Barcelona has approved the project for a new research center, Àgora, which is set to open by 2028 on the site of the former Mercat del Peix. The decision to build the center comes amid growing attention to social sustainability and youth policy issues. The center will occupy around 8,000 square meters, with investments totaling approximately 20 million euros—funded by Incasòl. According to RUSSPAIN, construction is scheduled to begin this summer so that the facility will be fully operational by mid-2028.
Àgora will be one of three scientific buildings located on a 45,000-square-meter site owned by Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF). Alongside Àgora, the Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB) and the Institute of Evolutionary Biology will also be established here. Construction has recently begun on the PRBB, which will specialize in precision diagnostics medicine. The new UPF center is designed for a team of about 100 researchers, who will focus on addressing current social challenges.
The UPF management emphasizes that Àgora will go beyond analytics and focus on practical action. Key issues will include the labor market, youth housing, and intergenerational differences. Particular attention will be paid to three areas: youth support, questions of justice and rights, and developing resilience to crises, including health emergencies. According to organizers, this approach will not only help identify problems but also offer concrete solutions for the urban environment.
The emergence of new research centers on the sites of former urban facilities is becoming a notable trend in Spain. For example, in Madrid, authorities recently had to address the fate of historic tram tracks discovered during street renovations near the Puerta de Alcalá — details about the discovery and the authorities’ response can be found in our report.
