The Barcelona Free Trade Zone closes 2024 with a solid profit of €29,7 million and plans ambitious expansion in Industry 4.0.

 

El Plenary of the CZFB has given the green light to some accounts that demonstrate the financial strength of the institution. With a net turnover amount that reached 65,5 millones de euros, exceeding the previous year by 2,4 million euros, and a net worth of 654 million euros, the CZFB reaffirms its autonomous financing model. All of these profits are reinvested in the economic revitalization and promotion of innovation.

 

The mayor of Barcelona and president of the CZFB, Jaume Collbonihighlighted the expansive vision of the entity. “The CZFB is expanding its geographical sphere of influence with the Distrito 4.0, as a new way of understanding the Barcelona Free Trade Zone, which will be more integrated into the city, connecting it more with the center and making it more efficient and sustainable," said Collboni. He also emphasized the City Council's commitment to collaborating in the creation of new infrastructures and the impulse of the public transport and electrical infrastructure, key elements to transform District 4.0 into a development pole or with a new economic engine for the city of Barcelona.

 

One of the most notable initiatives is the expansion of DFactory BarcelonaThe CZFB has reported on the imminent start of urban development works, which will allow it to expand its surface area from 17.000 m² current to 60.000 m² by the end of 2026. This expansion will consolidate DFactory as the largest public initiative for collaboration between innovative technologies and creative talent in the field of Industry 4.0, covering fields such as robotics, 3D printing, sensors, artificial intelligence, IoT, augmented and virtual reality, blockchain, and nanotechnology.

 

Pere Navarro, the State's special delegate to the CZFB, emphasized the importance of this project. “We will soon begin the expansion works of the DFactory Barcelona, with which we will add 50.000 m² of built area. This industrial experience that we started in the fall of 2021 will now grow to continue offering not only a unique location to all companies dedicated to Industry 4.0, such as sensors, robotics or 3D printing, but also the opportunity to connect with each other to generate new business,” Navarro explained. He also announced the development of the DFactory area and the construction of a 1.000 m² glass cube intended to be a large events center, as well as three new buildings: two for companies related to the health, food and research, and one of services, which will make up a global reference core for Industry 4.0.

 

In another order of things, Navarro also announced an important advance for the construction of the building of the Barcelona Public Health Agency, opposite the Vall d'Hebron Hospital. "We are in talks to close an agreement with Barcelona City Council, through which the Barcelona Free Trade Zone Consortium will be involved in the construction of the Barcelona Public Health Agency building," he reported. This initiative, which entails a investment of 40 million euros, will house laboratories similar to those that will be installed in DFactory, reinforcing the commitment to the Industry 4.0 and the citizen welfare.

 

The Plenary of the CZFB also unanimously approved the transfer to the Port of Barcelona of the management and maintenance of the railway track on 4th Street of the Zona Franca Industrial Park, the main access to Muelle Prat.

 

Blanca Sorigué, Director General of the CZFB, presented the follow-up of the strategic plan 2025-2029, focused on promoting economic and social development projects to improve the quality of life of citizens, the urban integration and compliance with ESG criteria"This strategic plan serves to create spaces for companies to locate and create jobs," Sorigué commented. He also highlighted the program's success. Feel the ZF Power, which seeks to awaken STEM vocations in boys and girls aged 11 to 16, with the aim of impact more than 3.000 young people at the territorial level.

 

Finally, the CZFB presented the book 'The creation of the factory of opportunities', which documents the transformation of the entity between 2018 and 2024, consolidating its strategic vision of being a benchmark in the Industry 4.0, With the innovation, sustainability and ESG criteria as fundamental pillars.