The CZFB brings together leading European experts in intellectual property and international trade

• Organized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the event is focusing on intellectual property as a key driver of competitiveness in innovation ecosystems.

• The event brings together representatives from free zones across Europe and the Balkans, customs authorities, intellectual property protection organizations, companies, and key players from the innovation ecosystem.

Barcelona, 22 October 2026.- The Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) today hosted the regional meeting “From Free Zones to Innovation Ecosystems: Intellectual Property as a Driver of Competitiveness”, jointly organised by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Taking place in Barcelona today and tomorrow, the event brings together representatives from free zones across Europe and the Balkans, customs authorities, intellectual property protection bodies, companies and stakeholders from the innovation ecosystem to analyse the strategic role of intellectual property in enhancing the competitiveness of regions.

Today’s session featured contributions from Chris Martin, Chair of the OECD Task Force on Countering Illicit Trade; Antonio Berengue, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Area at EUIPO; Piotr Stryszowski, Senior Project Manager at the OECD Public Governance Directorate; Justyna Petsch, EU4IP-WB6 Project Manager, EU-Funded Service, International Cooperation Area (ICA); and Sara Boy, Head of Service at the Department of Legal Coordination and International Relations of the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, among others.

During today’s sessions, participants discussed the evolution of free zones into innovation ecosystems capable of attracting investment, fostering technology transfer and generating high value-added industry. The meeting places particular emphasis on how the protection of intangible assets and cooperation between public authorities, companies and technology centres can help strengthen competitiveness and promote sustainable economic development.

The Executive President of the CZFB, Pere Navarro, explained that “Free zones have a strategic role to play in the development of safe, transparent and competitive international trade. In Barcelona, we became the first free zone in the world to obtain OECD certification in the areas of security, legitimate trade and good governance, a recognition that reflects our commitment to the highest international standards. Hosting this OECD and EUIPO meeting allows us to share our experience and continue promoting a free zone model that builds trust, attracts investment and creates new opportunities for economic and social development.”

DFactory Barcelona, a European benchmark for innovation

The CZFB has also taken the opportunity provided by this international forum to showcase the DFactory Barcelona model, regarded as a benchmark in Europe for its ability to bring together companies, multinational corporations, research centres and technology laboratories around emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, additive manufacturing, cybersecurity and the Internet of Things, among others.

In this regard, Blanca Sorigué, CEO of the CZFB, commented that “DFactory Barcelona has established itself as one of the world’s leading Industry 4.0 ecosystems, demonstrating that collaboration between companies, technology centres and talent is a major driver of industrial transformation. Here, technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics and additive manufacturing are transformed into real projects that generate value and competitiveness. Protecting intellectual property is essential to fostering this innovation, facilitating knowledge transfer and turning ideas into opportunities. With the development of the DFactory Barcelona District, we aim to take this commitment to the next level and further strengthen Barcelona’s international positioning as a benchmark for the industry of the future.”

Tomorrow’s programme will include a technical visit to DFactory Barcelona, where attendees will have the opportunity to see first-hand a range of technological applications in industrial environments. They will also learn about the expansion of DFactory Barcelona, which will lead to the creation of an innovative urban industry district that will position Barcelona as a major global benchmark in industrial innovation, technology and talent, fostering the attraction, development and connection of both companies and professionals who will lead the industry of the future.

The event’s main objectives include sharing experiences among European free zones, highlighting the value of intellectual property as an enabler of innovation and knowledge transfer, promoting international collaboration and identifying new opportunities for regional cooperation. The event is also addressing the role of customs authorities and enforcement bodies in the fight against counterfeiting and intellectual property rights infringements.

Entre los principales objetivos del evento figuran compartir experiencias entre zonas francas europeas, destacar el valor de la propiedad intelectual como facilitadora de la innovación y la transferencia de conocimiento, promover la colaboración internacional e identificar nuevas oportunidades de cooperación regional. Asimismo, se está abordando el papel de las autoridades aduaneras y de los organismos de control en la lucha contra la falsificación y las infracciones de derechos de propiedad intelectual.