Barcelona showcases Catalonia’s ICT sector at the 2021 edition of the Mobile World Congress

Barcelona will host next week’s 2021 exhibition of the world’s most important technology and business congress, the Mobile World Congress (MWC). After being suspended in February 2020 due to the pandemic, this new edition of the MWC will be held from June 28 to July 1 at the Fira de Barcelona-Gran Via following a hybrid format and with strong anti-Covid prevention measures.

Organized by the GSMA, the congress represents the return of the major trade fairs and congresses in Catalonia and around the world and, therefore, the recovery of an activity that has a significant direct and indirect impact on the Catalan economy.

Under the motto 'Connected Impact', the conference will focus on exploring the possibilities and impact of today’s most disruptive and innovative technologies, such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), 'Big Data' or the Internet of Things (IoT) on our future way of life, and will once again place Catalonia at the epicentre of the international digital sector as the world mobile and 5G capital.

A boost to the Catalan digital ecosystem

Just like every year since the MWC was first held in Barcelona, the Catalan Government promotes the presence of Catalan companies and its digital ecosystem at the congress.

This year, 56 companies, entities and technology centres will be located in the exhibitor area of the Digital Catalonia stand.

In addition, the Government is also promoting the presence of 42 Catalan startups at 4YFN, the event held alongside the MWC and aimed at startups and investors in the technology sector, which this year changes its usual location and moves to the Gran Via facilities.

You can see all the Catalan companies participating at MWC and 4YFN at the Catalan Exhibitors Catalogue.

Barcelona Local Heroes

Catalonia Trade and Investment is also organising the roundtable Barcelona Local Heroes, with the participation of Enric Asunción, CEO of Wallbox, Valerie Vanhooren, cofunder at ONA Therapeutics, and Joan Romero, Catalonia Trade and Investment’s CEO.

The event will take place on June 28^th at 11:30 am at the Banco Sabadell Stage located at the congress.

Open Innovation Challenge

As well as presenting their products and services at the stand, Catalan companies participating in the MWC will also be able to meet with other companies or entities from around the world to make new international contacts, find potential partners to develop innovative projects and negotiate international cooperation agreements.

This year, the meetings will take place within the framework of the Open Innovation Challenge, with the participation of over 80 major national and international corporations, companies and investors, such as Mediapro, AstraZeneca, Nestlé or Samsung.

The Open Innovation Challenge is expected to host more than a thousand meetings, both virtual and face-to-face.

The ICT sector in Catalonia

According to the study The ICT industry in Catalonia by Catalonia Trade & Investment, the ICT sector has grown by 17% since 2016, with today 16,711 companies working in this field. With a total workforce of 129,000, the ICT sector turnover has grown 5.5% over the last year and has reached a figure of €19,325M.