Cody McGrath 
The director-general of innovation in Catalonia, Daniel Macro talked about some of the major initiatives the government has undertaken and working on to turn the province into a digital powerhouse.
Macro made his remarks during the 2022 European Blockchain Convention (EBC). According to Macro, the COVID-19 epidemic that has been going on for the past two years has significantly contributed to the concept that the digital economy is a component of the larger economy.
He continued by using Europe as an example, which has taken steps to digitize its energy arrangements as well as a number of other digital deals.
In 2014, Macro assumed responsibility for leading the effort to establish Catalonia as a “Smart Country” of importance on the international stage as the director of the SmartCatalonia Government Strategy.
Cataverse
Additionally, the minister is aiming to develop a totally digital economy that is influenced by the physical world in light of the development of blockchain technology and the metaverse. He disclosed that the administration is working to create Cataverse, a Catalan metaverse. He clarified:
“Cataverse will be linked to the Catalan language and the Catalan culture. That is what we want to have in this metaverse, that Catalan entities that are doing things for the culture can do that in the metaverse .”
The minister of innovation for Catalonia then discussed the government’s aspirations to turn Barcelona into a digital powerhouse. He claimed that much would depend on skill, and to foster such talent in the young, the government has passed various legislation and university programs. He stated:
“We have very strong policies to generate talent that are from university but also we are skilling programs like boot camps and other activities a lot because we need different profiles.”
He continued by saying that the government is attempting to combine the two, i.e. develop new talent and draw in more companies with a welcoming workplace.
The minister gave examples of a project centered on individual healthcare and a few others based on public transportation when asked about blockchain projects that tourists can engage with in Barcelona.