The Barcelona Mentoring Programme is a programme promoted by Barcelona City Council, through Barcelona Activa, which aims to provide advice to a small and selected group of companies and start-ups by managers and executives, leaders in their sector and with a recognised track record in multinationals and large consulting firms. The call will remain open until 31st October, 2025, and the mentoring sessions will take place between December 2025 and June 2026.

Selected companies will receive support to validate and strengthen their business strategy through a methodology endorsed by the Venture Mentoring Service del Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Each of them will have a team of three mentors and will participate in six sessions spread over eight months, focused on key aspects such as strategy, sales, internationalisation or internal organisation.

The programme is intended for companies with at least one year of activity, an annual turnover of more than 200,000 euros and a workforce of less than 50 employees. It is aimed at partners or founders of the company who want to follow a work plan and take advantage of the contributions of mentors to validate the business strategy and accelerate its growth. The degree of innovation and internationalization of the projects will be taken into special consideration.

Since 2013, more than 250 companies have participated in this initiative, obtaining an average increase of 22% in their turnover. The programme has more than 100 mentors with consolidated careers such as Cinta Lacasa, Ernest Pérez-Mas, Isabel Grifoll or José María Vilas and enables spaces for strategic networking and comparison of decisions in real time, with a direct impact on business consolidation.

In addition, Barcelona Activa offers an alternative mentoring itinerary for women entrepreneurs. The Women Mentoring Programme, aimed at women who wish to have the support of mentors to consolidate their business or business project.

Companies that meet the requirements can submit their candidacy for the Barcelona Mentoring Programme until 31st October, 2025. To receive more information and register, you can contact the email mentoring.programme@barcelonactiva.cat.

Don't miss the opportunity to grow your business and find out about the Barcelona Mentoring Programme!

During the month of August, Barcelona Activa maintains active the main services of attention to citizens, companies and city entities, adapting calendars and formats to the holiday period. Most facilities will open during intensive hours, while telephone and online service channels are expanded to guarantee continuous and close support.

In the area of business support, the Business Support Office (OAE) and the Technology Park will be operational from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with telephone support at 933 209 600.

The Entrepreneurship services will also operate during intensive hours, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Glòries Incubator will remain open throughout the month, while the Glòries Entrepreneurship Centre will be closed from 15th to 24th August.

Regarding the work and employment services, Porta22 will exceptionally close from 11th to 22nd August, a period in which the information and advice service will be provided at the Glòries Entrepreneurship Centre, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Convent of Barcelona Activa will provide in-person assistance from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and by telephone at 603 805 130, but will be closed from 4th to 24th August.

The Activa spaces will adjust their hours according to each facility. Nou Barris Activa and Sant Andreu Activa will remain closed all month, but will maintain telephone support at 900 533 175. Sants-Montjuïc Activa will open the Information and Job Guidance Point on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays of the month, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Comprehensive Care Service in the Neighbourhoods will be open from 6th to 22nd August.

Regarding the Labour Rights Defence Points, the service will remain open in a telephone advice format from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will close between 11th and 22nd August.

Technological training will continue to be offered online throughout the summer holidays, but onsite training will be limited due to the closure of the facilities. The Cibernàrium 22@, located in the Sant Martí district, will be closed from 4th to 31st August, while the Cibernàrium Nou Barris will be closed from 11th to 24th August.

Regarding LIDERA, it will open with intensive hours from 8 am to 3 pm during August, except from the 12th to the 23rd, when it will be closed.

In the field of the Social and Solidarity Economy, InnoBA maintains its usual hours, except for the Job Guidance Point, which will be closed from 11th to 22nd August. The InnoBAdora will be operational from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 8 pm, and will be closed from 9th to 24th August.

Finally, the Barcelona Activa Headquarters will remain open throughout the month, with public attention from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Here you can consult the opening hours and locations of the different facilities in the city and the training actions available during August.

Bizbarcelona is back, the benchmark event for entrepreneurship, SMEs, local commerce and professionals who want to grow their business. On 15th and 16th  October, the Montjuïc – Fira de Barcelona venue will once again be the setting for this key event, a space to connect, be inspired and find solutions to the challenges of the new economy.

