Commitment to Equality and Diversity

The programme brings the industrial reality of the Free Zone to public schools and high schools in Barcelona. Its goal is to spark interest among students aged 10 to 16 – especially girls – to break down traditional barriers that keep many young people away from STEM disciplines. This is the aim of the Feel the ZF Power programme, which is celebrating its fourth edition this year. Participating schools include students from Institut Doctor Puigvert, Institut Elisabet, Escola La Marbella, and Escola Poeta Foix.

One of the programme’s standout features is the diversity of participating companies, ranging from large tech corporations to small innovative startups. This variety allows students to see a wide range of STEM applications, from robotics and artificial intelligence to environmental engineering and biotechnology. This year’s edition kicked off with students visiting DFactory Barcelona, an Industry 4.0 ecosystem, where they learned about the activities of some of the companies based there. Since its launch, nearly a thousand students have taken part in the initiative. The focus on sparking girls’ interest in technological studies stems from the fact that gender diversity in STEM teams boosts creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. It also enriches the future of scientific and technological knowledge. At the same time, the programme seeks to narrow the gender gap in a sector with high demand for talent.

In October, the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) renewed its commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace by joining the Diversity Charter of Fundación Diversidad – the largest business movement in Europe promoting inclusion in work environments. Over 1,600 organisations in Spain and around 16,000 across the European Union have already signed this commitment. The initiative has the support of the European Commission and the national charters in each country, encouraging the adoption of inclusive practices in the workplace.

The Diversity Charter promotes 10 European principles that reflect the commitment of companies and institutions to equal opportunities. Whether in terms of gender, age, disability, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or any other individual condition, signatory organisations recognise diversity as a fundamental asset for business success and sustainability.

By adhering to the Charter, the CZFB reaffirms its determination to ensure that all people – regardless of their origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, abilities, or beliefs – have the same opportunities for professional and personal development. Diversity not only enriches teams but also enhances creativity, improves decision-making, and strengthens the CZFB’s competitiveness as a public institution committed to economic and social progress.

1. Raise awareness about equality and respect for diversity as core company values.

2. Advance staff diversity by integrating diverse profiles.

3. Promote inclusion and prevent any form of discrimination.

4. Consider diversity in all management policies.

5. Promote work-life balance and shared responsibility in work schedules.

6. Recognise customer diversity as a source of innovation.

7. Communicate the commitment to diversity to all staff.

8. Extend the commitment to supplier companies.

9. Transfer the commitment to third-party entities.

10. Disseminate diversity and inclusion policies and their results.

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Free Zone Equality and Diversity School has set three priority lines of action: incorporate specific diversity content into workshops; focus sessions on demonstrating how integrating a gender perspective into business policies improves efficiency and productivity; record training sessions for wider dissemination to reach all clients. The programme opened with the workshop: “When Women Lead, Companies Move Forward: Female and Inclusive Leadership and Its Real Impact on Productivity and Results.”