Apr 29 2008
Just putting an idea in the universe…
Last year I received an email from Google in my gmail account, wich I dont usually read cause I use it as a backup tool. That email was from the recruitment guys who wanted to offer me a post as developer at Google. Looks like some ex-student working for them recommended me and after searching a little (in Google 
) they wanted to put me for a job there. The idea is I should be joining the Zürich office that Google has there.
I refused.
It was a hard one, for some hours, cause I like Google as a company and the way I’ve learned they manage the work there. But right now I’m working as researcher and lecturer in a university I love, and … come on!!! Zürich ?¿?¿? What Id be doing on Switzerland. I’d miss the sunlight, the sea, the food, the people… I’d miss living in Barcelona.
Thinking about it, Barcelona is the favorite destiny of European Students in the Erasmus and Galileo programs (I don’t have the data, but I’m pretty sure ), the IT companies here are full of consultants from the north of Europe who choose to live here… Why?
Because Barcelona is a great place to live and work… So why not to propose to the Google to open a research and development office.
This blog is my way to put this idea on the universe where others can get it and share it and take it where can be, hopefully, useful.
If you wish to participate in this blog, just post a comment and ask me an account.
Ludo (Marc Alier)
Picture CC licensed by Tavallai
Hola! You certainly have my vote!!
I fully understand that there may be times when you want your people to be focused and be surrounded by other professionals such as themselves, and to control, as much as possible, those external stimuli that may impact your people’s life’s in an unexpected and undesired way… and that’s just how I envision Google’s offices in Zurich to be, great talent in the same kitchen, eating up their ideas and dreams, giving, giving, giving… It may also be an economic decision, I actually don’t know.
A Barcelona office may be dangerous in the sense that the weather calls for an outdoor life year round (and everything that this implies…). But this can also be a huge benefit. Barcelona offers a tremendous quality of life, for oneself, for socializing, for families. And the social interactions, diversity, and life excellence can bring about passion, dedication and creativity to what one does.
Definitely, the Barcelona Google Research and Development Office could generate a different breed o applications, solutions, services and even products. People will be stimulated, giving and receiving constantly! It could also be a great location to retain the best employees, to keep them motivated by offering them and their families the best quality of live one can desire, the best colleagues to work with and learn from. It can also offer a University environment so Google employees around the world can breathe the Barcelona air for a period of time while they feed their minds with creative and mind and body learnings and experiences.
And lastly, because there are people such as Ludo and myself that will not consider leaving Barcelona at this point, even for the best of opportunities. I did live abroad for over 12 years but now I’ve settled back, have a family, and not having a car and walking to work, school, the bars, stores and beach is just… pure luxury!
Ludo, I luv your proposal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Eva, you explain it better that I ever could!
[...] in an enlightened comment just gave some reasons that a knowledge based company such as Google should consider: “A [...]
Ludo, the idea is great! but not everything looks well in our town. Barcelona has undesirable things that causes an unconfortable living. Even so could be better than Zurich anyway.
I encorage you to keep moving in this line and you have all my support in this project!
Keep moving, think different
Sure Tomàs! Barcelona is the citty we love to hate and complain about what we do not like… although when we go away we all soon get homesick… Thanks for passing by mate!
Congrats on your kewl idea mate!
I think they would love to come to work and live in our city. They could find a properly place to work at one of the many tech sites we have, like the 22@bcn, the BCN WTC, the Zona Universitària or even the Silicon Vallès! They also could find a properly place to live and, the most important, enjoy our way of life! We have sea, beaches, mountains, parks, Olympic installations, architecture, museums, theaters, shopping streets and malls, convention centers, international events… all inside the city! Day & Night life (real life, not those short northern hours!). Work and live, that’s life, because a great productivity implies a great way of life.
C’mon Google! Come here! : )
Hi there,
I’m a catalan engineer living in Zurich for a few years now, and I’m sorry to tell you guys, but the quality of life here is at least as good as living in Barcelona. Please don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Google opening an office in BCN, but it’s just that reading you I recall a few topics that I had before moving to Switzerland. Barcelona is great but there are many other places that are great too, Zurich being one of them.
It’s true that some winters might be a little bit cold and rainy and foggy compared to Barcelona, but on the other hand you can be skiing in the Alps with just a 1 hour drive. For outdoor activities, there’s plenty to do here (from spring to fall) from trekking, biking, swimming in lakes and rivers, outdoor music festivals, barbecues, etc. Summers here are great, it’s hot but not deadly humid hot like in Barcelona. The public transport actually works here (in fact it works very well) and the air is much cleaner.
From my experience, there’s nothing I really miss from Barcelona, only my family and friends which I go to visit whenever I please (1 and a half hour flight for a fairly cheap fare with a low-cost airline).
In fact I’m not the only one thinking that Zurich has a very good quality of life, check out the 2007 Quality of Living survey:
http://www.mercer.com/referencecontent.jhtml?idContent=1128060#top50all
Zurich is #1 in the world. Barcelona is #41
Ok,
we stand corrected nAn.. Zurich is also cool! I love trekking and skiing, and I have been in Switzerland and I simply love it.
Barcelona has its drawbacks… but hey: – we have got the sea, I can go skiing in two hours time (not same as in the alps … ok) and … man, we have better food and drinks here
Ok, now seriously… Zurich is a lovely place, and so is Barcelona. This is not a competition… and sure not against Zurich!! Just a place to spin an idea. Thanks for passing by!!!
With this post someone will think in the last strella damm advertisements about Barcelona and the Mediterranium.
But the idea is really cool, I’ve made a quick look of the idea in my blog also.
Good luck!
[...] Google para que se venga a la ciudad de Barcelona a instaurar su nueva sede. Para ello ha creado un BLOG, y a ver que pasa. ¿Google se planteara seguir su propuesta? ¿Es todo una perdida de tiempo? Hay [...]
The idea of trying to persuade Google that BCN would be a suitable location for one of their European bases is really appealing. I really don’t see why BCN should not host a Google Office/Lab/DataCenter (why not all three of them?): you already have the infrastructures, the financial and economic fabric, an enthusiastic, energetic and cosmopolitan environment I am sure that there is a lot of great, creative and talented IT professionals in the area. Let alone that it would be also really easy to recruit smart people from abroad as well.
I can only think of it as a win/win situation: a win for the city (perhaps not for the economic revenue, but for sure for the “prestige” that would come from being chosen by Google) and a win for the company, because – being one that is famous for having a high consideration of its employees well-being – they would count on a group of satisfied and happy workers. C’mon… who doesn’t want to have a dream job in one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe? For sure I am among these people daydreaming…
BigG and BCN seem to me they have a lot in common: the genius/rationality and the passion. Great creative mix. I hope that the message gets to Google management’s ears…
I really wish that this thing might happen one day. I wish I could be a part of it. For now you have my unconditioned support. Let’s make some noise together!
¡Mucha suerte!
[...] Nevertheless to say that I’m really excited about this, I will also meet my friend Max Senges who is about to do some research for Google, and maybe I will be able to drop some ideas there. [...]
Hola Ludo,
I really like your proposal, I just went through a few month old article that declares that a Google entity might be opening, in the 22@ district in Poble Nou next to Glories.
Let me know, whether you have that confirmed yet or not.
http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jun2009/id2009068_082298.htm?chan=innovation_special+report+–+research+parks_research+parks
Thanks Ludo and good luck
Thanks for the link Hani. I can’t confirm the existence of a Google office in the 22@ dfistrict of Barcelona. Anyway if this office exists is no more than an administrative delegation, not a research or development center like the one they have zurick’ for example. Or for example like the research lab that Yahoo has in BCN.