Health, Aviation & Space, and Talent Take Center Stage in the Second Day of BNEW

• BNEW reaffirms its role as a platform for showcasing innovative collaborative projects, including 3D printing applications in healthcare and entrepreneurship hubs for companies specializing in the aerospace sector.

• On its second day, the event focuses on the major challenge of talent in the era of the new economy, with sessions dedicated to AI, equality, competitiveness, and the expectations of new generations.

• The experiential program is proving to be a major attraction for visitors attending this seventh edition, offering more than 50 activities that allow participants to experience the new economy through all five senses.

Barcelona, 6 October 2026. The second day of the Barcelona New Economy Week (BNEW), organized by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) from 5 to 7 October at DFactory Barcelona, focused on Health, Aviation & Space, and Talent verticals. Leading experts addressed key topics such as the impact of AI on the aerospace industry, the latest advances in 3D printing and other technologies in healthcare, as well as the challenge of attracting and retaining talent in the era of the new economy, among other highly relevant issues. Furthermore, in its seventh edition, BNEW continues to strengthen its position as a showcase for innovative projects and a platform for presenting success stories and best practices.

 In this regard, representatives from Hospital del Mar and Hospital Clínic de Barcelona shared use cases, lessons learned, and challenges related to additive manufacturing in hospital environments, including the collaborative project recently launched together with the CZFB for the joint management and operation of capabilities within the 3D Incubator. Another healthcare innovation initiative presented this morning at BNEW was BIVA, a collaborative project promoted by the Sant Cugat del Vallès City Council, together with Sant Cugat Empresarial and pharmaceutical companies Ferrer and Grifols. Opportunities for innovation in response to demographic pressures, the transformative potential of advanced therapies, the emerging data-driven healthcare economy, and healthy ageing were among the key topics discussed on the BNEW Health stage throughout today’s sessions.

Meanwhile, the BNEW Aviation & Space set hosted sessions and panels focused on aerospace security, the transformation of industrial and technological capabilities in the sector, smart aviation, and the future of the aerospace industry. This vertical featured real-life experiences in entrepreneurship, growth, and industrial scaling that are helping to transform the aerospace sector, with contributions from Digital Catalonia Alliance, Slimop Space, Bluenest by Aggity, and Sateliot.

One of the standout case studies presented during the day was a collaborative initiative led by Aeroports de Catalunya, Plug and Play Tech Center, Evarm, and Rewind Organics to promote a business incubator specializing in the aerospace and aeronautics sectors. This strategic initiative aims to attract talent, accelerate innovation, and strengthen its position as a leading industry hub.

The Great Talent Challenge

BNEW Talent has brought to the forefront the major challenge of talent in the era of the new economy, with discussions focusing on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on talent identification and development, career transitions, equality, and the expectations of new generations. This vertical has also highlighted the environments where talent is nurtured and developed, featuring insights from Loom, Oxhyd, Planaris, Esade, JLL, and Mobile World Capital Barcelona, among others. In addition, it has explored talent retention strategies in an increasingly competitive market through the expertise of organizations such as the Princess of Girona Foundation, BBVA, Consum, and EasyJet.

The BNEW Talent stage will continue its program tomorrow with the pitches of the five finalist startups from each vertical of the BNEW Startup Innovation Hub. These startups will have the opportunity to present their innovative projects to a specialized audience and potential investors. At the same time, the third and final day of the event will feature the programs of the new Gaming and Energy verticals.

BNEW Experience

The BNEW Experience program has become one of the main attractions for many of the professionals visiting DFactory Barcelona during the three-day event. With more than 50 immersive activities on offer, attendees can take control of an F-18 fighter jet simulator, challenge a robot to a game of tic-tac-toe, interact with humanoid robots, or watch a surgical robot perform live operations. These experiences are complemented by a wide range of cultural, artistic, and gastronomic activities, creating a unique networking environment in a dynamic and engaging atmosphere.

As in previous editions, all BNEW 2026 sessions can be attended in person or followed online through the event’s digital platform. The platform also offers a variety of networking features, including contact exchange and messaging tools designed to enhance virtual interaction, as well as support from BBot, BNEW’s virtual assistant.