La Fabra y Coats host BCNLab Event2014
BCNLab's second meeting has included two days of debate and reflection on innovation and creativity
La Fábrica de Creación Fabra y Coats host the second meeting of the Barcelona Laboratory (BCNLab) “The Creative Citizen” on 20th and 21st of February. The BarcelonaLab project is an initiative developed by the ICUB designed to strenghten and promote the culture of innovation that takes place in the city, through the creation of an ecosystem of innovation open to the public.
Jaume Ciurana, Deputy Mayor for Culture, Knowledge, Creativity and Innovation of the City of Barcelona, was in charge of opening the BCNLab Event 2014. Ciurana stressed the role of cities as laboratories of innovation: “We have to be able to build cooperative networks covering all local people”. He also stressed the importance of innovation and creativity as an attitude: “If we are able to uncover the creativity that lies within each, we win as a society and city.”
Afterwards, Inés Garriga, director of Creativity and Innovation, Instituto de Cultural de Barcelona (ICUB) and promoter of BCNLab said, “This is not just an event, it is also a space for co-creation to create synergies between four helices: local people, government, private companies and Universities”. Garriga acknowledged the work done over the past year within the BCNLab 2013 project, and spoke of the intention to strengthen relationships with businesses and local public.
Marta Arniani, from Sigma Orionis, presented the 'ICT & Art Connect' project which is an initiative dedicated to connecting at European level, ICT research communities with artistic communities. In her speech, Arniani stressed the importance of building bridges between art & science and art & technology, “I want to learn what is being done in the various communities of Barcelona”.
‘Ciudadanos inteligentes y creativos’ ('Intelligent and creative citizens’) opened the first round table discussion with Angelica Jaramillo, Director of Culture of Innovation of 'Ruta N', Artur Serra, Director of the 'i2Cat' and Vicent Guallart, Chief architect of the City of Barcelona. Journalist Puigtobella Bernat, Director of the digital newspaper 'Núvol', moderated the debate. The importance of the cultural education of a society and citizens as a starting point for potential were the most stressed points.
'Matchmaking' takes place in the morning session of the closing day. This is a space to get to know other professionals in technology, art and creativity.