PRESS OFFICE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS TOPIC OF THE MONTH: 2ND SYMPOSIUM ON URBAN CLUSTERS, ORGANIZED BY 22@BARCELONA, CIDEM AND BARCELONA CITY COUNCIL, BRINGS TOGETHER OVER 500 REPRESENTATIVES AND EXECUTIVES FROM THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPANIES IN THE WORLD THIRD DEPUTY MAYOR OF BARCELONA AND PRESIDENT OF 22@BARCELONA, JORDI WILLIAM CARNES, PRESENTS THE INNOVATION DISTRICT PROJECT IN MADRID ARTIDI SCHOOL, INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARK IN SHOP FITTING, AND THE PRODUCTION COMPANY DIGITAL SPOT, NEW MEMBERS OF THE 22@NETWORK 22@BARCELONA FUTURE HOME TO THE MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS COMPLEX IN BARCELONA: THE 22@ BUSINESS PARK b_TEC FOUNDATION, SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS CITY COUNCIL AND THE BARCELONA SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (EUETIB) SPONSOR AID PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENTS FROM SANT ADRIÀ STUDY AT THIS UNIVERSITY CENTER DIGITAL DISTRICT PROJECT GIVES OUT 28 OF THE MORE THAN 130 COMPUTERS DONATED TO ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SANT MARTÍ DISTRICT 22@BREAKFAST DEBATES THE BENEFITS OF INTERACTION BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS IN THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY 22@BARCELONA SPONSORS A SUSTAINABLE CARNIVAL IN THE POBLENOU NEIGHBORHOOD PRESS OFFICE TOPIC OF THE MONTH: 1.- 2ND SYMPOSIUM ON URBAN CLUSTERS, ORGANIZED BY 22@BARCELONA, CIDEM AND BARCELONA CITY COUNCIL, BRINGS TOGETHER OVER 500 REPRESENTATIVES AND EXECUTIVES FROM THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPANIES IN THE WORLD 22@Barcelona, with collaboration from the Center for Innovation and Business Development (CIDEM) and the Barcelona City Council, celebrated the 2nd Symposium on Urban Clusters at the AC Hotel in Barcelona, with great success. Participants in this latest edition of the symposium included more than 500 experts and international representatives –almost 200 more than last year- from businesses, universities and institutions in the four cluster sectors that make up the 22@Barcelona district: Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), Media, Biotech and Energy. Managing director of 22@Barcelona, Josep Miquel Piqué, defined this latest symposium as “a new national and international experience”. Participants in the symposium came from Portugal, Finland, England, France, Canada, Germany, Belgium and Japan. There were also a number of participants from all over Spain. Barcelona, International center of clusters Presided over by the Spanish secretary general for Industrial Affairs, Commerce and Tourism, Joan Trullén, the 2nd Symposium on Urban Clusters delved into four fundamental aspects of innovation in cities: Clusters or areas of excellence in a sector, Cities, Talent and Business Development. Among others, Jon Azua, former vice-president of the Basque Government and president of e-novating lab, dealt with the question of clusters and globalization. Nick Leon, director of the prestigious Design London, and Tom Cannon, CEO of Ideopolis International and dean of the Buckingham University Business School (UK), spoke about the importance of talent to the development of clusters. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 2 PRESS OFFICE In the afternoon, in the parallel sessions, participants got a close up look at the Strategic Plans developed for the four clusters that make up the 22@Barcelona district, as well as similar experiences that are being developed in different parts of the world like the Forum Virium in Helsinki (Finland), the West Midlands ICT cluster in Birmingham (Great Britain), the Bayern Medical Valley (Germany) and the Ontario Centres of Excellence in Canada. Finally, at the closing session, Josep Miquel Piqué announced that information from the 2nd Symposium on Urban Clusters will soon be available on the 22@Barcelona web page. Likewise, he concluded this symposium saying it was a demonstration of “the will to work together to construct talent-based competitiveness”. Moreover, he said that in the future “work must revolve around talent-based clusters”. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 3 PRESS OFFICE 2.