After a year of work and at the suggestion of the public sector, the organization of Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), the world's largest professional trade show dedicated to the audiovisual industry, has finalized the project. This foundation, similar to the Mobile World Capital established by GSMA, seeks to formalize the social action already carried out by the congress and enhance collaboration in the training of technological professionals.
The initiative was presented on Tuesday during the opening of ISE 2026. The plan is for it to be a public-private entity involving the Barcelona City Council, the Catalan Government (Generalitat), and potentially the Spanish Government. Initial private partners include the co-organizing associations of ISE: Avixa (represented by David Labuskes) and CEDIA (with Daryl Friedman).
“"This marks a before and after in the relationship between the congress and Catalonia."
The ISE Foundation, headquartered in Barcelona, starts with a plan designed until 2028 and a small dedicated team. It will focus on three pillars: social work (donating equipment and collaborating with entities like Sant Joan de Déu), innovation (subsidizing 'startups' participation and collaborating with universities), and talent development.
Mike Blackman emphasized that talent development is crucial to address the shortage of technological profiles in Catalonia. Although they will start within the community, the goal is to expand the action across all of Spain, ensuring they aim for real results and realistic metrics.
