Technology

Posted on March 13, 2019 by staff

Barcelona ‘raising €100m for tech testbed’

Technology

FC Barcelona are reportedly looking to raise €100 million to create a testbed for new technologies.

The Liga leaders have been exploring the potential of a tech investment fund for two years, according to business publication Palco23.

The report suggested the club will not put their own money into the fund but instead plan to provide knowledge and expertise to assist start-ups.

The club’s iconic Camp Nou home will become the first stadium in Europe to feature 5G technology as standard.

President Josep Maria Bartomeu said the tech will be included in the ‘Espai Barça’ project, which will see the Camp Nou complex transformed into “the world’s number one sports complex in the centre of a major city” and the ground itself increased to a 105,000-person capacity.

Marta Plana, a board member who oversees the club’s Innovation Hub, said recently Barca is aiming to be the ‘Silicon Valley of sports’ after helping develop an industry-leading wearable technology system.

Meanwhile Barca are making magazine Revista Barca, which is sent to club members, available digitally for the first time.

The Liga outfit have released a free Android and iOS app to deliver the digital edition in Catalan or Spanish.