- THIRD DEPUTY MAYOR OF BARCELONA AND PRESIDENT OF 22@BARCELONA, JORDI WILLIAM CARNES, PRESENTS THE INNOVATION DISTRICT PROJECT IN MADRID The third deputy mayor of the Barcelona City Council and president of 22@Barcelona, Jordi William Carnes, presented the 22@Barcelona project, which is the largest urban renovation project in Europe, to the press in Madrid. During the event he was accompanied by managing director of 22@Barcelona, Josep Miquel Piqué, and the head of the Department for Economic Promotion of the Barcelona City Council, Ricard Frigola. Jordi William Carnes emphasized that this is an urban, economic, cultural and social renovation that, in 2000, began to transform 200 hectares of unused industrial land in the Poblenou neighborhood of Barcelona into an area devoted to the concentration and development of knowledge-intensive activities. “The 22@Barcelona project is now a reality and its great success has led the city of Barcelona to implant this model in other areas, starting with the neighborhoods of La Sagrera and Marina”, explained the president and councilman. Moreover, he affirmed, “more and more cities from the rest of Spain and Europe come to Barcelona to learn from this model.” The project is based on creating areas of excellence or urban clusters in the Media, Information and Communication Technologies, Biotech and Energy sectors. Specifically, “the big difference between 22@Barcelona and the rest of the technology parks is that it’s the first to implement clusterization and specialization policies,” affirmed the Managing Director of 22@Barcelona. In this way we promote a model for a compact, diverse and balanced city where productive areas, companies, training and research centers, universities, green areas, facilities and a wide range of housing options, including traditional houses, lofts in remodeled industrial buildings, short-term rental housing linked to companies and hotels, co-exist. “We have achieved social cohesion in a neighborhood where companies, universities and subsidized housing co-exist. Young people can train where they live and later work in the new technology companies. We promote a model where the city is alive twenty-four hours a day,” said Carnes. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 4 PRESS OFFICE So far, implementation of the 22@Barcelona project has attracted 1,063 companies linked to the knowledge society and new technologies. These companies have created 32,000 new jobs since the project began. Round table During his visit to Madrid, the Third Deputy Mayor also participated in the “22@-Besós- Fòrum” round table at the Blanquerna Cultural Center. This event was part of a series of conferences called “Barcelona project. Constructing the future” which is being developed by the Zona Franca Consortium in Madrid. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 5 PRESS OFFICE 3.- ARTIDI SCHOOL, INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARK IN SHOP FITTING, AND THE PRODUCTION COMPANY DIGITAL SPOT, NEW MEMBERS OF THE 22@NETWORK 22@Network, the 22@Barcelona Association of Businesses and Institutions, continues to grow. The Board of Directors has approved the incorporation of two new members: Artidi School and Digital Spot. Artidi is the biggest specialized school in Europe and an international benchmark for training qualified shop fitters and merchandisers. The Artidi School is designed to give students hands on experience, with all different types of shop windows and an internal shop that allow students access to real training spaces. Digital Spot is a company that focuses mainly on the production of photographs for industries and companies, as well as the advertising sector. They also produce films and audiovisual materials. On the other hand, they offer marketing services for event organization and product launches that range from audiovisual presentations to special effects, as well as organizing fashion shows and other celebrations. The company has 20 years of experience and is a member of the Association of Marketing Professionals and the Catalan Association of Communication and Advertising. With these new members of the 22@Barcelona Association of Businesses and Institutions, 22@Network now has 64 associated members, noteworthy among them are technology companies like Indra, T-Systems, Futurlink, Microsoft, Infonomia, Gaes, Ecotècnia, Informática El Corte Inglés, Yahoo! and institutions like the UOC, UPF, IL3-UB and the Catalan Technology Institute. 22@Network 22@Network is the 22@Barcelona Association of Businesses and Institutions, which was started in the innovation district in order to bring innovative companies and institutions together to participate in the consolidation process in the 22@Barcelona district, making it a dynamic, transformative and technologically advanced space. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 6 PRESS OFFICE 4.