The digital research and innovation center i2CAT inaugurated its new headquarters this Wednesday in the Pier01 building of Tech Barcelona, located in the Palau de Mar, with the strategic goal of increasing its participation in European research and development projects by 50%. The Minister of the Presidency of the Generalitat, Albert Dalmau, presided over the inauguration of the new facilities, which mark the institution’s move after two decades at the Campus Nord of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) to integrate into the entrepreneurial hub of the Catalan capital.
The strategy for this new stage will focus its activity on three pillars: advanced communications, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI), according to the center in a statement. In alliance with the Government, i2Cat will immediately activate two missions: a cybersecurity “digital shield” based on AI and a resilience plan to protect the critical networks of the public administration.
The new space, which exceeds 2,000 square meters, will manage a network of 15 decentralized laboratories, among which stands out the 6GStarLab, the first European laboratory in low orbit dedicated to 6G, supported by a ground station in Móra la Nova (Tarragona).
With a staff of 250 professionals, the center also plans to strengthen its knowledge transfer to the market by creating a new technological spin-off each year, following the model of its 3D holographic solutions firm, Volum Technologies.
Likewise, i2Cat has signed an agreement with the Port of Barcelona to apply drones and 5G networks to port management. The adaptation of these infrastructures has been made possible thanks to a grant of nearly 10 million euros from the UNICO I+D 6G program of the Ministry for Digital Transformation, funded by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU funds.