The meeting, promoted by Barcelona Activa, the Barcelona Provincial Council, PIMEC, the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, aims to support the business and commercial fabric of the territory.

The programme of Bizbarcelona is designed to offer real support to people who lead businesses and business projects. It includes key content on management, strategy, digital transformation, marketing and other essential areas for business development. In addition, it provides the visitors with connection spaces and practical activities that respond to the daily needs of companies and professionals. Each session and activity is designed to provide tangible and applicable value: from tools to optimise management to resources to strengthen teams, improve results and boost competitiveness.

The event offers two types of participation, designed to adapt to different profiles and objectives: 

• As an exhibitor. Companies that want to gain visibility can be part of the Village, a dynamic space where they can present their products and services, connect with other professionals and generate new business opportunities.

• As a visitor.  Visitors will have access to talks, networking activities and workshops and spaces of the Village, where they will find inspiration, professional advice and practical resources to boost their projects.

With each edition, Bizbarcelona reaffirms its vocation of service, becoming a benchmark showcase for sharing knowledge, detecting opportunities and contributing to the competitiveness of Barcelona's business ecosystem.

For more information, registrations or general inquiries, you can contact bizbarcelona@firabarcelona.com. For applications related to participation as an exhibitor, please contact caznar@firabarcelona.com.

Consult the website of Bizbarcelona and find out how to participate, either as a visitor or as an exhibitor.

Summer is a good time to acquire new knowledge and prepare to face future professional challenges. That’s why Barcelona Activa maintains its activity during this period with a training programme which includes more online activities and adapts the onsite activities to its facilities.

This initiative responds to the desire to promote employability, stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit and enhance the competitiveness of the business fabric, with proposals adapted to the profiles and needs of citizens. All these proposals can be found on the different Barcelona Activa websites, organised to facilitate access according to the interests and goals of each user. 

The courses and activities for employment help to improve professional profiles, reorient careers and acquire key skills for job searching. On offer are short length activities, training for youths and tailor-made actions for entities. This is complemented with workshops and advice to develop skills such as communication, job search, leadership or planning.

People with an entrepreneurial spirit can access the Entrepreneurship service, with training throughout the year to work on key aspects of structuring and financing their business, such as developing a financial plan, defining a business model and learning about resources for opening and managing physical or digital businesses. In addition, they will improve practical skills to present projects and promote the digitalisation of their business.

The enterprises and entities have specific online training programmes available to improve management, access financing and boost sales. They also have online courses in MOOC format, accessible through a learning management platform. These include videos, reading material, questionnaires and other material organised into modules on various topics such as company training and taxation or digitalisation (SEO, Google Analytics, web, e-commerce and Wordpress).

The technological training is a strategic pillar that offers a wide variety of online courses in key areas such as programming, cybersecurity, digital marketing and artificial intelligence. Among the highlighted topics are Wordpress, Python, Power BI, Microsoft 365, official brand certifications, Adobe applications and online procedures. This training offer is designed to facilitate the acquisition of digital skills adapted to current needs, with the convenience of a completely online format.

If you want to take advantage of the summer to grow and open new doors to your professional future, consult all the  training offer of Barcelona Activa and choose the training that suits you best.

The Barcelona Activa IT Academy has launched a new training itinerary specialised in cybersecurity, designed to prepare qualified professionals in one of the areas with the highest demand within the technology sector.

The new Cybersecurity itinerary offers a complete path, from the basics to advanced roles such as Junior Analyst, SOC Analyst and Ethical Hacker, and is designed to train digital talent from scratch. It includes training in the use of tools such as SIEM systems and intrusion detection systems, and prepares for recognised certifications such as Cisco CCST, CyberOps Associate and Cisco Ethical Hacker. It is an opportunity to enter a strategic sector with major prospects for growth and stability and also offers the opportunity to train in English.

The IT Academy offers free, onsite and practical technological training at the Cibernàrium in the 22@ neighbourhood, aimed at both people who are new to ICT and professionals who want to update their skills. The courses, in a 350-hour bootcamp format, are based on personalised self-learning, expert mentoring and work environment simulators, with a job placement rate of 82% in areas such as programming, data analysis and cybersecurity.

