One of the seven AI European factories will be located in Barcelona

Once again, the governments of Spain and Catalonia are betting on new and cutting-edge technologies. Since 2004, Barcelona has hosted one of the biggest supercomputers in the world, as of November 2024, it was ranked 11th according to the TOP500 project. And now the European Commission has announced that, this year, the AI Factory will share its facilities with the MareNostrum supercomputer at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS). This will be the first Artificial Intelligence factory in Spain and the seventh in Europe. It’s a project that will not only receive investments from the Spanish government and the Generalitat de Catalunya but also contributions from countries like Portugal, Turkey, and Romania.

The Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant has underlinted that “will allow us to position Spain as one of the leading countries in the development of Artificial Intelligence and, in addition, encourage both the public and private sectors to develop R&D projects with a significant impact on science and technology”.

And it’s not the only factor that makes Spain a leader in these new technologies. Since last year, both the European Parliament and the Spanish government have begun creating rules and regulations for the digital future, aiming to ensure that AI systems are beneficial for the public and prevent practices that pose unacceptable risks.

It’s an innovation from which many sectors can benefit. The Director of Innovation at BSC-CNS, Mariona Sanaz, explained that even start-ups will have access to new software and can integrate it into their projects. “The BSC AI Factory will allow them to gain knowledge, since the entry barriers for these companies are much higher as they do not have specialized personal. But it will also be a new way of attracting talent for small and medium-sized companies.”

Without a doubt, AI is the future, both for professionals and students. That’s why more programs are incorporating courses on Generative AI into their curriculums. For example, our MSc in Digital Transformation & Business Innovation emphasizes the importance of AI technology, teaching students how it works and how they can introduce it in their future careers and businesses.

With new technologies quickly advancing, it’s essential to have resources that continuously adapt to digital innovations and the changing world. This approach will ensure a future-oriented vision, one that not only benefits the business world but also positively impacts society by raising innovation.