Barcelona Unveil Sport Innovation Centre Plans

LaLiga outfit FC Barcelona has unveiled plans to develop the world’s leading centre for sporting innovation.

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu officially launched the Barça Innovation Hub project during the Mobile World Congress, which is being held in the Spanish city. Bartomeu said the centre will “help to transform the world through sporting excellence, using knowledge and innovation”.

Barça Innovation Hub will seek to focus on the five areas of medical services and nutrition, sports performance, team sports, technology and social science.

Bartomeu said, “The Barça Innovation Hub wants to be the number one centre of sporting innovation in the world. It will create a relevant impact on the sports industry and related industries, creating new products and services, attracting the best international talent and ultimately contributing to the future of sport in the world via innovation and knowledge.”

Commenting on why Barcelona can lead the way in this field, Bartomeu added: “We have a brand that has a global impact and we are in one of the most attractive cities in the world. We always have to be in a winning position, something which obliges us to be at the forefront of knowledge and innovation. Barça is already a leader amongst sports organisations with regards to talent and knowledge. That is what makes us different.”

Barcelona’s LaLiga rival, Real Madrid, is part of a similar scheme in association with US technology giant Microsoft and the Comunidad de Madrid. The Global Sports Innovation Center is currently home to 35 start ups.