- 22@BARCELONA FUTURE HOME TO THE MOST IMPORTANT BUSINESS COMPLEX IN BARCELONA: THE 22@ BUSINESS PARK The 22@Barcelona district will soon start construction on the 22@ Business Park, the most important business complex in Barcelona, which will be located between Bolívia, Ciutat de Granada, Sancho d’Àvila and Badajoz Streets, just in front of the Agbar Tower. The most important real estate company in 22@Barcelona, Group Castellví, will be in charge of construction, which requires a total investment of 185 million euros. The new business complex will have 41,000 m2 in five office buildings and one hotel, as well as a 20,000-m2 underground parking garage. Designed by the team of architects Enric Batlle and Joan Roig (Batlle and Roig Architects), this business park is predicted to be totally functional by the middle of 2011. The project also includes the construction of new facilities necessitated by the enlarging of the University of Barcelona’s continuous training center in the innovation district, IL3. This transformation will also include the construction of subsidized and non-conventional housing, as well as the creation of three squares on the inside of the blocks that will allow residents to enjoy open spaces. Sustainability and cutting-edge technology The 22@ Business Park follows the Group Castellví philosophy of offering high quality real estate products that incorporate cutting-edge technology and energy saving measures. Group Castellví promotes their policy of innovation and applies the most advanced technology, promoting sustainability through environmental conservation. Additionally, they offer personalized service that has become one of this Catalan company’s added values. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 7 PRESS OFFICE 5.- b_TEC, FOUNDATION, SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS CITY COUNCIL AND THE BARCELONA SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING (EUETIB) SPONSOR AID PROGRAM TO HELP STUDENTS FROM SANT ADRIÀ STUDY AT THIS UNIVERSITY CENTER The Sant Adrià de Besòs City Council, the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering (EUETIB) and the b_TEC Foundation signed a collaboration agreement to create an aid program to promote the access of high-school students from the city of Sant Adrià to degrees offered by EUETIB. By signing this agreement they have established an aid program for technical engineering students at the EUETIB who attended at least two years of high school in Sant Adrià de Besòs. The event was presided over by the mayor of Sant Adrià de Besòs, Jesús Maria Canga; who was accompanied by the director general of Universities and president of the Barcelona Industrial School Consortium, Joan Majó; the director of the b_TEC Foundation (Barcelona Technological Innovation), Josep Escolano; and the councilman in charge of Education and Solidarity from Sant Adrià, Gregorio Belmonte. This program will cover costs for first-time enrollment in a class and may also include a monthly stipend that will be determined by the number of credits taken. “It will be somewhere between 180 and 200 euros per month”, said councilman Gregorio Belmonte. This way, “young people will be motivated to continue studying,” he said. There will be a yearly call for applications and the students’ family income and school record will be taken into account. This agreement is also “an important promotion, bringing the b_TEC Besòs Campus to the rest of the city’s residents”, said the director of b_TEC, Josep Escolano. Specifically, the involvement of the Barcelona School of Industrial Engineering in the district through their future presence on the Besòs Campus, “will be one of the main transformative elements in the area,” noted Joan Majó. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 8 PRESS OFFICE The future Besòs Campus, sponsored by b_TEC, Barcelona Technological Innovation in the 22@Barcelona district, is a new model for knowledge space where educational, research and development and business activities will be carried out jointly, in an innovative and entrepreneurial culture. Construction of this Campus “will be a political commitment to the area”, affirmed the Mayor of Sant Adrià. “Now we only need the residents of Sant Adrià to get behind the Campus and this agreement is an important step toward achieving that,” concluded the Mayor. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 9 PRESS OFFICE 6.