The Minister for Digital Policy, Jordi Puigneró, was in Tokyo today to meet with managers of NTT Data and close a deal aimed at facilitating the establishment of the leading Japanese telecommunications company in Catalonia.

 

The meeting has paved the way for the Japanese company to locate its European centre of excellence for artificial intelligence in Barcelona.

 

Minister Puigneró said: “We’re talking about a factory for talent – a technology centre that focuses on a key emerging technology: artificial intelligence. Catalonia wants to – and can – lead this digital revolution. Investments like this demonstrate that we’re global pacesetters in the technology sector.”

Puigneró stressed the key role AI will play in the coming years: “Artificial intelligence is coming for sure, and it’s bound to impact us. The important question is: ‘Who’s going to lead this revolution and from where?’ Catalonia has the capabilities and potential to play a leading role in the development of artificial intelligence and position itself as a technology hub in AI.”

The Ministry for Digital Policy is currently working on a national artificial intelligence strategy that will be approved by the Catalan government in the near future. The new strategy will bolster the Catalan AI ecosystem, position Catalonia as one of the engines of AI in Europe, boost research and innovation, and help develop, retain and attract specialised talent.