Mobile World Congress 2024

Barcelona welcomes back from 26 to 29 February 2024 the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world’s largest and most significant connectivity event.

MWC and Barcelona is a partnership built on innovation, collaboration, and mutual success. Barcelona is part of the MWC experience. Celebrated in Catalonia since 2006, this year’s event theme is Future First, working towards solving the challenges of today and tomorrow. Future First is supported by the MWC agenda and shaped by six sub-themes that reflect the latest trends and technologies, including 5G and Beyond, Connecting Everything, Humanizing AI, Manufacturing DX, Game Changers, and Our Digital DNA.

MWC Barcelona will be attended by global mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, vendors, and content owners. Among this year’s speakers, we will find representatives from the AI Advisory Body of the UN, FC Barcelona, Huawei, Microsoft, Orange Group, and CDS, among many others.

Journey to the Future and Sports Tomorrow Congress are set to return, as confirmed by the GSMA. At MWC Barcelona, Journey to the Future provides a high-tech space where attendees can explore and engage with the latest technologies transforming six sectors: Health, AI, Mobility, Sustainability, Accessibility, and Retail.

As part of the Sustainability track at Journey to the Future, it was announced that the Emirates Team New Zealand, champions of the 36th America’s Cup, will be participating. Attendees will get a chance to witness their revolutionary hydrogen-powered chase boat and learn about the advances in hydrofoil technology that are opening up new horizons in clean technology. This is an opportunity to get a sneak peek ahead of the 37th America’s Cup taking place in Barcelona this August.

“This year’s edition of MWC Barcelona will mark 18 years that we’ve been bringing our flagship event to the city of Barcelona, and we are grateful for our unique public-private partnership built on innovation, collaboration, and mutual success. MWC is a unifying force that emphasizes how mobile technology transcends political, geographical, and cultural boundaries, and we cannot wait to kick off this gathering of the world’s most innovative and entrepreneurial minds next month.”, said Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, at the event presentation for the press.

The innovation congress 4 Years From Now (4YFN), MWC’s platform for global startups, will also return to Barcelona to showcase and connect startups, investors, and companies to launch new business ventures.

Catalan participation at Mobile World Congress 2024

The Government of Catalonia promotes the presence of Catalan companies and agents in its digital ecosystem at the Mobile World Congress.

This year, 47 companies, entities, and technology centers will be located in the Catalan Pavilion (Hall Congress Square, CS210), representing the booming tech ecosystem in the region.

Download the catalogue of Catalan Exhibitors at MWC 2024, and see below the list of participating companies:

• AD TELECOM
• AEInnova
• Aiwa Europe
• Apolo Analytics
• Asserta Global Healthcare Solutions
• Barcelona Supercomputing Center
• Barcelona Technology School
• BlockFrikis
• Telecommunications Technology Center of Catalonia
• Centria Tecnología
• Coditramuntana
• Computer Vision Center (CVC)
• Connectivity
• EarthPulse!
• Ebantic Systems
• EURECAT
• Fluendo
• Glam Software
• GPAINNOVA
• Group Saltó
• Iquadrat
• i2CAT - The Internet Research Centre
• LaMagnética
• LifeVit
• MassCert - Ilimit
• Mática Partners
• Medusa SCS & AFR-IX telecom
• Milgrams
• NodeMatch
• OBSLY
• OTC Engineering
• Outvise
• RCM Software
• SATELIOT
• Sinergia Catalonia
• SocialwiBox
• Taurus Group
• Telecorn.com
• Tickelia
• TUYLEK
• Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC)
• VDMHealth
• WaveControl
• YSimulators - AR / VR TRAINING
• YUP

MWC Open Innovation Challenge 2024

Major corporates and investors will be back at MWC 2024 to participate in the Open Innovation Challenge with a single goal: to find the best innovative solutions and meet their technological challenges.

MWC Open Innovation Challenge 2024 is a B2B meeting event organized by Catalonia Trade & Investment and Enterprise Europe Network that will connect corporations with open innovation challenges and investors on the one hand and startups and tech providers on the other.

Renowned national and international corporations, such as Sony, AstraZeneca, Oppo, Ikea, Samsung, and Alstom, will be taking part.

Corporates can register at the MWC Open Innovation Challenge, publish their challenge, and arrange meetings with technology suppliers from all around the world. Corporations and investors participating enjoy dedicated support from the Catalonia Trade & Investment team in identifying relevant partners to meet according to their interests.

Technology providers that have the potential to help solve these challenges can register to participate in the event and upload their details on the solutions they can provide.

Participation will allow connecting with the most disruptive solutions, and it is a great opportunity to:

• Identifying potential international partners
• Meeting targeted companies and decision-makers
• Complementing your visit to the congress with a personalized agenda of meetings

When and where?

• From the 26th to the 28th of February, there will be only physical meetings between corporates/investors and technology providers. Physical meetings will take place in the venue of the 4YFN congress at the Catalan Pavilion in Hall 8, Booth 8.1 B14 
• Other meetings will be online on separate days between March 4th and 8th.

How to register?

Sign up to participate free of charge at the MWC Open Innovation Challenge before 15th February. 

Do you want to make the most out of the MWC2024?

Our team of investment consultants will be present at MWC and 4YFN. Please contact us if you are interested in investing in Barcelona-Catalonia.