Along with this itinerary, the IT Academy maintains two consolidated training lines:

• Web Programming Itinerary, with three specialisation routes: Frontend, Backend and Full Stack. It is designed to learn how to program websites and applications from scratch, without previous experience. Key skills such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Java, PHP and databases are developed.

• Data Analysis Itinerary, Aimed at profiles with an analytical mindset. It combines tools such as Python, MySQL, Power BI and Git. It includes a practical project within a business simulator, which prepares you for the real work environment.

In addition to technical training, the IT Academy also provides a job placement support service. Participants receive an official certificate and access resources and guidance for active job search. At the same time, the initiative connects with the business community through the IT Academy Companies service, that enables the incorporation of digital talent in programming, data and cybersecurity into real vacancies.

Pre-register now and get ready to reprogram your future with the IT Academy.

Barcelona Activa makes available to citizens a permanent entrepreneurial service as a comprehensive support to accompany projects and individuals at any stage of the process, whether they are in the initial stage with a fledgling idea or are already established start-ups. The goal is to guarantee high-quality, flexible support tailored to the real needs of each entrepreneur.

The information session is a good gateway to discover all the services and resources available, resolve questions, and find guidance within the support itineraries. You can also directly access other activities, assessment, or training programmes tailored to your needs and interests.

After completing this session, you can access individualised advice from an expert team that guides each initiative according to each user's needs. The support is tailored to the project stage and the needs of each entrepreneur—ideation, modelling, planning, and execution—offering personalised support in areas such as taxation, procedures, and planning to transform opportunities into viable and secure businesses.  

In addition, a wide range of specialised training and programmes are offered to support entrepreneurial development at all stages. This offer is structured into three main areas: 

• Updated and ongoing training: A constantly updated catalogue of training sessions, adapted to diverse profiles and aimed at offering practical and applicable knowledge on topics such as taxation, personal branding, and business plans.

• Accompanying programmes and networking: focused on transforming ideas into viable projects, with initiatives aimed at strategic sectors, specific groups and start-ups.

• Specialised itineraries: activities designed to validate, consolidate or scale projects, combining expert advice with digital resources to facilitate planning, monitoring and execution with greater guarantees of success.

At the same time, Barcelona Activa has several spaces of innovation and coworking conceived as strategic environments to boost entrepreneurial activity. Within this framework, the network formed by the Glòries Incubator, the Technology Park, InnoBAdora, and La Clota Cotreball (Coworking) offers comprehensive support to emerging projects through fully equipped offices, ongoing consulting, active professional communities, and specialised resources. Established companies maintain an 80% survival rate after their fourth year of operation. 

This commitment to sustained growth reinforces Barcelona Activa's mission as a driving force for entrepreneurship and economic development in the city, with 8,956 entrepreneurs attended, 1,452 projects supported, 248 start-ups advised, and 106 companies incubated in 2024 alone.

Apply for the entrepreneurship service to launch your project with the support of an expert team. For more information, send an email to emprenedoria@barcelonactiva.cat.

Barcelona Activa makes available to companies the service of Talent Management, designed to enable the filling of vacancies and provide support throughout the entire process of recruiting staff in the organisations. The main aim is to assist companies in finding the most suitable profiles for their needs and strengthen the competitiveness of Barcelona's business community.

During 2024, this service facilitated 973 hirings and incorporated 212 interns. It has collaborated with more than 400 organisations and has more than 90,400 applications registered in its database.

The service is structured into three main blocks to respond to the main demands of companies:  

• Covering vacancies. Direct support is provided for job recruitment and internship agreements with higher education students. The service includes candidate recruitment, pre-selection, and event organisation to fill various positions.

• Incorporation of students from Vocational Training. The Oficina FP Empresas, in collaboration with the Consorcio de Educación de Barcelona, provides companies with all the information on training specialties and methods for recruiting vocational training students. Once the needs have been assessed, the application is forwarded to the Consortium team, which connects the company with the most suitable educational centres.

