ISE’s arrival in Barcelona is a huge boost to the city’s efforts to become “the audiovisual hub of Southern Europe”, as the Barcelona City Council believes AV will be a key sector for the future, with the “potential to transform the local economy as a whole”.
Jaume Collboni, First Deputy Mayor for Economy, Labour, Competitiveness and Finance of Barcelona, said: “I am convinced that the ISE 2022 show will consolidate the growth and legacy of ISE in Barcelona; it will strengthen the local fabric of companies and start-ups, and contribute to strengthening the global role of Barcelona as an international benchmark in creative intensity, technology and as the cultural and scientific co-capital of Spain.”
Audiovisual is already a key sector for the region, supporting more than 1,000 companies with 14,500 employees in Barcelona, representing 57% of the jobs in the sector in Catalonia. These are mostly young companies (less than 10 years), but this growth has already propelled Barcelona to become one of the biggest European cities in terms of creative intensity.
The city council hopes this will be enhanced by close collaboration between its new Audiovisual Cluster (150 companies and entities in the sector) and ISE. Many local companies are exhibiting at the show, some showcased on the city council’s own stand in Congress Square, located between Halls 4-7.
“We would like the history of ISE in Barcelona to be a story of shared success; we want its presence in Barcelona to be consolidated and, above all, to be integrated into the city’s DNA, leaving a legacy with a stronger creative sector – global and sustainable,” added Collboni.
