ParcBit, the innovative vanguard of the Balearic Islands

PalmThe arrival of the metro, the reclamation of land for offices, the possibility of building rental housing for researchers, and the expansion of FabLabs are pillars of the new strategy to boost Palma's facilities. The Government is also developing the innovation ecosystem throughout the Canary Islands with the plan to promote... CentreBit Menorca and the opening of CentreBit Ibiza.

ParcBit has for years become a hub of innovative talent with more than 100 companies and 3,500 professionals linked to sectors such as digitalization, the 'software', biotechnology, and the audiovisual industry. Now it faces the challenge of consolidating itself as an optimal ecosystem for the professional development of innovative talent in the Balearic Islands. For this reason, the Balearic Government is about to present an ambitious plan to boost ParcBit, with a total investment of €60.5 million. Therefore, now is the best time to establish and generate new business models with a solid technological foundation, taking advantage of the measures already implemented and those that will arrive in the short and medium term.

Since last July, ParcBit has been connected to the center of Palma by metro. The new station opens up a new possibility for economical and sustainable transport, in addition to the road and bike path connections. In this way, the largest technology business center in the Balearic Islands is connected to Mallorca's main public transport hub, and the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB) is connected to ParcBit in just two minutes, facilitating the flow of people between these two spaces of knowledge, research, and scientific and technological development.

In addition, the Balearic Islands Government has already recovered two plots of land with the aim of expanding the space available for businesses. The regional government has invested €1.9 million, which, with more than 11,000 square meters of buildable area in total, will allow for the expansion of the space available for offices and companies.

In this way, the Government is investing to encourage new companies to set up in ParcBit without having to bear the cost of building offices and, moreover, with an important new feature: they will also be able to manufacture their own products using digital fabrication laboratories (FabLabs). Thus, in addition to innovation and research companies, ParcBit will be able to host small companies dedicated to materials manufacturing and will boost Industry 4.0.

To this end, the Government will support a unanimous demand from companies: the construction of temporary rental housing for ParcBit workers and researchers. In response to current housing problems, the regional government intends to facilitate the relocation and mobility of research staff associated with ParcBit, thereby making it easier to attract and retain talent in the Balearic Islands. The goal is to provide temporary rental housing for researchers and park employees.

Balearic innovation ecosystem

But the Government's commitment to digital transformation and innovation is not limited to ParcBit in Palma; it is committed to the creation, development, and promotion of an innovation ecosystem that extends throughout the Canary Islands. To this end, the regional government is implementing, on the one hand, a plan to boost the CentreBit MenorcaA strategic technology hub that facilitates the creation of skilled jobs and the retention of talent on the island. This plan, agreed upon with the island's social and economic entities and with companies in the center, envisions a total investment of 5.8 million euros over three years.

And, on the other hand, after years of demands, this Government has inaugurated the CentreBit IbizaThis will complete the Balearic innovation hub and strengthen inter-island cooperation on technology projects. The Sa Coma facilities, which have already housed several fully operational companies for several months, will be expanded in the future.

Expansion of digital fabrication laboratories

In addition, one million euros has been invested in the expansion and modernization of the digital fabrication laboratories (FabLabs) located in ParcBit Mallorca and in the CentreBit MenorcaThe goal is to encourage the creation of new businesses and make this type of technology accessible to all sectors, while also promoting the development of courses and workshops for schools to spark interest in science and technology.

Facilities have also been opened forcoworkingCompetitive prices have been maintained below market price for companies and a twinning agreement has been signed with the renowned Malaga TechPark, with the aim of promoting joint initiatives in areas such as innovation, technological development, entrepreneurship and business internationalization.

ParcBit has undergone a complete transformation and is looking ambitiously towards the future. The Balearic Government has clearly defined a strategy that incorporates the sector's proposals and demands, aiming to make ParcBit the spearhead of the archipelago's economic transformation. Now is the time to join the innovative vanguard of the Balearic Islands.