Viladecans hosts IND+I Day, calls for European industrial leadership

Viladecans, Barcelona, hosted the tenth IND+I Day conference on 8 May 2026, where leaders from government, industry, and academia called for Europe to establish industrial leadership by 2036. Juan Antonio Pérez, Deputy for Economic Development and Tourism, represented the Barcelona Provincial Council at the event, which focused on the theme "Mission 2036: The future will be industrial leadership."

The conference, held at the Cúbic building, brought together prominent figures including Spain's Minister of Industry, Jordi Hereu, and Viladecans Mayor, Olga Morales. Economist Mariana Mazzucato, a professor at University College London, delivered the keynote address, "Europe's Industrial Future," emphasising the critical role of public administrations in driving innovation alongside businesses and academia.

Mazzucato argued that without public capabilities, major technological, economic, and social challenges cannot be met. She advocated for a "new social contract" and a "rethinking of political economy from the common good and collective intelligence." Mazzucato also stated that the market has been misunderstood for too long, and solutions require redesigning from within, not external regulation. She highlighted the need for clear missions, genuine public-private collaboration, and public digital infrastructure, concluding that "the Economy of the Common Good is the horizon."

Strengthening Europe's Industrial Project

Minister Jordi Hereu praised IND+I's decade-long influence, noting that his ministry's policies have aligned with its spirit. Hereu supported IND+I's mission to boost European industrialisation over the next decade. "We are at IND+I to strengthen Europe as a political project for 2036," he said, adding that debate is essential for industrial leadership, requiring vision, proposals, and a clear goal: "Metamission 2036: the strengthening of the European project."

Deputy Juan Antonio Pérez reaffirmed the Barcelona Provincial Council's commitment to local communities. "Municipalities are a great source of innovation, and as a supramunicipal administration, our role is to provide a strong support network so that industrial projects can consolidate and create wealth," Pérez stated. He added that alliances between administrations, and between the public and private sectors, are key to bringing good ideas to fruition.

Mayor Olga Morales reflected on IND+I's ten-year anniversary, describing it as more than just a conference. "It has been a space for thought, conversation, and action. A meeting point for companies, administrations, universities, technology centres, entrepreneurs, and experts who share the conviction that innovation is not a luxury, but a necessity. And that industry is not something of the past, but one of the keys to our future," Morales said.

Collaboration and Future Goals

Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation at the Ministry of Science, Universities and Innovation, thanked Viladecans City Council for creating and organising IND+I. She also acknowledged the city's current presidency of the Innpulso network of Spanish innovation cities. Riesgo remarked that local administrations can innovate and contribute ideas, calling Viladecans an "extraordinary example."

The IND+I Day also featured contributions from Antón Costas, President of the Economic and Social Council of Spain; Jordi García Brustenga, Secretary of State for Industry; Ricardo Domínguez García-Baquero, President of Navantia; and Xavier Ferràs, ESADE professor and honorary president of the IND+I Council. Felipe Campos, CEO of AGBAR, and Pau Abelló, Corporate Director of ROCA Group, helped develop the event, which was presented by Núria Salán, a professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

The "Mission 2036" theme served as a call to collective action to build a solid, competitive, and purposeful European industry over the next decade. This mission encourages reflection on the desired industrial model and how to achieve it: an industry that generates value, welfare, and quality employment, contributes to green and digital transitions, and strengthens the continent's strategic autonomy.

Attendees agreed on the importance of an autonomous, resilient, talented, and innovative model to help Europe regain industrial leadership. Speakers highlighted two main areas: reinventing existing value chains through new technologies and innovation, and reindustrialising with new productive capacities to create the industries of 2036.

A Decade of Industrial Innovation

The IND+I forum, an acronym for Industry and Innovation, was initiated by Viladecans City Council ten years ago with support from the Barcelona Provincial Council. It serves as a meeting point for industry, administration, and academia to discuss innovation and societal changes. The forum has helped shape the direction of Spanish industrial development, which has largely embraced innovation.

The Barcelona Provincial Council's support for IND+I Day 2026 aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 8, "Decent Work and Economic Growth." The 17 SDGs, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, form part of the global agenda for 2030. The Provincial Council is committed to these goals and supports local governments in the province accordingly.