The Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona receives the Vocento Business Award for Innovation

• The unique DFactory Barcelona building, driven by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona and an international benchmark in Industry 4.0, was recognized by a jury made up of the editorial team of ABC for its commitment to innovation.

• Leroy Merlin, Iberdrola, La Liga, Navilens, Joma Sport, Patio Innovation & Startup Campus, Mahou San Miguel, Repsol, Heura Foods, Fundación Integralia DKV, Telefónica and Redeia were also recognized at the gala.

Barcelona, 12 November 2024.- The Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona was awarded the Vocento Business Award for Innovation last night in recognition of DFactory Barcelona driven by the entity. A jury made up of members of the editorial team of the ABC newspaper valued the commitment to innovation of DFactory Barcelona, an international benchmark in Industry 4.0.

In just three years of activity, DFactory Barcelona has become an internationally renowned Industry 4.0 ecosystem. With facilities covering 17.000 m2, it promotes open and collaborative innovation among the companies based there, developing projects and solving challenges together. It currently hosts 35 multinational companies, medium and small companies, and research centers that develop pioneering projects in fields such as robotics, sensors, 3D printing, cybersecurity, augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence, Blockchain, and nanotechnology.

As highlighted by Pere Navarro, special delegate of the State at the CZFB: “We are very proud to receive this award, and that DFactory Barcelona is recognized as a benchmark in industrial innovation, aligned with the SDGs, where new solutions and disruptive technologies are created that will be key to the advancement of the new economy. We have an 85% occupancy of the facilities and we are already thinking about executing the second phase to continue growing and to boost a great District 4.0.”

Blanca Sorigué, general director of the CZFB, expressed that “this award not only recognises DFactory Barcelona, but also the professionals and all the companies that have chosen to be based in this unique building for its exterior, but above all for its content. Here synergies are created between companies, which translate into new business opportunities and represent social and economic progress for our country”.

The Vocento Business Awards 2024 gala was held last night at the group’s headquarters and was attended by Ignacio Ybarra, president of Vocento. The CZFB’s Director of Communication, Lluís López Yuste, was responsible for collecting the Business Award for Innovation, presented by Iñaki Arechabaleta, Deputy to the CEO of Vocento.

Transformation towards District 4.0

In order to boost Industry 4.0, contribute to social and economic progress and enhance Barcelona’s international competitiveness, the CZFB is implementing the second phase of DFactory, which will add 80.000 m2 to the current area, creating a 100,000 m2 space based on innovation, technology and sustainability. In this way, the CZFB aims to make the Metropolitan Region of Barcelona a great District 4.0, which is a benchmark for innovation and technology applied to industry at an international level.

An evening with 12 more recognitions

In addition to the Business Award for Innovation, awards were given for environmental sustainability, digitalization, family business, equality, diversity and inclusion, and international expansion, among other categories. Leroy Merlin, Iberdrola, La Liga, Navilens, Joma Sport, Patio Innovation & Startup Campus, Mahou San Miguel, Repsol, Heura Foods, Fundación Integralia DKV, Telefónica and Redeia were the other companies recognised at the Vocento Business Awards 2024.