After four days of gathering professionals, initiatives, companies, and other key entities from the global digital sector at Fira de Barcelona, the MWC25 has concluded. In addition to a Barcelona Activa stand at the 11th edition of 4YFN (Four Years From Now)—the flagship event for startups—the Barcelona City Council has promoted various activities across the Talent Arena and Beat Barcelona spaces.

Talent Arena’s First Edition: A Hub for Developers, Tech Companies, and Educational Institutions

The first edition of the Talent Arena took place from March 3 to 5 at Fira de Barcelona’s Montjuïc venue, establishing itself as a key meeting point for developers, technology companies, and educational centers. The event, organized by Mobile World Capital Barcelona in collaboration with GSMA, Barcelona City Council, the Government of Catalonia, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Function, brought together more than 200 expert speakers and fostered an environment focused on learning, networking, and professional development in the digital sector.

The program featured a wide range of talks and discussions on cutting-edge technological trends, three of which were organized by the Barcelona City Council.

On Monday, March 3, the session Hardware Meets Software: Software Development for Microchips took place, focusing on software integration in traditionally hardware-centric organizations. The panel featured Lluís Fonseca (Director of the Institute of Microelectronics of Barcelona, IMB-CNM), Montse Guardia (Chief People & Culture at IDEADED), Filippo Mantovani (Researcher at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, BSC-CNS), and Victor Canivell (VP of Strategy and Co-founder of Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech). The discussion was moderated by Gonçal Bonhomme, President of Telecos.cat. According to the speakers, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and supercomputing are increasingly influencing hardware and software development, driving the need for more software engineers in integrated circuit design.

On Wednesday, March 5, two key sessions were held. At midday, the debate Quantum Software Development: Hype or Reality explored the emergence of quantum software development and its challenges compared to classical software. Panelists included Alba Cervera (Researcher at BSC-CNS) and Antonio Acín (Quantum Information Theory Expert at the Institute of Photonic Sciences, ICFO), with Josep Ramon Ferrer Escoda, President of Grados TIC, as moderator.

Later that afternoon, the roundtable Coding for Care: AI-Driven Software Development in Digital Health examined how artificial intelligence is transforming the healthcare sector, highlighting some of the most innovative projects and methodologies that optimize processes and implement new solutions. Participants included Karina Gibert (from the Official College of Computer Engineering of Catalonia), Josep Samitier (from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, IBEC), Sara Toledano (from Sycai Medical), and Joan Carles Peiró (Director of Digital Transformation at Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, VHIR). The session was moderated by Marco Orellana, Manager of the Center for Innovation in Data Tech and Artificial Intelligence (CIDAI).

This new space has reinforced Barcelona’s role as a leader in generating and retaining digital talent. In this regard, Deputy Mayor Jordi Valls emphasized that, after consolidating a strong business ecosystem in the tech sector, “it is time to boost training and job opportunities linked to the industry.”

Beat Barcelona: The Quantum Revolution and the Intersection of Art and Science

Under the motto “The Place to Be”, Beat Barcelona placed a special emphasis on sustainability and digital art, merging knowledge, technology, and immersive experiences. The space hosted debates and talks on key topics such as technological solutions for improving social services, 5G deployment, quantum technology, and audiovisual robotics. As part of Beat Barcelona, the City Council organized several discussions, two of which focused on the scientific field.

The first, on Tuesday, featured a dialogue between Sebastian Grinschpun, Communications Expert at the Institute of High Energy Physics (IFAE), and Blanca Pujals, architect, space researcher, writer, and filmmaker. Moderated by Tere Badia, Director of the Art and Technology Hub (HacTe) and curator of the upcoming 2025 City and Science Biennale, the discussion centered on Research Practices at the Intersection of ACTS,  i.e., Art, science, technology, and society.

On Thursday, BSC-CNS researcher Alba Cervera delivered a keynote titled Quantum Technologies: A New (R)evolution, focusing on the current and future implications and applications of the second quantum revolution.

Five Key Digital Milestones for Barcelona at MWC25

During MWC25, Barcelona strengthened its commitment to innovation and digitalization through several key initiatives. One of the most notable was the announcement of a municipal artificial intelligence strategy by Mayor Jaume Collboni at the Talent Arena. This plan, set to be unveiled before summer, aims to enhance administrative efficiency and public services while ensuring the ethical and responsible use of technology. The City Council has already begun implementing AI in its internal management with support from Microsoft and plans to expand training in this area for both municipal employees and the general public.

As part of the congress, an agreement was signed between Barcelona Activa and Cisco to train 250 students in cybersecurity. This initiative, part of a protocol signed last year, seeks to develop local talent and boost employability in a crucial sector for Barcelona’s digital future.

The City Council also reaffirmed its commitment to working with Microsoft to improve municipal services through AI technology. Mayor Collboni conveyed this commitment to Paco Salcedo, the newly appointed President of Microsoft Spain, reinforcing the city’s push for digitalization in public administration.

Another major milestone at MWC25 was the agreement signed between the City Council and Huawei to develop innovation and training projects in ICT. This partnership will facilitate the implementation of solutions in areas such as smart cities, smart buildings, connectivity, green energy, and digital platforms, further positioning Barcelona as a technological hub.

Finally, MWCapital has joined the Barcelona Innova Lab Mobility initiative, which fosters public-private collaboration to enhance urban mobility. As part of this initiative, a challenge will be launched to optimize goods distribution in sectors such as hospitality and catering, aiming to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030.