Catalonia is many things: sun-drenched beaches, precariously stacked human towers, football teams that induce spiritual devotion and restaurants so fancy they garnish their dishes with foam, smoke and a sauce that cost more than most tourists’ return flights. But what really sets it apart is its flair for innovation.

While the rest of the world fumbles with AI like it’s a particularly aggressive toaster, Catalonia is out here building smart cities, growing organs in labs and 3D-printing houses before breakfast. Probably.

Let’s start with Barcelona, which was declared the first “Smart City” in the EU. You can now park your car via app and avoid tourist traps thanks to real-time crowd density data (sadly, no data yet on how to dodge pickpockets).

But this innovation isn’t just about apps and gadgets – it’s embedded in the DNA. Take the Catalan........

© Catalonia Today