Yesterday, 22@Network Barcelona welcomed a delegation from ALCON as part of an Innovation Knowledge Transfer Program, designed to provide first-hand insights into different innovation models, collaboration with startups, and the development of emerging technologies within the 22@ ecosystem.

The day began at Smart 22@, where Isabel Sabadí, CEO of 22@Network Barcelona, welcomed the delegation and introduced the evolution of the 22@ Barcelona Innovation District, its business and technology ecosystem, and the role of 22@Network Barcelona in connecting companies, startups, universities, research centres, and institutions.

The programme continued with Jordi Picas, Innovation Manager at Suara Cooperativa, who shared Suara’s open innovation approach and its commitment to building partnerships with startups and external organisations to develop, test, and validate new solutions, particularly in the social, care, and health sectors.

The next stop was the Cisco Systems Barcelona Innovation Center at Ca l’Alier, where the delegation was welcomed by Xavier Azemar, Head of Barcelona Innovation Center and Cisco Innovation Labs Spain. The visit offered the opportunity to learn more about Cisco’s co-innovation model, its collaboration with companies, institutions, universities, and startups, and its work in Barcelona in the field of microchip design.

The delegation then joined Joaquim Puigoriol, Innovation Manager at Telefónica, for a working lunch at The Social Hub. The conversation focused on corporate innovation, artificial intelligence, IoT, and emerging technologies, as well as how large organisations collaborate with startups and external innovation ecosystems to turn innovation into practical business applications.

The programme continued at the headquarters of Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, where Jesús Huerta, Business Development at Qilimanjaro, introduced the delegation to the field of quantum computing and shared insights into the development and commercialisation of deep-tech technologies emerging from Barcelona’s research and innovation ecosystem.

The day concluded with closing reflections together with Anders Harbeck, Strategic Channels Director, after a journey through different dimensions of innovation, from open and corporate innovation to co-innovation and deep tech.

A big thank you to Alcon for choosing 22@Network Barcelona to explore our innovation ecosystem, and especially to Jordi Picas, Xavier Azemar, Joaquim Puigoriol, and Jesús Huerta for welcoming us and sharing their expertise at Suara Cooperativa, Cisco Systems, Telefónica, and Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech.

A day of connection, learning, and knowledge transfer that reflects the diversity and innovative capacity of the 22@ Barcelona Innovation District.

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