ecosystem
  • generating ideas and inspiration for new products, materials and business models

Who Should Join

  • corporate innovation leaders
  • fashion and textile professionals
  • sustainability and circular economy experts
  • entrepreneurs and startup founders
  • product and material designers
  • professionals from any sector interested in material 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.

IRTA

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 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.