The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce renew their framework collaboration agreement to boost the space sector in Catalonia

The Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce signed a new framework collaboration agreement today, 13 April, with the aim of strengthening and expanding joint lines of work to promote the space sector in Catalonia. The agreement pays particular attention to boosting the economy of this sector as a driver for generating business opportunities and transferring knowledge and technology to other economic sectors.

The signing ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and was attended by Xavier Luri, Director of the IEEC, and Josep Colomé, Director of the Area for the Promotion of the Space Sector of Catalonia (APEC) within the IEEC; as well as Enric Jové, Councillor for Institutional and Corporate Strategy at the Chamber of Commerce, and Vicente Atienza, Head of New Industrial Projects at the same institution.

This new agreement, with an initial duration of four years, provides continuity to the collaboration launched between both entities in 2022 and establishes an updated framework that will allow for the intensification of joint actions in key areas for the development of the Catalan space ecosystem.

In this regard, the agreement includes the promotion of dissemination and knowledge transfer activities towards the business community, as well as the joint organisation of workshops and other sector awareness-raising actions. The agreement also provides for support in accelerating emerging solutions based on space technologies and their connection with potential investors, as well as collaboration in promoting leading initiatives such as the Space Economy Congress (formerly the NewSpace Economy Congress), which will hold its sixth edition this year.

In the international arena, both entities will work together to promote the Catalan space sector through the organisation of business missions, participation in specialised trade fairs and the reception of international delegations to showcase the capabilities of Catalonia’s innovation ecosystem.

Furthermore, the agreement provides for collaboration in the impact analysis of investment blueprints for infrastructures, as well as the detection of opportunities and participation in European projects, including the creation of consortia and dissemination activities. The agreement signed today also establishes the creation of a monitoring committee to coordinate and evaluate the actions resulting from the collaboration between both institutions.