Francesc Fajula: "Barcelona is where the technological future of Europe will be decided"

BarcelonaFrancesc Fajula is the CEO of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, ​​the foundation dedicated to driving technological transformation in the city and closely linked to the Mobile World Congress (MWC), the technology and connectivity event held in Barcelona from Monday, March 2nd to Thursday, March 6th. In a conversation on the ARA radio program, Fajula explains the legacy of Mobile World Capital Barcelona's 20 years in the city and emphasizes that the city is where the future of European technology will be decided. Far from accepting that Europe has missed the boat in terms of technological sovereignty, he argues that the Catalan ecosystem "has everything" because it is a driving force in this area.

What are the big new features of MWCapital this year?

— This year in the capital, we have a very different stand in Hall 6, even more innovative than in previous years, and various digital experiences, always featuring companies or organizations from Catalonia, to showcase the science and technology being developed in Catalonia to all the congress attendees. We also have a stand at 4YFN where we present all aspects of technology transfer and deep techFinally, the big news is the second edition of Talent Arena: this year we've taken a step forward to consolidate it, to provide it with even more professional content, and to attract an even more professional and international audience. That's why we've created an X-Pro zone within Talent Arena, we're bringing in Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web (WWW), and Steve Aoki, a world-renowned DJ, who will talk about using AI and technology for creative purposes... A total of 220 speakers across three sessions.

Last year was the first year of Talent Arena, and it was a great success. What prompted the creation of that space?

— It's about trying to close the circle, because in the end we have a Mobile World Congress where the world's major technological innovations are presented, we have 4YFN for the part of the start-ups And venture capital, but all the people who made all this possible—the developers, the CTOs, or those responsible for making it all happen—weren't invited to any part of MWC; they didn't have a place to learn, connect, and develop. Talent Arena was created to fill that gap. Last year we saw that it made perfect sense and that we want to position this space as the leading event for digital talent in Europe, and to do that, we need to solidify it.

Is the goal to integrate Talent Arena into MWC when Fira expands?

— We're discussing with the GSMA the idea that when we have Hall 0 at Fira Gran Via, we'll all be together again, because we can't expand any further at Montjuïc due to space limitations. Therefore, the plan is that in 2028, when the expansion is complete, we can bring together all the events surrounding Mobile World Congress.

What has MWC contributed to Barcelona and Catalonia over these 20 years?

— To understand what has led to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona over these 20 years, we must go back to what Barcelona was like 20 years ago in terms of technology. Back then, we didn't have an ecosystem of start-upsneither scientific, nor of hubs of technology like we have now, not at all. In fact, Barcelona wasn't even on the world map of innovation or technology. Now, however, we have 2,400 start-ups, 203 hubs Technology from all sectors, companies from all sectors developing their digital presence from Barcelona and Catalonia for the whole world. Only these. hubs They employ more than 46,000 people in skilled jobs. This whole phenomenon has put us on the map. And when you travel the world and talk about Barcelona, ​​what people tell you is, first, that Barcelona is relevant because it's where the technological future of Europe will be decided, and this is largely thanks to the ecosystem that has been helped to create through the Mobile World Congress. It's not just a trade fair, and certainly not just about mobile phones. There are decision-makers, regulators, standardizers, and businesspeople. This is what happens at the Mobile World Congress, and this is what makes it so different from any other event we know. The MWC has helped put Barcelona on the map of global innovation.

The work of the Capital goes beyond the event. How is the legacy created?

— We, like Mobile World Capital, are responsible for creating a legacy for society and for local businesses. We are close associates of the GSMA. We were the first to try to help make MWC a success. Beyond that, we have set ourselves four main objectives to address the key challenges we have identified in Barcelona and Catalonia, many of which are also European. One is talent: generating, attracting, and retaining technological and digital talent. The Talent Arena is key here. We also work on attracting hubs Technology companies are looking for places with specialized talent. We produce reports, collaborate with universities and vocational training centers, and constantly analyze the gap between supply and demand to help them. hubs who want to set up or grow here. Another major area of ​​activity is technology transfer. For about 10 years, we've had a program to help research groups bring their ideas to market from Barcelona. We turn research into proof-of-concept projects with companies, complement teams, guide them through the process of creating the company, and then continue to support them with capital, clients, and promotion through MWC events in Barcelona, ​​Doha, Las Vegas, and Shanghai. We have positioned ourselves as a venture builder A leading scientist in Spain and probably in Europe, with close ties to the European Innovation Council. We recently announced that our spin-offs Scientists' total valuation has already exceeded 100 million euros.

And the other two?

— We also have what we call Tech for Good, where we promote initiatives with public and private stakeholders to use technology for specific purposes in areas such as mobility and health. For example, a project with the Circuit de Catalunya, together with Fira and the GSMA, to turn it into a hub international innovation in autonomous vehicles and drones. Also, a project with the Catalan Health Service (Salut) to reduce waiting lists for diagnostic tests and surgical procedures in Catalonia, and another on urban distribution in the centers of large cities, a key challenge in Barcelona. And the fourth pillar is to promote the city's scientific and technological ecosystem, with actions linked to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Shanghai, Las Vegas, and Doha to highlight the collaboration between companies and institutions. Finally, we have produced a fictional series set in Barcelona during MWC It showcases lesser-known scientific and technological spaces, such as the Cerdanyola Synchrotron, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, and Torre Glòries, to connect the city with technology. It is being presented these days, premieres in Barcelona on March 5, in Madrid on March 11, and launches worldwide on March 13 on Amazon Prime Video – in more than 200 countries and 24 languages ​​– and will also be available to watch for free on 3Cat.

