Overview
- The Collboni administration has approved and submitted Barcelona’s candidature, backed by the Generalitat and the Diputació de Barcelona.
- The bid designates the vacant Residència Ramon Llull in the Escola Industrial as headquarters, with the Diputació pledging to cede the building.
- Catalan administrations propose financing a full rehabilitation of the protected 8,000 m² site, which would ultimately accommodate about 300 employees.
- A phased plan foresees about 500 m² ready in H2 2026 for a founding team from CCAES and CNE, expanding over time to roughly 4,000 m².
- Barcelona highlights research and transport strengths, proximity to Hospital Clínic and ISGlobal, extensive congress capacity, and port cold‑chain logistics, as the national selection proceeds against bids from cities including Murcia, Zaragoza, Oviedo, León, Salamanca, Granada and Lugo.