ACCIÓ joins World Manufacturing Foundation

ACCIÓ, the agency for business competitiveness of the Catalan Government, has joined World Manufacturing Foundation, an international platform that aims at boosting global industrial culture as a means for sustainable development.

The organization supports and promotes industrial agendas in different countries as well as at an international level and creates a structure for debate and exchange of experiences and knowledge between companies, governments, institutions, and social organizations. It also acts as a catalyst to develop innovative solutions to global challenges.

This platform is also in charge of the organization of an annual forum focusing on the industry’s main challenges and trends. It brings together industry leaders from both the public and the private sector. The Forum took place in Barcelona in 2016.

As part of the World Manufacturing Forum, ACCIÓ is recognized as one of Europe’s main actors in the field of industrial policy. ACCIÓ will, therefore, participate in several initiatives and coordinate different projects, as well as participating in specific working groups and taking part in the entity’s annual General Assembly.

The World Manufacturing Forum was founded in Lombardy (Italy) in 2011 by Confindustria Lombardia, Intelligent Manufacturing Systems, and the Politecnico di Milano. Current partners include the Associazione per il Disegno Industriale, the German-Italian Chamber of Commerce, LVI Baden-Wurttemberg, the European Commission, and the UN Industrial Development Organization, among others.

Catalonia is one of Europe’s industrial hubs with a strong supply chain connection, smart industry adoption, and a central position with strategic access to Europe’s main markets. In Catalonia, industry accounts for 21% of the gross value added, which is above the EU target for 2020, while there are 37,605 industrial companies in Catalonia.