• Advice and assessment for companies. Support and advice are offered to companies in key areas such as equality plans, talent retention, bonuses, and the incorporation of vulnerable groups. In addition, access to employment programmes is facilitated in collaboration with the SOC (The Catalan Employment Service) and Vocational Training specialties adapted to each training need, thanks to the joint work with the Consortium.

To ensure the quality of the selection process, a protocol of validation and follow up of applications. Companies must apply for the vacancy by submitting a form with their information, the job description, and the position conditions. Once the application is validated, guidance is provided throughout the hiring process and the referral of applications is managed, ensuring that job offers comply with regulations.

Connecting with local talent allows companies to strengthen their competitiveness and generate new, high-quality career opportunities in the city. In turn, students and job seekers find a gateway to a friendly, dynamic work environment with potential for professional growth.

Boost your company's workforce with new professional profiles by requesting the service of Talent Management.

In September the fifth edition of Reimaginem is back, the programme that accompanies organisations in the processes of strategic transformation to integrate the practices and values of the Social and Impact Economy. The programme will last six months and will host fourteen initiatives to strengthen their resilience through innovation, strategy and prototyping.

Promoted by Barcelona Activa and boosted by Tandem Social, it is aimed at consolidated entities with at least three years of activity and preferably located in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. It is designed for teams with the capacity to face challenges in areas such as product design, internal organisation, marketing or digitalisation. Also, those who have the desire to generate impact through co-creation, gender perspective and good governance.

The programme begins with a common training programme focused on social innovation and prototyping. Once this first phase is completed, each organisation can choose one of two specialty itineraries:

• Product or service design and commercialisation: focused on the design of the value proposition, customer experience and marketing.

• Internal organisation, participation and governance: aimed at improving the structure, production processes and participatory spaces.

Entities can continue working on their proposals with the  Advisory service specialised in SSE and La InnoBAdora, the Barcelona Activa Social and Impact Economy incubation community.

For more information you can write to innovaciosocioeconomica@barcelonactiva.cat or call 933 57 52 52.

Interested organisations can formalise their participation through the website before 25th July.

This summer, the Technology Park will be affected by the improvement works which are taking place on lines L4 and L11 of the Barcelona metro. The Llucmajor stop (L4), the closest to the venue, will be out of service until 7th September. This disruption may particularly affect people attending sessions and workshops at the Cibernàrium Nou Barris, as well as the companies that carry out their activities at the venue. It is recommended to plan your trips in advance and check available transport alternatives during this period.

While the works are ongoing, an alternative shuttle bus service has been set up that covers the route between Verdaguer and Casa de l’Aigua in both directions, with strategic stops along main routes such as Passeig Maragall. It also has connections with other metro lines and with high frequencies. The closest stop to the Technology Park is Passeig Valldaura – Pg. Verdum. To check all the bus stops and schedules, it is recommended to visit the website of TMB. In addition, a specific service is offered for people with disabilities or reduced mobility, which connects Girona and Verdaguer stations with adapted schedules.

Apart from the shuttle bus, there are other alternative routes. By metro, you can use the L5 (Vilapicina) or the L3 (Canyelles), with a short walk or bus journey. As for the local trains (Rodalies), the R3, R4 and R7 lines, with a stop at the Sant Andreu Arenal station (Fabra i Puig), are also an accessible and functional option to reach the venue.

To facilitate travel, TMB offers updated information at the affected stations and has information staff to answer queries in person. In addition, TMB has updated its interactive map of routes in real time, with all the impacts and available alternatives.

You can access all the information on alternative routes through the official website tmb.cat, the TMB app or by calling 900 701 149 to resolve any queries.

Barcelona has hosted the first Technical Conference on Career Guidance, a meeting to address the challenges of the labour market and rethink the support for people who want to access it. Organised by Barcelona Activa in the Disseny Hub (DHub), the event brought together more than 300 professionals —double the number of the previous edition— to analyse changes in the world of work and promote new tools and strategies. With an eye on the future of work, the conference called for a more up-to-date and personalised guidance.

