Japanese leaders explore urban innovation in Spain

 

The third edition of the program "Japanese Leaders", driven by the Spain Japan Council Foundation, has culminated after bringing together four prominent Japanese professionals in Spain. The main objective of this program was to explore the present and future of urban development, thus consolidating a platform for dialogue between Spain and Japan to strengthen diplomacy between cities and promote the exchange of sustainable, technological, and inclusive solutions in urban environments.

 

The intense agenda of the program was developed in Madrid and Barcelona, with strategic meetings with public institutions, technology companies, innovation centers, and international organizations. These interactions sought to consolidate networks and share visions to address the major urban challenges of the 21st century.

Madrid: Laboratory of Modernization and Diplomacy

 

The program started in Madrid, which functioned as a true urban laboratory. The first day began at the Madrid City Council, where participants learned about the capital's digitalization and modernization strategies. Subsequently, the Official College of Architects of Madrid offered a perspective on urban planning from a public-private collaboration perspective. The day concluded in ONCE Foundation, with the presentation of the concept "Smart Human City" and innovation projects focused on accessibility and universal design.

 

The second day combined the diplomatic dimension with large-scale urban planning. The day began in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, where the Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, Diego Martínez Belío, spoke about Spain-Japan bilateral relations. The agenda continued at Crea Madrid Nuevo Norte, the largest urban transformation project in the capital. In the afternoon, the Japanese ambassador to Spain, Takahiro Nakamae, offered an official reception, strengthening institutional ties and providing a networking opportunity. The day culminated with a visit to the renovated Santiago Bernabéu stadium, a city icon undergoing technological reinvention.

 

The Madrid phase closed on the third day in Las Rozas, where the leaders were received by representatives of Las Rozas Innova and the Spanish Network of Smart Cities (RECI), led by the mayor of Las Rozas and president of the RECI, Jose de la UzThere, local digital innovation policies were discussed. Later, on the ACCIONA campus, the discussion focused on sustainable urban development and business technology solutions.

Barcelona: Innovative Ecosystems and Global Projection

 

The second part of the program moved to Barcelona. The fourth day began with a visit to City Hall to learn about its urban and digital transformation policies. The agenda included a tour of the District 22@ and working sessions at Barcelona Activa and Tech Barcelona, ​​highlighting the role of the entrepreneurial and technological ecosystem in urban regeneration. The day concluded with a visit to the Sagrada Familia and a dinner hosted by the Consul General of Japan in Barcelona, ​​Akiko Shikata.

 

The closing of the program, on the fifth day, focused on technology as a tool for smarter and more resilient cities. Barcelona Supercomputing Center, the leaders learned about digital twin projects applied to urban planning, highlighting the collaboration with the Japanese supercomputer RIKEN. Finally, they met with the management of the Smart City Expo World Congress, consolidating Barcelona as a global epicenter of the debate on the urban future.

 

The "Japanese Leaders" program is consolidating as a key initiative for knowledge exchange and collaboration between Spain and Japan in building more innovative and sustainable cities for future generations.