The government of the autonomous Spanish region of Catalonia plans to turn the region into a digital hub and launch its own metaverse. Innovation Office head Daniel Macro told Cointelegraph.
In 2014 Macro led the government initiative Smart Catalonia, overseeing Catalonia’s transformation into a ‘smart country’. With the advent of blockchain technology and metaverses, the official began working on creating a ‘fully digital economy inspired by the physical world’.
According to Macro, the authorities plan to launch the ‘Catalan metaverse’.
‘Cataverse will be linked to the Catalan language and culture. We want local organisations that do something in the cultural sphere to be able to implement this in the metaverse,’ he explained.
According to the official, the region’s capital, Barcelona, will also become a hub for digital innovation. Much will depend on attracting talented specialists. The government has implemented a number of programmes to support talented youth, Macro emphasised.
‘We have a strong policy to generate talent in universities. We also frequently run upskilling programmes, such as training camps and other events, because we need different specialisations,’ the official said.
He added that the government is trying to combine the development of new talent with attracting more ‘businesses with a friendly working environment’.
Answering a question about blockchain projects with which tourists in Barcelona might interact, Macro cited solutions focused on healthcare and public transport.
In March, the creation of its own cryptocurrency and metaverse was announced by the region’s leading football club, Barcelona.
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