Stanford LEAD Innovation Tour brings global innovation leaders to Barcelona
09 Oct 2026
Nearly 100 Stanford LEAD students and alumni explored Barcelona-Catalonia’s innovation ecosystem across tech, healthcare, science and creativity.
The three-day event connected international business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and innovation executives with the companies, research institutions and organizations driving the region’s development.
Selected from four candidate cities, Barcelona was chosen to host the tour, providing a valuable opportunity to showcase its international appeal as a hub for innovation, talent and business growth. The initiative is being organized in collaboration with Stanford Alumni and with the support of Barcelona City Council.
Exploring Barcelona-Catalonia’s innovation ecosystem
The program combined shared sessions with three thematic tracks: Technology and Deep Tech, Science and Healthcare Innovation, and Creativity. Participants explored the region’s capabilities across these fields, met key ecosystem stakeholders, and explored collaboration opportunities.
The Technology and Deep Tech track offered an in-depth look at Barcelona’s innovation landscape. Starting in the 22@ innovation district, the program explored the city’s technology strategy and ecosystem through exchanges with companies and research centers developing and applying artificial intelligence and deep technologies.
The track also included a visit to the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and its MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, highlighting the role of high-performance computing in scientific research, industrial innovation and European technological sovereignty. The program concluded at IESE Business School, with a focus on entrepreneurship, investment, scaling innovation and leadership.
The Science and Healthcare Innovation and Creativity tracks showcased other key dimensions of Barcelona-Catalonia’s innovation ecosystem, highlighting the connections between research, business and creative talent.
Connecting international decision-makers with local opportunities
The Stanford LEAD community brings together professionals with experience in senior leadership, company founding, investment and global innovation management, many of whom have strong connections to Silicon Valley and other international innovation hubs.
Their visit provided an opportunity to establish meaningful connections between this global network and Barcelona-Catalonia’s business and research communities, while raising the region’s profile as an attractive destination for international business, innovation and talent.
Through initiatives such as this, Barcelona-Catalonia continues to strengthen its international positioning by connecting global decision-makers with the companies, institutions and talent shaping its innovation ecosystem.
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