BlueTechPort: Port of Barcelona and Tech Barcelona Join Forces for Innovation.

Port of Barcelona and Tech Barcelona have opened the doors to BlueTechPort, a new innovation space for companies aiming to drive progress in all sectors related to the blue economy.

Located at Pier 01 in Palau de Mar and owned by Tech Barcelona, this place will host businesses and entrepreneurial projects linked to the port, logistics, and blue tourism sectors, as well as more cutting-edge fields such as underwater robotics, artificial intelligence applied to the marine environment, marine biodiversity conservation, and even the development of pharmaceutical components derived from marine products.

As emphasized by Port of Barcelona’s President, Lluís Salvadó, during the space’s unveiling, these sectors represent fresh opportunities for the maritime and port ecosystem.

Innovation in the Blue Economy

As the first of its kind at Port of Barcelona, BlueTechPort represents another step forward in the commitment to drive innovation in the blue economy, as outlined in the approved 2021 Innovation Plan. The objective? To become a more sustainable and competitive port, generating benefits for the logistics and port community, clients, and citizens.

Collaborating with Tech Barcelona will enable companies establishing themselves at BlueTechPort to enjoy the benefits offered by startups within the ecosystem. This ecosystem will shape the Blue District, a space designed to foster synergies among various institutions and companies present at Port of Barcelona, while also attracting renowned enterprises and research centers beyond the port area.

“In 2013, with the foundation of Tech Barcelona, we pioneered the consolidation and strengthening of Barcelona’s technological and digital ecosystem alongside the city’s most outstanding entrepreneurs. Now, 10 years later, the creation of BlueTechPort in collaboration with Port of Barcelona will allow us to consolidate and develop the blue economy, a strategic sector that will play a fundamental role in the city’s transformation,” declared Miquel Martí, CEO of Tech Barcelona, during the inauguration ceremony.

Sustainability as the Goal for BlueTechPort

Sustainability is one of the key pillars for companies within Barcelona’s technological and digital ecosystem. Therefore, the collaboration between Port of Barcelona and Tech Barcelona represents a unique opportunity to develop the city’s blue economy and establish the sector as an international benchmark.

BlueTechPort is designed to accommodate emerging companies, scale-ups, and innovative projects by established enterprises, benefiting from the support and collaboration of Port of Barcelona to conduct pilot tests or prototype their projects. The port will serve as a testing environment for their ideas and proposals to drive sustainability in the blue economy.

Source: Port de Barcelona