Given the forecast that 22% of jobs will change substantially before 2030 and that 59% will require specific training (according to the report The Future of Jobs del World Economic Forum), the conference focused the debate on three main areas: artificial intelligence, vocational training and new job skills.

This edition has also seen a step forward in a broader, technical and participatory format, which has included practical workshops, debate spaces, presentations and a hackathon. Key issues such as lifelong learning, Dual Vocational Training, micro-credentials and territorial equity have also been addressed, in an environment designed to respond to the new challenges of the sector.

The conference started with a talk given by Sam Grayling (World Economic Forum), to contextualise the major changes in the labour market. Based on this analysis, the audiovisual, healthcare, digital economy, sustainable economy and industry 4.0 sectors were highlighted as strategic for the city, in a talk led by per Àngels Santigosa. Subsequently, the artificial intelligence expert, Nerea Luis, explained the challenges and opportunities of AI and facilitated a hackathon to experiment with practical cases.

Reskilling and upskilling also played a prominent role, with proposals such as Dual Vocational Training, micro-credentials and innovative methodologies such as the fishbowl, which encouraged open debate among professionals. Each participant was able to build their own itinerary, choosing between workshops, talks and debate spaces according to their interests and training needs.
 

With this conference, Barcelona Activa reinforces its role as a driving force for knowledge and innovation in the field of career guidance. The event is part of the municipal strategy to promote quality work, reduce inequalities and offer more training opportunities adapted to market changes.

Find out more about everything that was discussed at the conference and stay tuned for upcoming conferences.

The free-of-charge Job coaching service of Barcelona Activa offers you the support and tools to redefine your professional path with clarity, confidence and motivation. Designed for people who are unemployed or in the process of reorientation, this resource combines professional coaching techniques with personal development, focusing on individual growth and empowerment.

Job coaching is an accompanying methodology that helps identify strengths, overcome limiting beliefs and define a professional action plan aligned with personal values. Through group dynamics, it encourages mutual support and reflection to make decisions with greater clarity and security. A transformative tool to rethink the future of work with realism and motivation.  

The service offers different modalities adapted to the needs and vital moments of the participants:

• Job coaching for professional transformation: for those who want to redefine their job purpose and activate a significant change.

• Job coaching for women: focused on overcoming structural barriers, strengthening self-esteem and highlighting female talent.

• Job coaching for youths: ideal for orienting yourself in the labour market, identifying skills and defining specific goals.

• Job coaching for seniors: designed for people over 45 who want to restart or reorient their career by valuing their experience.

This service is complemented by other resources designed to boost professional growth, such as Barcelona Mentoring Programme, where managers advise business projects, or the Women Mentoring Programme, aimed at women entrepreneurs who want to consolidate their business.

To ensure proximity and accessibility, the career coaching service is offered in different points around the city:

• Barcelona Activa – El Convent (Ciutat Vella)

• Barcelona Activa – Porta22 (Sant Martí)

• Information and Advice Centre for Young People (Ciutat Vella)

• Punt infoJOVE (Eixample, Les Corts and Sant Martí)

Consult all the options and register for the job coaching service, an opportunity to redefine your profesional future!

Barcelona City Council, through Barcelona Activa, has launched the ninth call for subsidies “Impulsem el que fas” (We boost what you do), an initiative aimed at supporting local projects with a social and economic impact in the city. With an allocation of 2.5 million euros for this year's edition, the grants are aimed at self-employed people, entities and companies active in Barcelona.

The grants, which range between 8,000 and 30,000 euros depending on the type, cover up to 80% of the cost, with a minimum of 20% co-financing. The actions must begin during 2025 and be executed in a maximum of 12 months.

As a notable new feature of this edition, the call includes six different modalities depending on the strategic areas, and only one line per person or organisation may be selected:

• Modality 1A: Up to €20,000 to open activities in empty premises or market stalls. 

• Modality 1B (new): Up to €15,000 to reactivate ground floor municipal premises. 

• Modality 1C (new): Up to €22,000 for economic diversification and local commerce projects in over-crowded areas.

• Modality 2: Up to €8,000 for social economy initiatives with impact. 