- DIGITAL DISTRICT PROJECT GIVES OUT 28 OF THE MORE THAN 130 COMPUTERS DONATED TO ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SANT MARTÍ DISTRICT Councilman for the Sant Martí District, Francesc Narváez, managing director of 22@Barcelona, Josep Miquel Piqué and representative of the 22@Network, Vicenç Gasulla, presented 28 computers to different organizations in the Sant Martí district. These new donations coincide with the first anniversary of this initiative. With these newest computers, 38 organizations will be working with donated computer equipment. The Digital District aims to direct innovative acts to foster the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), spread information on the benefits of this technology in daily life, improve services and facilitate communication among residents. This initiative is the result of an agreement signed in February of 2007, by 22@Barcelona, the Sant Martí District, the 22@Network Association of Businesses and Institutions and the organizational coordinators in the Sant Martí District (Poblenou Organizational Coordinator, Clot-camp de l’Arpa Federation of Organizations, VERN- Verneda de Sant Martí Organizational Coordinator and l’Eix Prim Organizational Coordinator). Later, as a result of the project’s huge success, the SISOSCAT Foundation (Solidary and Sustainable Information Society) decided to join the initiative last September. Over the months, 22@Barcelona has collected computers in perfect working order that were donated by members of the 22@Network (Indra, IL3-UB, Municipal Computer Institute, T- Systems and Canal IP) as well as by other companies in the innovation district like ING Car Lease, Underwriters Laboratories, LCS Iberia and the 22@Barcelona municipal society itself. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 10 PRESS OFFICE 7.- 22@BREAKFAST DEBATES THE BENEFITS OF INTERACTION BETWEEN BUSINESSES AND ARTISTS IN THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY The relationships maintained between businesses and artists in order to improve competitiveness in innovation was the focus of the February 22@Update Breakfast, organized by 22@Barcelona. The event, which was celebrated in the Barcelona Activa auditorium, was presided over by the president of 22@Barcelona and third deputy mayor of Barcelona, Jordi William Carnes. Pedro Soler, director of the Hangar Center for Arts Production and Research, participated in this month’s 22@Update Breakfast. He explained how links between artists and businesses can be beneficial, regarding both contents and technology. Soler gave examples from different projects to show how incorporating creative processes in companies is key to their competitiveness. As “Innovator of the Month”, founder and general coordinator of the contemporary art space NIU, Sergi Bueno, explained his experience carrying out artistic projects based on the creation of contemporary audiovisuals, multimedia design, digital art and independent electronic music in the 22@Barcelona district. Finally, managing director of 22@Barcelona, Josep Miquel Piqué, discussed the latest progress in the 22@Barcelona project. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 11 PRESS OFFICE 8.- 22@BARCELONA SPONSORS A SUSTAINABLE CARNIVAL IN THE POBLENOU NEIGHBORHOOD 22@Barcelona participated in the Poblenou Carnival celebrations with a costume workshop in the Centre de Barri. The girls and boys who came by designed and put together costumes with recycled materials. Afterwards they went to the Unió Market to get made up. Using plastic containers, egg cartons, clothes scraps or recycled CDs, with help from 22@Barcelona monitors for the youngest participants, the children let their imagination and creativity run wild, making unique costumes. They also made fun accessories with balloons. Once they had their costumes from the Centre de Barri and makeup from the Unió Market, the children had their photo taken at the Market to remember the day. You can see all the photos taken that morning here: www.22barcelona.com/carnaval. 22@Barcelona, once again, collaborates and fosters educational and cultural activities in Poblenou while, at the same time, showing their strong commitment to sustainability and respect for the environment. NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 12 PRESS OFFICE QUOTES: Jordi William Carnes, “More and more cities from the rest of President of 22@Barcelona Spain and Europe come to Barcelona to learn from the 22@Barcelona model” Juan Vives “We’re very happy with the response to Manager of the Inbisa Regional Office and projection of 22@Barcelona, and for Catalonia and the Balearic Islands we’re convinced that it has to be one of the most important magnets in the Barcelona office market.” NEW COMPANIES IN THE 22@BARCELONA DISTRICT: Iberojet Excellent Pharma Multiexterior Group Bull Sellbytel G-Star IMCD Reidor Abros For more information: 22@Barcelona Press Office: F&A Tel: 93 419 19 86 - 93 507 35 00 • E-mail: filloy@filloy.com NEWSLETTER ISSUE 23 – FEBRUARY 2008 13