The CZFB has participated in major Industry 4.0 events, including 4YFN at Mobile World Congress, Smart City Expo, and Advanced Factories 2025. At these events, they showcased District 4.0 and the DFactory Barcelona expansion project, while highlighting the full innovation ecosystem through the participation of numerous companies based in District 4.0, DFactory Barcelona, or the Logistics 4.0 Incubator.
Industry 4.0 reference
Global AM Hubs Summit
From 16–18 September, DFactory Barcelona – driven by the CZFB – reaffirmed its position as a leading international Industry 4.0 ecosystem by hosting the Global AM Hubs Summit. The inaugural edition of this summit brought together the main additive manufacturing (3D printing) hubs and organisations across Europe, along with industry leaders, experts, associations, universities, and institutions leading the transformation of advanced manufacturing, plus numerous technology providers spanning the entire value chain of the industry.
Spanish Prime Minister visits DFactory
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, attended the 6th edition of the Barcelona New Economy. Week (BNEW), organised by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB). The event took place at the end of September at DFactory Barcelona. Sánchez was accompanied by CZFB CEO Blanca Sorigué, who guided him on a tour of the DFactory Barcelona facilities. She presented the activities of the companies that are part of this Industry 4.0 ecosystem, which has already become an international point of reference. The DFactory Barcelona companies showcased cutting-edge technological projects to the Prime Minister. In addition to learning about the progress of the DFactory Barcelona expansion works, the Prime Minister had the chance to see the work of some of the startups in the high-tech incubators for Logistics 4.0 and 3D printing, both promoted by the CZFB.
The CZFB accelerates its connected mobility laboratory
The CZFB is advancing the creation of a reference laboratory for intelligent connected driving to improve mobility and road safety. In May, Calle 3 in the Free Zone became a real-world testbed to validate a connected vehicle and 5G network coverage. The laboratory analyses vehicle-to-infrastructure communication using 5G and C-V2X technologies, with the aim of optimising traffic, improving driver and traffic manager behaviour, and preventing accidents and congestion. District 4.0 is establishing itself as a key environment for driving this innovative project forward.
GLS Spain builds its first multilevel logistics centre in Europe, located in District 4.0
This project, developed in collaboration with Goodman in Barcelona’s Free Zone, will be GLS’s first multilevel facility in Europe and is set to be fully operational by 2026. With a total surface area of 20,298 m² spread across three floors on a 17,500 m² plot, the complex will include 13,189 m² of state-of-the-art warehouses and offices. The project strengthens GLS Spain’s operational capacity and highlights Barcelona’s Free Zone as a driver of logistics innovation.