On 30 October, Barcelona Circular (BAC) was inaugurated as a facility conceived to function as a laboratory for entrepreneurship and innovation in the circular economy. Its goals are to promote the digital transformation of industrial SMEs and to support companies in implementing new business models that generate a positive impact on the territory, help attract and develop talent, and create quality employment. The building has been refurbished following circular economy principles, and among the organisations housed there is the Waste Cluster of Catalonia (CREC), of which inèdit is a member.

Located in the Bon Pastor neighbourhood in Barcelona’s Sant Andreu district, the BAC covers a surface of 3,400 m² across three floors, designed and organised around four strategic lines:

• – Talent and training. The centre will offer practical training connected to the reality of the sector and its companies, based on a learning by doing methodology.
• – Entrepreneurship and new business models. The BAC aims to drive the transformation of Barcelona’s industrial sector through entrepreneurship. It includes incubation and acceleration programmes for projects, start-ups and consolidated companies, as well as a coworking space, a digital fabrication workshop and another workshop focused on material optimisation and waste reduction.
• – Business competitiveness and innovation. The facility features an innovation lab designed to support SMEs in identifying new ideas and methodologies, and a prototyping area where they can develop their solutions. The BAC will also help integrate young talent into the industrial ecosystem.
• – Community connection. The BAC offers a free programme of activities focused on innovation, business model transformation, leadership, entrepreneurship, circular economy and Industry 4.0. The space is also available for hosting ecosystem events.

Bon Pastor is a key industrial hub within Barcelona. The industrial estates of the Besòs Axis, covering 75 hectares, are home to more than 700 companies that provide direct and indirect employment to 26,000 people and contribute €550 million to the city’s gross value added. Although large companies such as Mercedes Benz and Puig operate there, 91% of the businesses are SMEs.

Photograph: inauguration of Barcelona Circular (Source: Barcelona City Council)