What Digital Future Society does

Digital Future Society is a global programme of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, a foundation established in 2006 to maximize the legacy of the Mobile World Congress. The organization promotes the digital development of society through the humanistic use of technology, operating across four interconnected areas: Technology Transfer (including The Collider venture building program), Tech4Good (with mSchools Lab), Digital Talent (including Upskilling Week), and an Observatory for knowledge generation. Its core products include The Collider, a deep tech venture building program that connects scientific talent with entrepreneurial opportunities and has unique positioning in Europe for creating scientific spin-offs, as well as programs like Tech4Good that promote digital technologies for societal impact across healthcare, social assistance, retail, and urban planning.

The foundation serves multiple stakeholder segments: scientific and deep tech projects transitioning from lab to market, professionals seeking digital upskilling and reskilling, and civil society organizations benefiting from Tech4Good initiatives. Digital Future Society itself is a programme focused on building an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable digital future. The organization operates on a non-profit foundation model, funded through partnerships, grants, and institutional funding rather than traditional revenue streams. Key partners include the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan government), Barcelona Activa, and the European Innovation Council, with over 500 institutional agreements supporting its ecosystem. The foundation has boosted 300+ high-potential companies, completed 30+ pilot projects, created 1500+ IT jobs, and published up to 50 reports.

Name

Digital Future Society

Legal name

Mobile World Capital Barcelona Foundation

Website

https://digitalfuturesociety.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Digital Future Society is a global programme of Mobile World Capital Barcelona, a foundation promoting inclusive digital development through technology transfer, digital talent programs, and Tech4Good initiatives targeting scientific spin-offs, professionals, and civil society organizations in Barcelona.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Innovation and Technology Transfer Programs

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK), Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT) (EDAAAFAE), Technology & Digital Skills for Seniors (Devices, internet safety, telehealth) (EDAAAMAH), Digital Transactions & Online Services (eGov, Banking, Telehealth) (EDAAAIAE)

Keywords

• Digital transformation programs
• Technology transfer services
• Digital talent development
• Deep tech venture building
• Socially beneficial technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Digital Future Society is a global programme of Mobile World Capital Barcelona Foundation that promotes the digital development of society through the humanistic use of technology. It delivers programs in technology transfer (supporting scientific and deep tech spin-offs), digital talent generation (training, reskilling, and skill development), Tech4Good initiatives (using digital technologies to improve society and industrial processes), and knowledge generation through its Observatory.

Product overview

Mobile World Capital Barcelona is a foundation that maximizes MWC's legacy by promoting initiatives across four interconnected areas: Technology Transfer (including The Collider venture building program), Tech4Good (with mSchools Lab), Digital Talent (including Upskilling Week), and Observatory (knowledge generation). The organization also runs major events including Talent Arena, Mobile Lunch, BEAT Barcelona, and MWCapital Awards. Together, these programs support scientific spin-offs, promote digital skills, and generate/distribute knowledge while hosting exhibition stands at MWC Barcelona and 4YFN to showcase Barcelona's innovation ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Talent Arena: An event dedicated to digital talent, co-located with MWC Barcelona, bringing together developers, leading tech companies, and educational institutions to foster learning, networking, and professional growth.
• MWCapital AWARDS
• The Collider
• Tech4Good
• mSchools Lab
• BEAT BARCELONA
• Mobile Lunch
• Day One

