“Seoul Tests Technology in Real-World Urban Settings” by Roger Royo

What can we learn from Seoul in terms of innovation and technology applied to cities and businesses?

Technology services in Korea are designed to function smoothly and be user-friendly for both citizens and businesses

I’ve been living and working in Korea for years, and one of the things that has struck me most is how technology is woven into everyday life, both for businesses and for the city. Here, innovation isn’t just empty rhetoric; it’s quickly put to the test in real-world settings. When an idea makes sense, it’s implemented, refined, and scaled up.

A key element is genuine collaboration between the public sector, large companies, universities, and startups. The public sector typically acts as a facilitator, making data, spaces, and opportunities available so that companies can test new solutions. This builds trust and greatly accelerates the process.

It also highlights a very clear long-term vision. South Korea has been investing sustainably in education, applied research, and digitalization for decades, and today this translates into a strong ability to adapt to change.

Finally, there is a positive focus on speed: technology services are designed to function smoothly and be user-friendly for both citizens and businesses.

How could this approach be applied in Barcelona?

The challenge is to ensure that innovation finds its way into the city’s public spaces more often, beyond events or closed-door labs.

Barcelona has many of the ingredients needed to implement these best practices: talent, universities, an active entrepreneurial ecosystem, and a strong international profile. The challenge lies in bringing innovation into the city’s real-world environment more frequently. It would be very beneficial to strengthen urban pilot programs that allow startups and companies to test solutions under real-world conditions, with more streamlined processes and fewer administrative barriers. Public-private partnerships must be practical, with clear objectives and short deadlines.

Another key aspect is international talent. I can clearly see how Seoul is competing to attract professionals and how this impacts its capacity for innovation. Barcelona can do even more to attract and retain talent by offering a high quality of life, but also real opportunities to create and grow businesses. Seoul demonstrates that innovation works best when it is integrated, seamless, and results-oriented. Barcelona already has the potential. The next step is to invest in greater execution, greater agility, and a sustained vision.

Read the full article here.

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