• Modality 3: Up to €20,000 to foster quality employment in the territory. 

• Modality 4 (new): Up to €30,000 for social and technological innovation projects in the field of care. 

• Modality 5: Up to €16,000 for sustainable food projects, with an extra €2,000 if they are carried out in ground floor premises. 

• Modality 6 (new): Up to €13,000 for women entrepreneurs, managers or professionals with leadership projects. 

A draw to determine the order of concession has also been introduced, a new structure with sub-modalities (up to two actions per application, except modality 5) and a more agile and accessible form.

The application period is now open and ends on 15th July through the official website. Consult the rules and participate in the information sessions to prepare your grant application Impulsem el que fas.

Barcelona Activa impulsa una agenda de actividades con formaciones centradas en el uso de la inteligencia artificial para mejorar las competencias digitales y aplicar esta herramienta en el ámbito laboral, tanto en las tareas cotidianas de las personas trabajadoras como en la búsqueda de empleo y los procesos de selección. Además, en estas sesiones también se aborda la ética, para concienciar sobre el uso responsable de esta tecnología y el respeto por los derechos digitales. 

En cuanto a Empleo, el área incorpora la IA a través de actividades de análisis del mercado de trabajo y orientación para aplicar esta herramienta de manera estratégica. Un ejemplo de estas sesiones es el taller Analiza el mercado que te rodea con IA, que ayudará a las personas participantes a identificar sectores profesionales con alta demanda y a mejorar su perfil profesional; o la actividad ¿Cómo puede ayudarte la IA en tu proceso de búsqueda de empleo?, para aprender a utilizar esta tecnología durante la búsqueda de trabajo. Del mismo modo, también se ofrecen formaciones sobre IA para empresas, como la sesión Crea contenidos automáticamente con la IA, y para personas emprendedoras, como el taller 25 Herramientas de EmprendedorIA, con el objetivo de dar un impulso a organizaciones y empresas emergentes de la ciudad. 

En esta línea, dentro de Barcelona Empleo hay una sección específica para Jóvenes que incluye talleres para optimizar el CV y la carta de presentación con IA, así como servicios para ayudar a definir un plan de acción personalizado o potenciar la marca personal en redes sociales. 

Finalmente, el Cibernàrium ofrece un servicio dedicado al impulso de las competencias digitales, con una amplia oferta formativa dirigida a profesionales, empresas y personas emprendedoras. Se pueden encontrar cápsulas formativas sobre inteligencia artificial generativa, herramientas para automatizar tareas laborales o crear contenido atractivo. También se organizan masterclasses sobre diversas temáticas, incluidas sesiones especializadas en IA. Además, se imparte formación específica para empresas y startups, con actividades y talleres orientados al desarrollo profesional y al uso ético de la IA. 

CodiCrack summer camps have already opened registrations for children and young people with the aim of improving their digital skills this summer. The workshops, organised by the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya in collaboration with Barcelona Activa, will be held at the Cibernàrium of Nou Barris, offer 30 hours of training and, upon completion, provide a UPC certificate issued by the foundation.

Throughout a week for each course, topics such as protection in the web, research and creation of digital content with a critical spirit, and creativity in the use of technology will be covered in a practical way. In this sense, all activities will be carried out in the format of missions and challenges that seek to test digital resilience and emotional intelligence, with the support of trainers and monitors.

The workshops are organised by age groups and by dates, with a limit of 12 people for each group. Regarding the timetable, in all cases they will be from 8:30 to 2.30pm.  

From 9 to 11 years old:

• Constellation Internet: activities for children and young people to immerse themselves in the social impact of ICTs for a healthy digital coexistence.

From 12 to 13 years old:

• Odyssey in the web: sessions to explore technologies and make safe and healthy use of them.

From 14 to 17 years old:

• Future city: activities to take advantage of ICT for your personal and professional future.

Sign up for the casals Codicrack and get trained in digital skills this summer!

The Talent marketplaces are recruitment events that connect companies with people in the job search process. These meetings facilitate the first contact between companies and people interested in the vacancies offered. Barcelona Activa acts as an intermediary between the two needs, supporting companies in defining profiles and pre-selecting candidates, and providing a structured space for meetings and interviews.

