The Barcelona Free Zone Consortium (CZFB) has officially presented the District 4.0 project, which will transform the Zona Franca industrial estate into a space focused on industrial digitalisation. The presentation took place during the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 (SCEWC), held from 4 to 6 November at Fira de Barcelona.
In this context, the organisation announced the expansion of DFactory Barcelona, a benchmark centre for Industry 4.0, which will reach a total area of 60,000 sqm by the end of 2026. The expansion will involve an investment of approximately €50 million and will include the construction of four new buildings: the Cub, measuring 1,100 sqm; Building A, measuring 24,370 sqm; Building B, measuring 11,640 sqm; and Building D, measuring 2,300 sqm, which will be used for common services.
DFactory Barcelona, currently fully occupied, will thus expand its ecosystem to welcome new companies linked to robotics, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, advanced manufacturing and blockchain technology, as well as companies in the healthcare and agri-food sectors.
The Cub will host cultural, artistic and musical events, as well as international meetings related to Industry 4.0 and the new economy. Buildings A and B, spread over four floors, will integrate production spaces, laboratories, technology centres and offices. Building D will offer catering areas and spaces for workers to engage in physical activity.
The State's special delegate to the CZFB, Pere Navarro, explained that the decision to expand the complex responds to the growing demand from companies linked to digital transformation and the full occupancy of the current DFactory. Construction work will be completed by the end of 2026, with the new companies expected to move in at the beginning of 2027.
For her part, the general manager of the CZFB, Blanca Sorigué, highlighted that the initiative "positions Barcelona as an international benchmark in industrial digitalisation, thanks to an ecosystem that combines innovation, talent and public-private collaboration".
The Consorci's participation in the Smart City Expo World Congress also seeks to promote synergies and collaboration networks between companies based in Distrito 4.0, DFactory Barcelona and the Logistics Incubator 4.0, through a programme of technology demonstrations and networking activities aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the region.