CaixaBank Executive: "Avoiding Innovation is Also a Decision and It May Have a Cost"

Xavier García Hornos, who serves as the Commercial Director of Corporate Banking in CaixaBank's Barcelona regional management, welcomes the brilliant period the Catalan entrepreneurial ecosystem is currently experiencing and the tremendous growth opportunities that collaborations with traditional companies will provide. The senior executive emphasizes the very strong competitive advantage Barcelona holds, highlighting the region's potential in the technology sector. Stating that there are currently 160 active technology centers (hubs) in Catalonia, he notes that this structure has turned the region into an attractive investment hub in the international arena. These assessments were expressed at the 'Catalonia: Investment Destination' forum, organized by El Confidencial newspaper in collaboration with CaixaBank and the Government of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya). During an important session at the forum, the executive met with participants to share in detail the internal dynamics and future vision of the region's current entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Translating the dimensions of technological transformation in the region into figures, García Hornos stated that the startup ecosystem in Catalonia has gained momentum and caters to a professional audience. Emphasizing how well-established the ecosystem is, he noted that more than 34 thousand professionals work directly or indirectly in the sector and that there are 2.403 active startups across the region. García Hornos pointed out that this meeting point, where talent, technology, and capital converge, is in very close proximity to traditional businesses. However, he drew attention to the fact that the real important issue is how to transform this geographical and sectoral proximity into genuine innovation. He underlined that by integrating technologies developed by startups into their own structures, traditional industrial enterprises or family businesses can achieve direct and concrete benefits such as increased productivity, reduced costs, traceability, increased sales, and internationalization.

It is emphasized that during this process, CaixaBank is not merely a financing provider but also assumes the critical role of a bridge between traditional companies and innovative startups. García Hornos argued that in Barcelona, which hosts technology centers, startups need to consolidate themselves both by leveraging their own internal growth potential and by establishing strategic alliances with traditional institutions. Stating that the city has truly become a technology hub, the executive expressed that one of the bank's main goals is to integrate these innovative technologies into the real economy. In other words, the bank encourages the business world to undergo digital transformation not just by providing loans, but also by building an environment of trust across sectors. It is noted that companies beginning to integrate into the system are increasing their efficiency, and this situation is spreading throughout the entire ecosystem.

Warning that traditional businesses are still in an unstable phase regarding technology adoption, but that the potential is much greater, the executive stated that opportunities must be seized quickly. He expressed that companies have started buying technologies developed by local startups and integrating them into their internal flows, but noted that these steps remain well below the desired level. The executive stated that organizations that adopt technology at an early stage will increase their operational efficiency, differentiate themselves from competitors, attract qualified talent, and achieve a much more competitive position in international markets. García Hornos stated that in today's business world, where technology integration becomes increasingly critical every day, companies that hesitate to take these steps face the risk of being left out of the new wave of competition. It was clearly expressed that the lack of innovation is no longer a passive situation, but has transformed into an active risk factor that can lead to direct costs and losses for the future of companies.

In a sectoral context, it is observed that technological solutions in areas such as B2B software, digital financial services, e-commerce, and payment systems are experiencing strong demand. Furthermore, locomotive sectors of Catalonia, such as tourism and hospitality, are significantly benefiting from this digital transformation wave and modernizing their operations. Finally, García Hornos added that the economies of Spain and Catalonia generally show strong resilience and perform above expectations. He stated that this resilience prepares an extremely suitable ground for the current economic environment to facilitate a handshake between traditional companies and innovative startups and to trigger regional growth. It is evaluated that the current economic stability will act as a catalyst for companies to find the courage to invest in new technologies and test innovative business models.