2013 SUMMARY
20 | 21
Medical and
technological events
were especially relevant
in 2013, contributing to
support the role played
by Barcelona in the fields
of healthcare and new
technologies
International congresses
As we mentioned before, especially relevant
in 2013 was the hosting of major international
medical and technological congresses in
both venues, which altogether gathered
more than 100,000 professionals and have
already become a specific element within the
institution’s strategy.
In the field of healthcare, worthy of special
mention were the congresses by European
societies of Neurology, Respiratory Medicine,
Diabetes and Oncology, and the national
congresses on Primary Care and Neonatology.
Regarding major technological meetings,
especially noteworthy were the ones by companies
such as Hewlett Packard, VMware –cloud
computing leader–, SAP and Microsoft, among
others. These two branches of congress activity
contribute to reinforce Barcelona’s role as a city
with an outstanding presence in relation to the
sectors of healthcare and new technologies.
Ever since 2006, Fira has hosted more than
50 first-rate medical congresses, including
the World and European Cardiology congresses,
which will be held again at the Gran Via venue
in 2014. According to the 2013 report by
the International Congress and Convention
Association (ICCA), Barcelona occupied
the world’s second position in attendance
to congresses over the 2008-2012 period,
with more than 519,000 attendees, followed
by Vienna and Berlin. This bears witness to
Fira’s contribution to the city’s leadership in
relation to congress activity.
In addition to congresses, over 2013 Fira
venues hosted more than 70 corporate,
institutional, commercial and sports activities,
as well as 450 activities that took place during
the events (sectorial congresses, conferences,
seminars and cultural and training activities).
Some of them, such as Sónar or Barcelona
Harley Days, received great attention because
of their leisure and cultural dimension.
