El Consorci de la Zona Franca and AIJEC expand their alliance to promote young talent

• The CZFB and AIJEC will jointly organize an event at DFactory Barcelona that will bring together young entrepreneurs and companies linked to innovation and Industry 4.0.

• The CZFB will again support the Young Businessman Award and AIJEC will collaborate with the high-tech Logistics 4.0 incubators, as well as SIL, BNEW and BWAW.

Barcelona, February 11, 2026.- El Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) and the Associació Independent de Joves Empresaris de Catalunya (AIJEC) have signed a collaboration agreement whereby the CZFB becomes a sponsor of the Best Business Initiative Award at the 2026 Young Businessman Award, organized annually by AIJEC since 1993. The agreement, signed by the CZFB’s General Manager, Blanca Sorigué, and the President of AIJEC, Vicenç del Mar, reinforces the commitment of both organizations to supporting entrepreneurial talent, promoting innovation, and contributing to the consolidation of Catalonia’s young business ecosystem. Also present at the signing ceremony were the State’s special delegate to the CZFB, Pere Navarro, and AIJEC’s manager, Jesús Ruiz.

A joint boost for entrepreneurship and Industry 4.0

This agreement includes the CZFB’s institutional participation in the AIJEC awards ceremony, as well as various joint initiatives aimed at strengthening the connection between young entrepreneurs and the Zona Franca’s technological ecosystem. These include the joint organization of an event at DFactory Barcelona, which will bring together young entrepreneurs and companies linked to innovation and Industry 4.0, as well as the organization of sessions dedicated to young talent within the congresses promoted by the CZFB.

The agreement also establishes that the startups awarded at BNEW 2026 will automatically become candidates for the Young Entrepreneur Awards, and that AIJEC members will receive preferential access to calls from the Logistics 4.0 Incubator, as well as to exclusive startup‑focused events held during SIL Barcelona – the International Logistics Exhibition – the Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW), and the Barcelona Woman Acceleration Week (BWAW).

Commitment to the new economy

The CZFB’s General Manager, Blanca Sorigué, emphasized that ‘supporting young talent is essential to continue building an innovative and competitive business fabric. This agreement with AIJEC reinforces the CZFB’s commitment to driving forward future‑focused projects from the 4.0 District and from spaces such as DFactory Barcelona or our high‑technology incubators, which are true engines of industrial transformation.’ Sorigué added that ‘this collaboration with AIJEC enables us to bring young entrepreneurs closer to the heart of the new economy. Through our incubators and the major events, we organize —such as SIL, BNEW or BWAW— we can build bridges, activate synergies and accelerate the development of initiatives that will shape the country’s future competitiveness. We are deeply proud to accompany those who represent the next generation of Catalonia’s business community and to contribute to ensuring their projects have a positive, sustainable and transformative impact.’

For his part, the President of AIJEC, Vicenç del Mar, emphasized that ‘the collaboration with the CZFB enables us to offer new opportunities to young entrepreneurs and to strengthen the visibility of entrepreneurial initiatives that contribute to the country’s economic and social progress.’ Del Mar concluded by recalling that ‘the Young Businessman Award has more than three decades of history, yet its spirit remains unchanged: to recognize effort, leadership and the ability to transform ideas into business projects with real impact. The CZFB’s sponsorship reinforces this purpose and allows us to expand our value proposition for entrepreneurs: greater connection with Industry 4.0, better access to acceleration platforms, increased public visibility and more opportunities to forge strategic alliances. Together, we are building an environment that not only rewards strong initiatives but also supports them along their path to consolidation.’