Products and services

• Tech Transfer Program A technology transfer initiative that supports scientific and deep tech projects in their transition from lab to market through a proprietary methodology, occupying a unique space in Europe within the ecosystem of initiatives helping create scientific spin-offs. Targeted at universities, research centers, and scientific founders.
• The Collider (Venture Building Program) A venture building program specialized in deep tech that connects scientific talent with entrepreneurial opportunities, creating startups through structured support. Partnered with the European Innovation Council.
• Tech4Good Program A methodology-based program promoting projects that use digital technologies to improve society and industrial processes, operating across four areas: Lab, Digital Services, Engagement with Civil Society, and Observatory. Targeted at civil society organizations and social impact projects.
• mSchools Lab An initiative focused on finding and supporting innovative solutions using mobile technology for societal benefit. Targeted at educational stakeholders and innovators.
• Digital Talent Program A program promoting economic development through generation of new digital talent, fostering training in digital skills, reskilling of professionals, and attracting new talent to position Barcelona as a capital of digital talent.
• Upskilling Week An intensive week of hands-on workshops, immersive experiences, and sessions led by industry professionals to boost in-demand digital and technological skills, created in collaboration with Barcelona Activa. Targeted at professionals seeking digital upskilling.
• MWCapital Awards An awards program recognizing innovative technology projects that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Targeted at innovative technology projects and their creators.
• Talent Arena Event A co-located event with MWC Barcelona that brings together developers, leading tech companies, and educational institutions to foster learning, networking, and professional growth in the digital field.
• Mobile Lunch An exclusive meeting point for companies and organizations of the digital ecosystem celebrated within the framework of MWC Barcelona. Targeted at digital ecosystem stakeholders.
• Observatory A knowledge generation and distribution initiative producing reports and research on digital talent, tech hubs, and deep tech spin-out ecosystems. Targeted at policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Barcelona ActivacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBarcelona Activa is a local public entity supporting economic development in Barcelona. MWCapital collaborates with Barcelona Activa on the Upskilling Week initiative, an intensive week of hands-on workshops and immersive experiences to boost digital and technological skills. This partnership leverages Barcelona Activa's infrastructure and programs to deliver technology training.
• European Innovation CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Innovation Council (EIC) supports Europe's deeptech startups and innovation. MWCapital has a partnership with EIC for its venture building program specialized in deeptech, providing visibility to startups created through this collaboration and connecting with EIC's network of innovative companies.
• Generalitat de CatalunyaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Generalitat (Catalan government) is a key institutional partner. MWCapital and the Generalitat showcase twenty years of technological and social transformation together, demonstrating the foundational role MWCapital plays in Catalonia's innovation ecosystem.
• Fira de MontjuïcminorOthersFira de Montjuïc is the convention center hosting MWC Barcelona and related events. MWCapital conducts its exhibition and event activities at this venue, positioning its programs within the broader technology event ecosystem.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Station F: The world's largest startup campus in Paris. Comparable as an institutional innovation hub that combines startup programming, talent development, and corporate partnerships in a single physical-digital ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Web Summit: One of the world's largest technology conferences. Comparable as a high-profile tech event that anchors programming, partnerships, and digital talent networking — directly competing for the same audiences that MWC Barcelona/Talent Arena attract.
• European Innovation Council (EIC): The EU's flagship deep tech innovation programme. Direct partner of MWCapital's The Collider venture building programme, making it a natural peer in scaling deep tech spin-offs and providing visibility into European deeptech.
• ITU (International Telecommunication Union): The UN specialized agency for ICTs, focused on digital development, digital inclusion, and capacity building globally. Comparable in mission to Digital Future Society's Tech4Good and digital inclusion mandates, especially in emerging markets.
• World Economic Forum (Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution): A globally recognized multistakeholder platform that, like Digital Future Society, shapes policy and societal discourse around emerging technologies. Comparable as a high-profile institution convening governments, corporates, and civil society to govern digital transformation.

Direct peers

• GSMA: The mobile industry organization that owns and runs MWC globally. Closely comparable as the parent body of the Mobile World Congress ecosystem from which Digital Future Society derives its brand and distribution.
• Nesta: A UK innovation foundation focused on using technology and innovation to address social challenges. Closely comparable as a mission-driven foundation combining research, talent programmes, and policy advocacy in the digital and social impact space.
• Generation You Employed: A global nonprofit focused on digital skills training and employment for underserved populations. Directly comparable to Digital Future Society's Digital Talent and Upskilling Week programmes in delivering digital inclusion through workforce reskilling.

Regional players

• Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): A US-based innovation campus operator supporting startups and social impact organizations. Comparable in operating shared infrastructure, programming, and venture-building support for technology-enabled social impact ventures.
• Tech Barcelona: The local Barcelona technology association that positions Barcelona as a tech hub. Directly comparable as a regional digital ecosystem builder with overlapping stakeholder networks and event-based engagement model.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MWCapital
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/MobileWorldCapital
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mwcapital
• Instagraminstagram.com/mwcbarcelona
• TikToktiktok.com/@mwcapital

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Digital Future Society