NTT Data has now opened its first European centre for artificial intelligence in Barcelona. The subsidiary of Japan’s biggest IT company has landed in the Catalan capital with a strategic plan to invest 850,000 euros in three years. Between Japan and Barcelona, the company now has 130 specialist technicians working on data technology and artificial intelligence. In light of this, the president of the Government of Catalonia, Quim Torra, has made the most of the launch to announce that the Government will approve an AI “strategy” in July, to give the region the objectives and tools required to become a leader in this “technological revolution”.
The councillor for Digital and Administration Policies, Jordi Puigneró, has established the four pillars upon which this strategic plan will be built: administration, health, mobility and the environment and climate change. “The opening of this centre shows that Catalonia can be a leader in this technological revolution, like in the 19th century when it led the industrial revolution, so we are working towards this”, Torra stated during his visit to the NTT Data head office in Barcelona, which is located in the Living Lab owned by the Catalan company Everis (acquired by the Japanese company a few years ago).
Along with the connections it has with artificial intelligence experts in Tokyo, NTT wants to develop its strategy in the Catalan capital, in order to strengthen its position as a “global strategic associate for clients adopting artificial intelligence for digital transformation”. With this objective in mind, the company plans to invest 850,000 euros in the first phase of its plan. The purpose of this money is to create innovative solutions and strengthen the digitisation of its clients’ businesses in all countries in which the group operates.
The centre of excellence recently opened in Barcelona will have a group of data expert scientists and engineers from Catalonia and worldwide (the exact figure has not been specified), working in collaboration with another 130 professionals from the group who already work at Everis or from Japan, and who are also AI specialists. In February, the Government finalised the last few details with the Japanese company in the setting up of this centre in Catalonia, and the agreement came into effect during the Mobile World Congress 2019.
Puigneró and Torra met with the company’s representatives after leaving the grand opening, which was attended by king Felipe VI. Subsequently, the councillor travelled to Japan to finalise the ultimate details. NTT DATA’s global Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Tsuyoshi Kitani, stated that he soon realised that this centre for artificial intelligence would “fit perfectly” with the Government’s digital policies.
Furthermore, he demonstrated his commitment to increase “the initial activity” they expect in their new centre, and even expressed his desire for them to contribute to Catalonia’s economic growth and technological development. President Torra reciprocated these words and pointed out that the arrival of NTT Data further “strengthened” the relationship between Japan and Catalonia, two places where, in his words, “technology is the linchpin of the economy”.
See the article: https://www.viaempresa.cat/es/empresa/ntt-data-centro-ia-barcelona_1932290_102.html
