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The Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) is participating in the Smart City Expo World Congress (SCEWC 2025), the world’s most relevant event in the field of smart cities, held from November 4 to 6 at Fira de Barcelona. The CZFB is presenting District 4.0, which is transforming the Zona Franca Industrial Estate in Barcelona with the goal of leading the digital transformation of industry. Within District 4.0, DFactory Barcelona plays a key role as the nerve center of this economic activity area, driving Industry 4.0 through innovation and sustainability, and has already started works to expand its area from the current 17,000 m² to 60,000 m² by the end of 2026.
This morning, the State Special Delegate to the CZFB, Pere Navarro, and the General Director of CZFB, Blanca Sorigué, gathered companies from District 4.0, DFactory Barcelona, and its startup incubators to present the details of the DFactory Barcelona expansion. During the event, they unveiled the model of the expanded Industry 4.0 ecosystem, which will involve an investment of around 50 million euros, and shared the most significant details of this expansion phase. The expansion of DFactory Barcelona will initially include four new buildings: the Cub building(1,100 m²), Building A (24,370 m²), Building B (11,640 m²), and Building D (2,300 m²).
“We have great news: DFactory Barcelona is now fully occupied,” said Pere Navarro. The State Special Delegate to the CZFB added, “This means there is demand and that it is useful for these companies, which are installed in DFactory and are part of Industry 4.0, to have a reference point. A global and worldwide benchmark for Industry 4.0. Therefore, we have decided to move forward with the second phase, and the idea is that this expansion, consisting of four buildings, will be completed by the end of 2026 and that companies interested in locating here can do so at the beginning of 2027.”
Four new buildings
The Cub building will host major cultural, artistic, and musical events in Barcelona, as well as international events related to Industry 4.0 and the new economy, or presentations, conventions, and conferences organized by the ecosystem’s own companies. Buildings A and B will each have four floors: a ground floor for manufacturing and three floors with laboratories, technology centers, and offices. In addition to companies related to robotics, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, IoT, sensors, Blockchain, etc., with solutions applicable to all types of industries, the aim is also to attract technology companies dedicated to the health and agri-tech sectors.
The DFactory expansion also includes a Building D to provide services to installed companies, such as a dining area or various spaces for physical activity. The forecast is that these expansion works will be completed by the end of 2026 and that new companies can be accommodated at the beginning of 2027.
For her part, the General Director of CZFB, Blanca Sorigué, was ambitious and stated, “We want to be District 4.0 not only of Barcelona, but of the world. We have fertile ground to be a global benchmark because Barcelona is a city connected to the world, that creates and attracts talent, with a great entrepreneurial ecosystem, top-level technology and international development centers, world-renowned universities and business schools… Therefore, all the conditions are in place to lead the digital transformation of industry and attract large corporations investing in technology. This is already happening in District 4.0.”
A meeting point to create connections
CZFB’s participation in the Smart City Expo World Congress also responds to the public company’s desire to foster synergies, projects, and collaboration networks among its business ecosystem to accelerate digital transformation and the competitiveness of the territory. For this reason, CZFB has developed a comprehensive program of demonstrations during the three days of SCEWC 2025, so that companies located in District 4.0, DFactory Barcelona, and the Logistics 4.0 Incubator can showcase their most outstanding activities and developments. Likewise, it will also host various networking activities to strengthen ties within its business community and generate opportunities.
For more information: Departamento de Comunicación Corporativa CZFB
Lluís López Yuste lluis.lopez@zfbarcelona.es