Mobile World Capital Barcelona today presented the second edition of Tech&Play, the festival that brings the latest technological developments to all citizens and which next year will explore areas such as robotics, Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, immersive reality and gaming, among others. The event will feature more than 40 technological activities, spaces for all audiences and the participation of 30 speakers and will be held at the Fabra i Coats: Fàbrica de Creació de Barcelona, in the Sant Andreu de Palomar neighbourhood.

From 25 to 28 April, Tech&Play will bring to the venue a total of 15 technological experiences and a series of workshops to explore technology, as well as an extensive programme of dialogues between experts from different fields and shows where art and technology merge. A festival for everyone to discover and experience, in a fun, free and educational way, the new technologies that are transforming our society, and which will be completed on Sunday with a Family Day dedicated to the family public.

The festival will also be the focus of intense debate on the use of new technologies with sessions that will address key issues such as digital rights, screens in the family environment, cybersecurity among teenagers, STEAM skills and AI applied to artistic creation. At Tech&Play, there will be a dialogue between leading figures such as the singer and composer Maria Arnal, who will present her proposal that experiments with sound, technology and art. The Director General of Digital Society of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Liliana Arroyo, will debate with the CIO of MWCapital, Eduard Martín, on the use of screens in the family. We will talk about cybersecurity with Natalia de Seras, Director of Information Security at CaixaBank, and about STEAM women with Carlota Llacuna, from the CaixaBank Tech Innovation team. Sergi Jordà, associate professor at the UPF, will present the applications of AI in the world of music. And Barcelona School of Creativity will organise one of its popular Prompt Battles, in this case focused on imagining the future of Barcelona.

In addition, KIDS Barcelona, the scientific council for adolescents of the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, will discuss the importance of society’s commitment to advancing health science research. Likewise, Tech&Play will also feature the final event of the the final event of the first edition of the SX3 Academy, the first School for Digital Rights in Catalonia promoted by 3CAT with the collaboration of the Mobile World Capital Barcelona, the Catalan Data Protection Authority and the Catalan Cybersecurity Agency to digitally train teachers and digitally empower pupils in the exercise of their digital rights. 

The Tech&Play is organised by MWCapital and has the collaboration of the Secretary of State for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence, the Ministry for the Digital Transformation and Public Function, the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Ajuntament de Barcelona, with the support of the CaixaBank Group and Damm, companies that are members of the MWCapital Board of Trustees. In addition, some forty organisations are collaborating in the different activities.

The Tech&Play activities

Those attending the event will be able to enjoy all kinds of proposals related to technology. From immersive activities such as Robotics for all, where you will experience first-hand the interaction with various robots and components; and many others, such as a journey through the industrial evolution of Barcelona or the possibility of getting to know the MareNostrum supercomputer.

In addition, children and young people will find at Tech&Play the ideal environment to discover or enhance their digital skills. The festival will host a series of workshops divided by age group (from 6 to 18 years old), where they will be able to generate a comic using Artificial Intelligence, build and program a robot with Lego Spike, create “sound cartography” by dancing with movement sensors, or enter to the world of animation or cybersecurity, among others.

Finally, Sunday 28 April will be the Family Day at Tech&Play. A day with activities designed to be enjoyed by the whole family. Games, immersive experiences, workshops and shows to bring technology closer to children in an understandable and playful way. Throughout the day, families will be able to take part in a range of activities divided by age group and guided by a monitoring service. From doing a quick course for mini-DJs, to playing catch with the U-Smart Toys and their colourful lights, getting started in electronics with workshops on creating fun little robots, dancing at the Silent Disco or enjoying technological magic shows.

About Mobile World Capital Barcelona

Mobile World Capital Barcelona is a public-private foundation that promotes the digital development of society to build a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future through the humanistic use of technology. MWCapital contributes to positioning Barcelona as a global benchmark in the digital sphere and to consolidating the arrival of MWC throughout the year by promoting initiatives in the field of technology transfer, the promotion of digital talent, the development of innovative technological projects with a social impact and the generation of knowledge. MWCapital hosts the MWC in Barcelona, is the founder of 4YFN and connects citizens with the latest digital trends through events such as Jump2Digital and Tech&Play.