In a context marked by rivalry between China and the United States, is Barcelona ultimately just the Mobile World Congress venue where these conversations are taking place, or can it also act as a strategic player with its own voice?

— The neutrality of Europe, and of Barcelona in particular, benefits us in this respect. For example, at the Mobile World Congress in Shanghai, only Chinese companies interact with each other. The same is more or less true in the United States. The only place where conversations and business can take place between different platforms and continents is Europe, and that is Barcelona. Therefore, Barcelona's neutrality in a geostrategic and technological sense greatly benefits us. And how can we move from being referees to being protagonists? This has a lot to do with research centers. Much of the competitive advantage of European companies over American companies in the last decade is due to the intensity of technology adoption. And this is due to two factors: talent and technology transfer. In the US and China, for different reasons, the transfer of knowledge and technology between academia, research, and the market is very open. It's quite normal for a scientist from MIT in Boston to collaborate with Google, Microsoft, and so on. Here, we are still a step behind. For us, it's absolutely critical, and the European Commission sees it the same way. We're taking on a leading role, and hopefully one day we'll be unnecessary, but for now we're still key to driving this transfer and for this world deep techDeep technologies reach companies and become a valuable asset that can be monetized from Barcelona, ​​from Catalonia, to the world.

What explains this difficulty in technology transfer?

— There are many reasons, but it's basically a cultural issue and also one of incentives. Historically, the European academic world has been very separate from the business world. But I think that mentality is slowly changing. Scientists are increasingly aware that their research only makes sense if it benefits society and the economy, and resources are being allocated and prioritized to foster collaboration with businesses.

Lately, the idea that Europe needs technological sovereignty has been raised. Is it possible?

— Yes, it's possible, because we live in a very fast-paced world. In terms of technology, what's groundbreaking today will have changed to something else next week. When everyone thought OpenAI and ChatGPT were the big winners, it turns out it's not so clear, and Gemini and Google seem to have the upper hand. But things change every day. Opportunities are constantly emerging. Therefore, we're not at a static point where AI is dominated by one company or another. It seems clear that robotics is probably dominated by the Chinese, but Europe can play a very significant role. In semiconductor design, there are several areas that represent clear opportunities for Europe, and things are progressing well; steps are being taken to create a sovereign European cloud, for example. At the speed we'd like? Probably not. But we do have an opportunity.

Should we be afraid of China?

— We shouldn't be afraid of anyone, neither China nor the United States. In the end, all of this is a warning that Europe couldn't continue down the path it was on and that it was necessary to accelerate the level of technological development. I think that in the end, everything that's happening on a geopolitical scale will have worked out well for us. This upheaval in the European economy and technology sector has made us realize that we needed to take steps forward that we hadn't taken before. Therefore, we shouldn't be afraid of China, but obviously, we must learn from what they're doing well and not underestimate them. Every year I have to travel to the MWC in Shanghai, and I've also visited Shenzhen and Taiwan, and you realize that there are many resources available. But it's also clear that China is very good at taking something that's already been invented and scaling it up. Once they have battery and electric car technology, they're very good at improving this technology and making electric cars very affordable and technologically advanced. But disruptive technologies don't usually come from China because culturally they think differently. Instead, they always end up originating in the United States or Europe. The World Wide Web (WWW) itself was invented in Europe. We have our own assets, and the next 5-10 years will be a very powerful window of opportunity for Europe. We're not out of the loop; we still have time.

When you talk to foreign investors, what are their requests, what are they looking for now?

— Many investors begin investing in deep techIn more advanced technologies, at preliminary stages. That is, they are increasingly entering into more scientific, riskier projects, but they also know that they can do so at more reasonable prices and that, moreover, if it works out, they can reap a very high profit. Therefore, there are many funds and many investor resources going towards this sector, which essentially encompasses health, energy, defense, aerospace, quantum physics, and other areas.

What must a project have to be labeled deep tech?

— A company deep tech It is one that has a competitive advantage solely due to technology. That is, if you sell pet collars online, the competitive advantage will be the design, distribution, and marketing, but not the technology. A company that focuses on improving the energy efficiency of microprocessors in a data center has a competitive advantage based on its unique cooling technology, which can be protected with a patent or intellectual property. Therefore, I would define it as deep tech the type of companies that focus on issues that have a competitive advantage thanks to their specific technology.

Finally, what diagnosis would you make of the Catalan ecosystem?

— Catalonia is in an absolutely privileged position, but we can't afford to rest on our laurels. We can't underestimate the AI ​​revolution, and it's not limited to ChatGPT and bots; it's much deeper, and we need people deeply committed to how we use these tools to improve organizational efficiency, how to develop new business models, and so on. I have the feeling that what we've experienced in the last 20 years has been just a taste of what we may see in the coming years. And Barcelona has all the pieces to build the puzzle, and an ecosystem that fosters it. It's not just the start-ups...also the research centers, all the investments that are being made, the hubs Technology, the multinationals that set up their centers here... These are companies from all sectors, from automotive and pharmaceuticals to the digital realm: the digital transformation of their organizations is led from Barcelona. Therefore, we have an ideal ecosystem, a perfect breeding ground to face this new revolution that we are beginning to perceive now.