From old-fashioned "sheds" to innovation: the Port of Barcelona embraces the blue economy

BarcelonaAt lunchtime, everyone sits at the same table. Someone mentions that a client who interests more than one of the diners will soon arrive, and that by the end of the day, he'll have had three meetings when he only came for one. Although it may seem like it, the people sharing this conversation every lunchtime don't work for the same company. They are employees of the more than ten projects that have already set up shop at the Blue Tech Port. hub of the Port of Barcelona's blue economy. This is explained by the director of the BCN Nautical Cluster, Clàudia Parera. They were among the first to arrive at the innovation center that has implemented the infrastructure for the former sheds –port warehouses– on the Sant Bertran wharf, next to the Ronda Litoral and just beyond the Trasmed boarding terminal. A new chapter for a complex built in the 1960s, which had been forgotten.

The blue economy is one of the Port of Barcelona's major commitments, which in its strategic plan until 2030 has decarbonization, digitalization, and sustainability as its main objectives, explains the facility's Director of Innovation and Strategy, Emma Cobos. The blue economy is included within these lines: in short, it could be said that these are companies with a sustainable approach that seek to maximize the economic benefits of marine and coastal resources, while preserving the health of marine ecosystems. It implies responsible use of the oceans, seas, and coasts for economic development, social well-being, and environmental protection. "We decided to enter," explains the port's management, with a first space in Pier 01. To strengthen it, they have opted to make a significant investment in the old sheds Sant Bertran. The infrastructure ambition is great. "We want to be the benchmark in Europe" for the blue economy, says Cobos. Why should we invest in the blue economy? Gross added value of 171 million euros.

To ensure that Barcelona is a leader in this sector, however, it is necessary to have sufficient space within the port facilities. The operation consisted of awarding the concession for the management of the sheds Sant Bertran at the World Trade Center Barcelona (WTCB), the company that operates this business center in the port, which is 76% owned by the Port Authority of Barcelona (APB) and the rest by the construction company FCC.

Renovation works

Until now, a space had been available at Pier 01, and one of the Sant Bertran warehouses had been adapted to accommodate companies at the end of last year. The workforce totals 60 employees across the various tenant companies, and a major renovation is already being planned. An investment of approximately €50 million will adapt all the warehouses, with the aim of eventually having 25,000 square meters available for the Blue Tech Port by the end of 2027. It is expected that when this space is operational, it will accommodate more than 2,500 employees from the companies that are part of the Blue Tech Port. hub. Meanwhile, the companies that have so far settled in the single warehouse available, measuring 1,500 square meters, will have space in the WTCB building, explains Carles Anglada, general manager of the office complex.

The project is a comprehensive renovation of the warehouses, developed by b720 Fermín Vázquez Arquitectos, the same Barcelona firm that designed the Encants Market and is also working on the future Sagrera station and Hall Zero (the new pavilion for the Hospital Fair). The plan is to award the contract for the renovation in September so that work can begin next October. This involves a comprehensive renovation of the six existing arched warehouses, complying with the highest energy and water sustainability criteria, and creating a promenade that will serve as a link between the different warehouses. This facility, the Blue Tech Port, was created with the idea of hosting start-ups, scale-ups, accelerators, institutions, and universities linked to innovation and the blue economy, says Anglada.

The head of the WTCB emphasizes that the new building was created with the goal of not only housing companies. It will also have an auditorium and restaurants; and it aims to connect with the city, which is not far away. "A flexible building, economically and environmentally sustainable; self-sufficient in water, with solar panels, hydrothermal air conditioning, efficient, and zero-emission," says Anglada.

One of the objectives of the Blue Tech Port will be the transfer and acceleration of knowledge. But the blue economy must also have access to water. Therefore, 50 linear meters of dock have been reserved for companies in the center to test their products. This space will be managed by WTCB. Three companies are already interested in conducting tests, for example, of underwater drones or 5G and 6G coverage. While the work is ongoing, a space has been created for companies to test their products. start-ups Test your solutions on the left side of the Barcelona dock, where the Baleària terminal used to be and is now open to the public for a stroll.

Attract investment

The BCN Nautical Cluster brings together some seventy companies and was clear that it wanted to locate in the Blue Tech Port to help the sector they represent. "We believe in the ecosystem. We need to be together and share, and here it's very easy," argues the director, Clàudia Parera. SMEs in particular, she emphasizes, are more isolated and have fewer opportunities to meet other companies in their daily work, as Ignacio Gómez of Blue Propulsion, another of the Blue Tech Port tenants that manufactures electric propulsion systems, points out. "It can help not only the sector but also the city. We're already known for being a hub "With the technological and health sectors, we can now develop the blue economy and attract investment and generate quality jobs," adds Parera.

The start-up Ocean Ecostructures, dedicated to developing technological solutions to regenerate the marine environment in oil infrastructure, has also set up shop with the BCN Nautical Cluster. To date, it has placed almost 400 small reefs in different Mediterranean ports, 50 of which are located in the port of Barcelona, ​​​​with the aim of improving water quality and capturing CO^₂, as well as encouraging the growth of fish and algae.

Ocean Ecostructuras originally had its offices in the incubator that the Swedish foundation Norrsken has set up in the Ocean building, next to the W Hotel. It started operating two years ago when there were only six workers, but they've been growing steadily. 2023—and now, with more than 20 employees, the space had become too small. start-ups; it's the best place to be," says the company's CEO and co-founder, Ignasi Ferrer.

For this very reason, the American consulting firm Braid Theory has decided to set up shop at the Blue Tech Port. "It's a place where industry and research centers can come together and where relationships can be built. This is the best environment for start-ups", says its founder and CEO, Ann Carpenter. Specializing in helping develop blue economy startups, the company has established its European headquarters in the Catalan capital.

Braid Theory was born in the port of Los Angeles, one of the most advanced in decarbonization of maritime activity. will export to Barcelona between this year and next. In the meantime, they have started contacting companies they already knew and that are interested in establishing themselves in Barcelona, ​​​​with the expectation of attracting a couple soon. They are also using Ocean Ecostructures to bring their solutions to the one that this association can help start-ups that will incubate.

They are not the only international companies that have set up shop at the Blue Tech Port. Two French entrepreneurs based in Barcelona, ​​Thibaut De Buor and Adrien Bergerot, have created Bloom Fish to carry out aquaculture on land and isolate microplastics and bacteria. They were told about the space at the Smart City Expo fair and decided to move there to finalize the implementation of a 2,000 square meter warehouse to grow cirvia, a fish in high demand in Japanese restaurants. To capture seawater, these tanks will be located at the port of La Ràpita because there was no more space available at the port of Barcelona.

The list of tenants at the Blue Tech Port is completed by emerging companies such as QStar, Navozyme and A Bordo PRO; and entities such as BlueNetCat, the i2Cat Foundation, Biodiversity Links, the Transport Innovation Center (CENIT), the Naval and Maritime Technology Center (CTNaval) or the newspaper The Maritime and Logistics Canal.