Sony to open AI development center in Barcelona, second in Europe

A subsidiary of Japanese consumer electronics products manufacturer Sony will open an artificial intelligence (AI) development center in Barcelona, the second one in Europe, as the Catalan labor and business ministry announced in a statement.

The center in the Catalan capital will focus on AI systems to advance new scientific discoveries and projects related to gastronomy.

Sony AI president Michael Spranger praised the "many universities focusing research on AI programs and key organizations on science and technology."

Catalan labor and business minister Roger Torrent celebrated Sony's decision and announced that the government would set up a "collaboration network to unite Sony AI, and local universities, research centers, startups, and companies looking to develop AI from Barcelona," the statement reads.

The company has offices focused on developing AI projects in Japan, Switzerland, and the United States.

Catalonia's Trade & Investment offices say there are 488 companies in the territory focused on AI development, almost three times more than in 2019, the last available figures.

AI development generates €2.15 billion, 60% more than five years ago. Overall, there are 14,525 employees in the field, 71% more than in 2019.