Barcelona, magnet for international talent

According to data from the Startup Heatmap Europe report, Barcelona is one of the top European cities for innovation and it attracts the 7th highest volume of investment in technology.

But what is Barcelona’s strategy for attracting international talent?

Although Barcelona still has much to do to the truth is that the city has already done much to make international talent feel at home when they arrive.

According to International Talent Monitorthe survey organized by Barcelona Global on the needs and challenges of international talent, some aspects such as international education, taxation, affordable housing, and job opportunities are the concerns of the Barcelonians by Choice.

'Barcelona International Community Day

To this end, Barcelona City Council is organizing a further'Barcelona International Community Day'an annual event for the city's international talent ecosystem that pays tribute to the international community and the way in which it benefits the city.

Foto: Hola Barcelona! Cocktail

This year’s event, which will take place on Saturday, October 22 at the Maritime Museum, will feature stands by almost 80 exhibitors with resources and services for foreigners who have just arrived in Barcelona. In addition, more than 60 activities have also been prepared to welcome newcomers and enable them to network.

The activities will deal with three main aspects: arrival in the city, with information on bureaucracy, tax, and the education and health systems; setting up business or pursuing a professional career; and getting the most out of Barcelona with dynamic personal and professional networking activities.

In addition, speakers include Barcelonians by Choice like Svetlana Velikanova, co-founder and CEO of Harbour Space University, Koen Vandecaveye, Head of Investment Promotion at Barcelona & Partners, and MacKenzie Howden Dalton, sponsorship coordinator at ACE Barcelona SL for the 37th America’s Cup and director of regattas for women and young people.

Other initiatives

In addition to this annual event, public and private bodies are offering an increasing number of services to help international talent to settle in. They include:

• Barcelona International Welcome DeskCreated by Barcelona City Council and Barcelona Activa, with the collaboration of Barcelona Global, this service helps new arrivals deal with bureaucracy, a recurrent request of newcomers to Barcelona raised in the International Talent Monitor. The Barcelona International Welcome Desk removes some of the obstacles for those who are planning to come to live and work in Barcelona and continues to support those who have recently arrived.
• Barcelona Welcome Hub: Along the same lines, Banco Sabadell launched an initiative this year that also helps newcomers to settle in. The financial institution has opened an office in the city center that specializes in foreign clients. Designed specifically to meet their needs, it will also serve as a platform for arrival in the city and as a meeting point. The one-stop shop will provide 360º financial services for any foreigner who comes to live or work here, covering all types of customer and financial services, from the most basic services to private banking.
• Hola Barcelona!: One of Barcelona Global’s goals has always been to involve internationals who have decided to live and work in Barcelona. We have designed a series of activities to help the international community settle in. These include dinners with our local partners, visiting different bodies so that newcomers become familiar with the true global Barcelona, and a special welcome event called Hola Barcelona!