Do it in Barcelona
Since the program ‘Do it in Barcelona’ started in 2009, its successes are numerous. Over 1300 participants attended program presentations, one third of all foreign entrepreneurs used its Barcelona Activa’s Entrepreneurship Centre, and the program succeeded in bringing together 15 public and private partners. The urgency to draw talent to the city is widely felt. Barcelona’s choice is to focus on the individual.
Description: Individuals are more important than multinationals
Though many cities have programs to draw talent to their cities in order to stimulate the economy, ‘Do it in Barcelona’ has some unique features. Attracting large companies might be seen as the fastest route, but Barcelona seeks to draw individual talent to the city instead. The idea is that a tailored approach to accommodate an individual’s ambition is a much more stable investment than a focus on ‘footloose’ multinationals. It’s successes do not only consist of attracting individual talent, but also of bringing together educational institutes, business organisations and regional government. Keeping the focus on the needs of the individual force them to work together more efficiently.
Approach: Information about studying, working and living in Barcelona
This tailored approach consists of 5 tracks:
- Business set up: practical help (e.g. finding office space) and training (e.g. in making business plans);
- Work: a platform to link foreign applicants with companies and give advice regarding their applications;
- Research: give information about the local academic (e.g. calls for funding, information resources and a helpdesk with personalised attention);
- Study: a guide to English-taught programmes, a housing search service and a foreign students’ guide;
- Individual landing: a service for anyone coming to live in Barcelona, comprising a welcome guide, legal permits guide and guides on local procedures, all in English.
This information can also found on a special portal website, on which all target groups can start with their search for information about studying, working and living in Barcelona.
Conclusion: Using innovation to overcome the crisis
The program has drawn much attention. Its small scale approach
is a fresh way to revitalize the city. Or as Jordi William Carnes,
Deputy Mayor of Economic Promotion puts it: ‘Barcelona has faced
the recession knowing that only innovation enables us to overcome
this situation.’