The incubator, 3D Incubator, has reached the initial goal of supporting 100 incubated companies whose business idea is based in the use of 3D printing technologiesthus reducing the deadlines established in all forecasts, despite the outbreak of the pandemic and the effects of the state of alarm in 2020. This initiative, co-led by the Consorci de la Barcelona Free Zone (CZFB) and Leitatwas born in March 2019 with the aim of reaching one hundred companies in a period of 5 years.
On the occasion of this important achievement, the CZFB and Leitat will organize an event in which the companies incubated during these years will attend, as well as the highest representatives of the participating institutions. The event, which will take place in the incubator located at the CZFB headquarters next December 15, It will allow the media to contact the startups present and learn first-hand about some of the success stories that have emerged during this time.
A revolutionary space
The objective of the 3D Incubator is to promote the growth of these projects by creating a unique space for the incubation of startups, SMEs and micro-enterprises who bet on 3D printing, within the framework of the new economy 4.0.
The 3D Incubator favors the business takeoff of incubated initiatives through access to 1000m2 of state-of-the-art facilities, with the latest technology in 3D printing and post-processing, training stands, meeting rooms, co-working area and private offices at the service of companies. In addition, they are offered access to 3D production services, business consultancy, part testing, training, and support for marketing and internationalization. To carry out this project promoted by the CZFB and Leitat, an investment of three million euros was made, 50% co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), through the Multiregional Operational Program of Spain 2014-2020, and operates under Axis 3: Improving the competitiveness of SMEs, granted through the INCYDE Foundation.
Considering the transversality of technology, the incubated initiatives come from a wide range of sectors, such as consumer goods, capital goods, health, mobility, consulting, construction, information technology, the chemical and logistics sectors. During these years, companies have been able to make their projects come true by printing different innovative products, such as dental prostheses, motorcycles, spectacle frames, and even a revolutionary saxophone.
Peter Navarro, special delegate of the State in the CZFB, assured that “From the beginning the Consorci wanted to get involved in the transformation of industry 4.0 and reach 100 companies incubated with this project, much earlier than expected, it is a faithful reflection that we are marking the paths of the new economy.” In addition, the delegate stated that “thanks to the joint action of the CZFB, Leitat and the Chambers of Commerce, through the INCYDE Foundation, we are giving a clear example of collaboration between institutions to show support for the promotion of the network of more market vanguards.
For his part, Joan Parra, CEO and executive vice president of Leitat, points out that “The success of the 3D Incubator not only marks the way forward, but also shows us the power of attraction that we can generate by offering talented start-ups and entrepreneurs a state-of-the-art environment with the latest technology and all the necessary resources. There is, however, a long way to go, since most of the incubated companies are in the initial phases of adopting 3D printing technologies and, therefore, we see the future with great optimism for this initiative. But – he points out -, if I had to highlight the most relevant aspect of the project, in my opinion it would undoubtedly be the collaboration with the CZFB and the possibility of generating value by adding synergies within a framework of shared vision and mutual trust”.
Multiple possibilities for 4.0 technology
Within the general framework of the 4.0 economy, the intensive use of 3-Dimensional Printing (3DP) technology in manufacturing processes is redefining production systems through product customization, stock reduction, reducing the waste footprint and environmental impact and, consequently, the improvement of competitiveness of the local production systems.
The 3D Incubator is the first and only incubator in Europe that makes available to incubated companies a complete 3D production laboratory equipped with 4 state-of-the-art industrial 3D printers and 7 mini-printers. In addition, it also has a post-processing laboratory with different equipment for cleaning, polishing and tinting parts, as well as metrology and quality control equipment, laser engraving and design software. Thus, throughout these 3 years, the initiative has provided more than 3,000 services to the different incubated initiatives.
The 3D Incubator occupies currently 1000 m2 in the building that of the corporate headquarters of the CZFB, in the Zona Franca industrial estate, at the foot of the Ronda Litoral and connected by underground through the Parc Logístic station on Line 9 South of the metro. Located in the largest industrial area of the city of Barcelona, it has excellent connections with the airport, the Barcelona port and the city’s fairgrounds.
