The Government of Catalonia allocates € 9.4 million to consolidate i2CAT as a benchmark for research and digital innovation

• The Government has approved the program contract for 2020-2023 between the Generalitat de Catalunya, through the Ministry for Digital Policy and Public Administration, and the i2CAT Foundation
• The contract defines the strategic objectives to be achieved during this period and provides i2CAT with the necessary funding to fulfill them
• The Government thus strengthens its commitment to digital innovation as a driver of the new economy and to position Catalonia as an international hub in this field

The Government of Catalonia has approved the program contract with the i2CAT Foundation for the 2020-2023 period in order to consolidate the research center as a reference for research and digital innovation in Catalonia, as well as to improve the country’s international positioning in R&D of the Internet and digital advanced technologies. This substantial impulse to the i2CAT Foundation is part of the Government’s strategic commitment to digital innovation as a driver of the new economy and to consolidate Catalonia as an internationally renowned digital innovation hub.

The contract states that the Generalitat de Catalunya –through the Ministry for Digital Policy and Public Administration- will allocate € 9.4 million in 4 years to provide i2CAT with the necessary funding to achieve 5 strategic objectives:

• Increase excellence in knowledge generation and improve the positioning in research internationally
• Promote and generate alliances within the research and innovation ecosystem of Catalonia
• Improve the impact of technology and knowledge transfer activities within the private sector
• Consolidate the economic viability and sustainability of the entity
• Draw in and develop digital talent

These five strategic objectives are specified though 15 operational objectives, which include, among others leading the preparation of new European projects by leveraging i2CAT’s international positioning in areas such as 5G; leading or participating in country-strategic projects that help develop the ICT sector of Catalonia and its digital and mobile transformation; collaborating with other centers, entities or research groups in ICT in Catalonia to establish joint strategies; raising more competitive public funding, mainly European research programs (H2020 and Horizon Europe), and generating, attracting and retaining research talent of local and international reference.

To achieve these objectives, the Ministry for Digital Policy and Public Administration will provide i2CAT with annual amounts for operating expenses (€ 2 million by 2020; € 2.4 million). € 2021 and 2022; and € 2.6 million in 2023), which will, at the same time, allow the center to obtain competitive resources for the development of their own research and innovation activity.