Barcelona, a Center for Innovation in Artificial Intelligence
Barcelona, known for its status as a technology hub, has been selected by Sony AI, a division of Sony Research, to host its new artificial intelligence development center, making it an epicenter of AI in southern Europe. This decision reinforces Barcelona’s position as a cutting-edge place in the technological field.
Promotion of Scientific Research and Gastronomy
The new center will focus on the development of AI systems to support complex scientific research, accelerate scientific discoveries and gastronomy-related projects. Michael Spanger, president of Sony AI, highlighted that Catalonia has numerous research universities and key organizations in science and technology, which supports the decision to establish the center in Barcelona.
Exponential Growth of the AI Sector in Catalonia
According to a recent study by the Generalitat, Catalonia is currently home to 488 companies dedicated to artificial intelligence, almost triple those registered in 2019. These companies generate a business volume of 2,155 million euros, 60% more than in 2019, and They employ 14,525 people, an increase of 71%.
Attractive for Foreign Investment
Catalonia stands out as the fifth region in Europe and the first in the south in attracting foreign direct investment in artificial intelligence. Between 2019 and 2023, 31 projects worth 475 million euros were captured, generating more than 3,000 jobs. Multinationals such as NTT Data, Microsoft, Apple, GFT and Sanofi have invested in Catalonia to develop AI projects.