Firstly, companies that want to incorporate new talent have access to Barcelona Activa's Talent Management service. All they need to do is fill out a web form with the vacancies to be filled and then the team will get in touch to define the requirements, disseminate the offers and filter the most suitable candidates. For more information, you can write to ofertesfeina@barcelonactiva.cat.

Secondly, people in the process of looking for a job can consult the offers on the Barcelona Activa Employment website and send their CV to those vacancies which they are interested in. Then, the most suitable candidates for each offer are selected, attendance is confirmed and a preparatory session is held before the interview with the company.

The Marketplaces are carried out in strategic sectors for the city of Barcelona, ​​such as audiovisual and industry 4.0, and with leading companies such as Lavinia, Fundació Pere Tarrés, the Clúster Audiovisual de Catalunya or Ametller Origen. In addition, they are organised in various sector fairs to bring talent closer to the reality of companies and their sectors.

In addition to the Marketplaces, the agency also organises networking meetings with companies as a complementary resource, designed for people who want to make contacts and learn more about the labour market. In these informal meetings, which are coffees with human resources teams, companies share the profiles they are usually looking for and the most valued skills. An example is the Coffee with Oxfam Intermón, where the organisation explained how it attracts talent and which profiles it usually hires

You can consult the catalogue of Marketplace sessions and find out about all the companies looking for professionals!

Entrepreneurs and those interested in the audiovisual sector and extended reality can now enjoy Palo Alto BCN XRLAB, a new Economic Activity Hub for innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship within the audiovisual sector. This new space, promoted by Barcelona City Council through Barcelona Activa, and by the Palo Alto BCN XRLAB joint venture, of the companies Lavinia, Magma Cultura and Artsmediatech, was inaugurated last Thursday.  This new hub is located in the former industrial complex of Palo Alto, with more than 2,000 m2 of facilities and has the ambition to become a facility focused on the creative industries that drives the growth and competitiveness of the audiovisual sector, supports new economic activity, attracts national and international investment and generates talent and quality employment.

The new facilities will feature an extended reality laboratory, a coworking space with access to the latest technologies applicable to audiovisual, as well as an incubation programme to support entrepreneurs, accelerating their projects. Training will also be a backbone of Palo Alto BCN XRLAB's activity through an intense ongoing education programme focused on the trends that will mark the evolution of the creative industries.

This hub is just the first of other strategic poles being developed by Barcelona City Council that were made public during 2023. These aim to define the city's future economic map, generate talent and quality employment, support entrepreneurship and promote new economic activity and investment interest.

Explore the activities and opportunities of the new XRLAB in its official website.

Barcelona Activa continues its commitment towards companies in their digital transformation processes. Through a free of charge and personalised service, offers expert advice to identify opportunities for technological improvement, develop a customised digitalisation plan and access support such as the Digital Kit. This support is aimed at both micro-enterprises and SMEs and self-employed people, adapting to the specific needs of each business.

The advice includes an initial diagnosis, strategic recommendations and technical support to access public subsidies. The Digital Kit expands its scope in 2025, and includes the new Consulting Kit programme, intended for specialised advisory services in areas such as digital strategy, cybersecurity or data analysis.

In addition, Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) entities have a specific and specialised service that takes into account their values ​​and organisational models. This resource offers advice adapted to the reality of cooperatives, foundations, associations and other SSE initiatives that want to incorporate digital tools in a strategic and sustainable way.

Find out about the latest news in the Digital Kit and how to access the digitalisation service at information session on 15th May.

A new edition of the Estiu TIC has arrived, Barcelona Activa's intensive summer training offer through the Cibernàrium programme. During the months of July and August, training will be offered in onsite or online format, aimed both at people who want to start in the digital world and at professionals looking to update skills or teachers interested in incorporating technological tools in the classroom.

With more than 150 scheduled activities, the Estiu TIC aims to foster the expansion of digital skills by taking advantage of the summer months. The programme includes basic training and specialised courses in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data processing, productivity tools, digital marketing, programming, and many more.

