Leitat took part in four sessions and presented a sensorised robotics demonstration at BNEW 2026, bringing different technological capabilities related to photonics, food, advanced therapies and robotics to the event.
BNEW – Barcelona New Economy Week 2026 reaches its final day after bringing together companies, professionals and organisations from different fields in Barcelona to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the new economy. During the 5 and 6 October sessions, Leitat played an active role in the programme, with four contributions from its experts and a technology demonstration developed jointly with Thinex.
Leitat’s participation reflected the diversity of fields in which the technology centre works to drive innovation and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology to industry.
Innovation to address new challenges
From Leitat’s Photonics and Vision area, Mónica Beatriz Della Pirriera, Area Manager of Photonics and Vision at Leitat, took part in the session “Smart Agricultural Ecosystems”, alongside Jaume Casadesús, researcher at IRTA, Jesús Fernández Gómez, Director of the Drive Systems Business Unit at DOGA, and Eduard Obis, Managing Director of Agropro Digital Farming. Moderated by Jordi Barceló, CEO of MODPOW Agritechnologies, the session addressed topics including predictive intelligence, water management and the adaptation of agricultural systems to new climate scenarios.
Meanwhile, Evelyn Moreno, Deputy Director of Leitat’s International Projects Department, moderated the session “Interdisciplinary Science and Shared Knowledge”, with Oriol Alcoba, Director of Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at Esade, and Alejandro Sánchez, Director of the Industry Relations Office at ALBA Synchrotron, also taking part as a moderator. The session highlighted the value of collaboration across disciplines, sectors and institutions to drive innovation.
Food was another area represented in the programme. Alvar Gràcia, Senior Researcher in Bioresources and Agrifood Technologies at Leitat, took part in “FoodTech and the Future of Food”, alongside Eudald Casas, Manager at INNOVACC, Bernat Monter, CEO of Grillco, and Eduard Obis, Managing Director of AgroPro Digital Farming. The session, moderated by Anna Carabús, Sector Coordinator of IRTA’s CiPA, addressed trends such as alternative proteins, fermentation and the development of new food production models.
Finally, Sílvia Cufí, Director of Leitat’s Medical Unit, took part in “The Transformative Potential of New Advanced Therapies”, alongside Miguel Chillón, researcher at ICREA, UAB and VHIR, Núria Gavaldà, Director of Strategy and of the Advanced Therapies Platform at the Blood and Tissue Bank, and Josep Samitier, Executive Director of Fraunhofer Spain. The session was moderated by Miquel Salas, Director of Scale-up and Access at BIOCAT, and focused on the development of these therapies and the challenges associated with their integration into clinical practice.
Robotics that incorporates the sense of touch
Alongside the talks, Leitat also brought a technology demonstration developed jointly with Thinex to BNEW.
The demonstration features a sensorised robotic gripper capable of detecting forces, contact points and deformations while handling objects. The integration of printed electronics and flexible materials gives the surface new sensing capabilities and enables the system to adjust its gripping force and handle objects with greater precision.
This combination of technologies opens up possibilities in areas such as logistics, industrial automation, collaborative robotics, advanced manufacturing and healthcare, while showing how the integration of different technologies can transform conventional elements into functional, sensorised surfaces.
Technology, knowledge and connection with industry
Leitat’s participation in BNEW 2026 provided an opportunity to show, from different perspectives, how applied research and technological development can help address specific challenges across a wide range of sectors.
Smart agriculture, food, advanced therapies, photonics and robotics were all part of a participation that reflects the breadth of Leitat’s capabilities and its commitment to connecting knowledge, technology and industry.
BNEW also provided a space to build new connections, exchange experiences with other stakeholders in the innovation ecosystem and explore new opportunities for collaboration.
Leitat would like to thank BNEW, the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona and the DFactory Barcelona ecosystem for the opportunity to take part in this edition, as well as all the companies, professionals and organisations with which it shared these sessions.
