Barcelona 2015 | Page 7

Barcelona annual report Demand for IP advice growing As Barcelona´s reputation as a centre for technology companies grows, an ever-increasing number of start-ups require advice on the protection of intellectual property Barcelona is in the process of developing a reputation as a centre for technology companies and consequently there is growing demand for advice on IP rights and management, according to Roca Junyent partner Anna Viladàs. “Barcelona is increasingly becoming a ´smart city´ and is shifting from its past tourism centred model and putting a greater focus on the technological industry,” she says. To illustrate this point, Viladàs highlights the recent opening of the Barcelona Advanced Industry Park (BAIP), which, according to the City Council is aimed at the “revitalisation of the city’s industrial fabric and business growth”. To this end, a new grant facility has been created that will make a total of €5m available to 500 companies that ݅