Fujifilm selects Barcelona as the site of its new Open Innovation Satellite in Europe

The Japan-Spain Business Circle (CEJE) organized the grand opening of the new Fujifilm Open Innovation Satellite, a revolutionary co-creation space located at the Japanese company’s headquarters in Barcelona. Fujifilm has three Open Innovation headquarters or hubs worldwide (Japan, USA, and Netherlands). The new Satellite center will have the mission of connecting Spanish and Portuguese companies with R&D resources at the hub in Tilburg, Netherlands.

Innovation and Technology: Fujifilm’s DNA

Innovation has had a very important role in the history of Fujifilm since its inception, but after the year 2000 innovation it became crucial. Around that year there was a worldwide boom in digital cameras, to the detriment of film cameras. This forced the company to reinvent its business since, for example, classic photography products made up 70% of revenue. Today, because of a business diversification strategy, they make up 15%.

The Japanese company has now chosen Barcelona to inaugurate its new Satellite Center of the Open Innovation Hub in Tilburg, Netherlands. According to Antonio Alcalá, president of Fujifilm in Iberia, “a technological base has been established that is flexible enough to address a wide variety of technical fields and create added value.

CEJE, meeting point between Spanish and Japanese companies

According to Jorge Lasheras, CEJE President, Fujifilm represents “the paradigm of how to adapt to new eras in a time of serious crisis and constant change.” He says “the company chose to innovate in its sectors, committing to new product lines such as digital photography, cosmetic products, and even medical equipment.”

The Japan-Spain Business Circle, along with the Fujifilm Open Innovation program have the common objective of fostering knowledge between companies from different countries. In this case, CEJE forms a cultural and business “bridge” between Japanese companies that want to establish themselves in Spain and Spanish companies who wish to do the same in Japan. This business exchange seeks to increase the most innovative side of the associated companies and find synergies in the fields of technology and innovation.

With the opening of the Fujifilm Open Innovation Satellite, CEJE gives rise to a cycle of meetings over the next few months on innovation and technology from Japanese and Spanish companies.