Mayor Collboni lays the first stone of the DFactory Barcelona expansion, which will triple its surface area

• The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, was accompanied by the Spanish Government’s Delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, the Executive President of the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), Pere Navarro, and the CZFB’s General Director, Blanca Sorigué.

• The new DFactory Barcelona is expected to generate up to 1,500 direct jobs and 5,000 indirect jobs and will be consolidated as a global benchmark in Industry 4.0, strengthening Barcelona’s leadership in this field.

• The project includes four new buildings for manufacturing, laboratories, technological innovation, services, and major international and public events, and will become the nerve centre of the 4.0 District.

Barcelona, 17 March, 2026.- The Mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, accompanied by the Spanish Government’s Delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, the Executive President of the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), Pere Navarro, and the CZFB’s Director General, Blanca Sorigué, presided this morning over the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion of DFactory Barcelona — a strategic project that will triple its total surface area and consolidate the Catalan capital as one of the leading international hubs of Industry 4.0.

With this expansion, DFactory Barcelona will increase from the current 17,000 m² to a total of 60,000 m², thanks to an estimated investment of around 50 million euros. The project foresees the creation of up to 1,500 direct jobs and around 5,000 indirect jobs, strengthening the economic, technological and social impact of the ecosystem in the Barcelona metropolitan area.  Inaugurated at the end of 2021, DFactory Barcelona is currently fully occupied, with 44 companies established in fields such as robotics, sensorics, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, 3D printing, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain, cybersecurity and nanotechnology. This collaborative environment has become the leading Industry 4.0 ecosystem in southern Europe and one of the major international benchmarks.

At present, the DFactory Barcelona ecosystem generates more than 300 direct jobs and 1,200 indirect jobs — figures that will multiply with the expansion. The companies based there have developed 63 patents and demonstrate a high level of specialisation: 45% of employees hold a university degree and 20% have a PhD. Moreover, 30.9% of the companies within the ecosystem are international, mainly from Europe, the United States and Asia.

During this event, the mayor explained that “today we are laying the first stone of a major project that creates new urban spaces and physically represents the city’s progress in a new area, with a new way of producing that is the way of the future: Industry 4.0,” and added that “we are a country and a metropolitan area that has made industry one of its hallmarks and a key driver of progress and transformation, and we are committed to an industry that is sustainable, compatible with urban life and, moreover, strongly focused on talent, added value, technology and innovation.”

Collboni highlighted that “all the efforts being made by Barcelona City Council, whether on its own or in cooperation with other public administrations or companies, are aimed at guaranteeing the right to stay in Barcelona, because there is affordable housing and because there are spaces of economic opportunity to work in the city.” Finally, he stressed that “at a time when we receive daily news about war and its impact on the economy due to some irresponsible leaders who govern the world, at the local level, those of us who work to guarantee the future of the people in our cities around the world do the exact opposite: not only defending and calling for peace, but also generating projects for prosperity and projects for the future so that people can live better and earn a better living.”

Pere Navarro, Executive President of the CZFB, explained that “the laying of the foundation stone for Phase 2 of DFactory Barcelona symbolizes a decisive step in the industrial transformation of the Zona Franca. We are building a strategic project, unique in the world, that continues to grow in order to consolidate Barcelona as a benchmark for the new industry. Today, 44 technology companies have already committed to this ecosystem, turning DFactory into one of the most important Industry 4.0 hubs in Europe, where talent, technology, and business are connected, and where new projects and partnerships are created.” He added: “At the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona, we work to create the conditions that make industrial innovation possible, generating spaces and ecosystems where companies can grow, collaborate, and adapt to the challenges of the future. This expansion is key to continuing to drive a model that transforms an industrial estate into a District 4.0 and positions Barcelona at the forefront of industrial innovation”.

For her part, Blanca Sorigué, Director General of the CZFB, stated that ‘at DFactory we provide the runway for companies to innovate, connecting different worlds through public–private collaboration. Here, we make it possible for companies, technology, talent, universities and institutions to work together so that innovation truly happens. With this expansion, we will triple DFactory’s space and consolidate it as one of Europe’s major technological industrial ecosystems.’

Finally, the Government Delegate in Catalonia, Carlos Prieto, stated during his speech that “the expansion of DFactory Barcelona is very good news for Barcelona, for Catalonia, and for Spain as a whole, because it shows that our industry is not only still alive, but is evolving, innovating, and generating new opportunities. This project transforms a space historically linked to industrial production into a benchmark for Industry 4.0, capable of attracting investment, talent, and highly qualified employment. From the Government of Spain, we support and promote initiatives like this, which connect economic progress, technology, and the future. It is evident that our country is growing, and this is reflected in proposals like this.”

A strategic expansion serving the new economy

The expansion of DFactory Barcelona initially includes the construction of four new buildings. One of the highlights is the Cub building, covering an area of 1,100 m² and conceived as a space for major international events related to Industry 4.0 and the new economy, as well as for public events and community activities. In addition, two further buildings will be constructed, featuring a ground floor dedicated to manufacturing and three upper floors housing laboratories, technology centres and offices. These new spaces will help attract highly innovative companies and foster the creation of synergies, joint projects and new lines of applied research.

The project also includes a services building with dining areas and other facilities, reinforcing the concept of an integrated industrial campus designed to attract both national and international talent. The works are expected to be completed during 2026, with the first companies scheduled to move in at the beginning of 2027.

Health, agro‑industry and advanced technology

In addition to the traditional sectors of Industry 4.0, the expansion of DFactory Barcelona makes a firm commitment to attracting technology companies linked to the fields of health, food and advanced agro‑industry — key sectors of the new economy and closely connected to quality of life and sustainability.

DFactory Barcelona is the core of the new 4.0 District, promoted by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona. This strategic project aims to attract major global corporations, strengthen public‑private collaboration and accelerate the digital transformation of the industry. Located in a privileged position between the Port and the Airport of Barcelona, and just ten minutes from the city centre, the 4.0 District aspires to become a global benchmark in industrial innovation, talent and technology, consolidating Barcelona as one of the world capitals of the industry of the future.