A notable part of the programme are the 19 trainings certified by the Departament d’Educació, especially designed for teaching professionals, these courses are divided into basic and specialised offers. Additionally, the "Hack Education" programme is included, an intensive training in computational thinking and active methodologies aimed at secondary, high school, and vocational training teachers. This programme focuses on Python programming and is based on the 42 Barcelona methodology.  

Estiu TIC also offers 11 EstàsON workshops, aimed at children aged 6 to 12 in collaboration with the Barcelona Libraries, to foster interest in science and technology. And for the little ones, aged 9 to 11, the Casal Codicrack, a summer initiative that aims to enhance digital skills, critical thinking, and technological creativity among children and youths.

Finally, the summer offer is complemented with other training in entrepreneurship, enterprise, job search and Cibernàrium's own courses, as well as a wide selection of online self-training courses available 24 hours a day.

Train for two months in the workshops or activities that best suit you. Discover all the options and join the programme Estiu TIC!

The registration period is now open for the fifth edition of B-STEP, the Barcelona Activa programme aimed at start-ups developing their activity in the sport and physical activity sector. With the collaboration of Barcelona Sports Hub and Indescat, the programme will officially begin on 26^th March 26, 2025.   

The B-STEP is a free-of-charge programme designed for emerging companies that want to boost their growth and consolidation within the sports ecosystem. This is divided into two distinct phases to be able to offer comprehensive support.

During the first phase, a maximum of 20 start-ups will be selected, which a jury will screen and choose 12 companies to participate in a Bootcamp (from 10^th to 14^th March). Where the definition of the business model and the presentation of the project will be worked on. 

In the second phase, start-ups will be able to stay for 8 months in Barcelona Activa's incubators, where they will have a free coworking space, receive personalised advice and training. In addition, they will participate in networking activities related to the sports ecosystem to promote synergies and cooperation. 

The programme will end with a closing ceremony in which a specialised jury will choose the winning start-up, which will receive an award of 5,000 euros. 

In the previous four editions, the B-STEP counted on the participation of more than 80 people and contributed to the creation of 30 start-ups.

The deadline for applications is 16^th February, 2025. If you have a start-up linked to the world of sports, check out all the information and steps to sign up here. 

Integrated Systems Europe 2025 has closed a new edition with record attendance. In total, 85,350 people from 168 countries attended the largest trade fair in the audiovisual sector from 4th to 7th February. A sector that has grown by 15% since 2021, that has boosted employment and that attracts entrepreneurial talent in Catalonia with more than 4,100 companies, 41,840 jobs and an annual turnover of €8.6M, according to the study The audiovisual sector in Catalonia, carried out by ACCIÓ.

The event was the setting for the presentation of the city's first Pole of Economic Activity, Palo Alto BCN XRLAB, which will become a reality in May to bring together initiatives, companies and professional people specialised in extended reality (XR) technologies. The space, with more than 2,000m2, will have the aim of boosting the growth and competitiveness of the audiovisual sector, generating new economic activity, creative talent and quality employment.

This year, Barcelona Activa participated in ISE with a joint stand with the Barcelona Institute of Culture (ICUB), Barcelona City Council, and the Audiovisual Cluster of Catalonia. The space offered an immersive experience to attendees, with a tour to test first-hand the solutions of 6 companies in the Barcelona Creativity Showroom: blit.studio, Fede Switch & Light, Flop Work,Glassy Films, IT'S ON and Seeds XR.

As a new feature, there was also an Innovation Park, a space dedicated to presenting the solutions of new emerging companies in the audiovisual sector, such as Estudio Gurugú, Into Reality, NeuralTrust,Play Your Brand, Process Talks, Royal Renders and Wildbytes.

Finally, Barcelona Activa announced the different programmes and services to promote talent in the creative industries, such as IT Academy, the challenges CONNECTIO or the Trade skills workshop. In addition, new networking opportunities were generated, company pitching was carried out and talks on investment in the sector were held.

You can find out about the most important moments of the trade fair in this video summary and start preparing for next year's edition, which will be held between 3rd and 6th February.