Video: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DfSARMsNj0u/">@zonafrancabarcelona, @dfactorybcn / IG</a>
40,000m² Expansion Confirmed
Pere Navarro, executive president of the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), has confirmed that the third phase of the DFactory innovation district will expand the site by approximately 40,000 square metres. The announcement was made on Tuesday 3rd November 2026 during the Smart City Expo World Congress. This expansion will make DFactory a major hub for technology and innovation in southern Europe, reinforcing its role as a connector for Industry 4.0. Navarro stressed that job creation is a cornerstone of the project, projecting more than 5,000 direct and indirect jobs once the phase is complete.
Second Phase Nears Completion
The second phase of DFactory is on track to finish in spring 2027. Key components include a 1,100-square-metre transparent cube, which will be fully completed in November 2026, and a central avenue due for completion by the end of the year. Building A, spanning 24,370 square metres, will house advanced technology firms, laboratories, and digital hubs for large corporations. Blanca Sorigué, general director of the CZFB, described the cube as a strategic asset that will benefit multiple industries by hosting emerging technologies. She highlighted that the number of companies based at DFactory is expected to rise from around 50 to 150 by the end of phase two, generating 1,500 new direct jobs.
The DFactory is synonymous with attracting new talent to stay in the Catalan capital.
, Blanca Sorigué, General Director, CZFB
A Model for Smart Urban Development
DFactory is one of only two Platinum-certified sustainable buildings in Barcelona, part of a national total of 44. The certification recognises high environmental performance, building quality, and urban relevance. Navarro described the district as more than an industrial estate: a space where people can develop professionally and socially, and where companies can innovate in fields such as home automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence. He emphasised that DFactory aims to be a global example of a smart and livable city, blending economic growth with social value. The CZFB’s official website outlines the expansion as part of a broader strategy to position Barcelona as a leader in urban innovation. More details on the project are available via the CZFB’s DFactory expansion page.
Sources: Metrópoli, metropoliabierta.cat, Crónica Global.
