So my testimonial is not relevant for that reason, but I know a lot of guys that have moved their companies or part of their companies to Barcelona, and for sure they weren’t 30 minutes away from their home. I will try to update this initiative almost every week and through this testimonials I’d like to demonstrate that the combination of Barcelona+Google is the best bet to attract what I think Google really wants from the European Marketplace: Talent.

Here you have a video about the research group that Yahoo! have in Barcelona

I am trying to remember, without success, the name of the spanish business woman who once said “Spain is the European Florida but we would like to become California”, Inspirational, good idea, nice sentence, but don’t stand still , Let’s go for it!!!

Looks like this idea is spreading. Hey, nothing spectacular to show inan eyeball but definitivelly some blogs are talking about this iniciative. I just want to cite them to thank the courtesy.

Wolffan,  Jorge Fernandez, No-va-sexo (see picture above),  and last but not least the Blog and Podcast Mossegalapoma.cat (where I have a litle involvenment ;-).

Thanks guys

Ludo

They have refered to our blog pointing out some smart problems that I will need to work out. Thanks guys and Good Luck!

Ludo

Few years ago I got my Diploma in Computer Software at FIB - UPC and now I about to get a Degree in Informatics Engineering. Last two years I’ve been working at university on the command of Ludo as a developer and researcher. I like to research, investigate and innovate with our software. I love to participate in this kind of projects, as a developer, as an analyst or as a designer.

At this moment, at Spain, the major part of the software companies are IT consultants. I don’t want to work in this kind of companies, don’t want to jump from project to project. When I start a new line of development I’m always very involved in it, I like to watch my applications grow and improve.

For all this reasons, several people that studied with me is staying at our Faculty, working at research groups and developing open source software. For instance, Juli is working at Computer Architecture Department and contributing to NetBSD project. Joan, with some friends, won a Business Ideas Contest and created his own company, Dexma Sensors. Jordi is the second classic adventure games fan in the world (I’m the first ) and he is contributing to ScummVM project to add compatibility with mythical Sierra games (King’s Quests, Larrys, etc).

These are only three examples of people here in Barcelona that are doing great things. There are much more!!!

Marc said in his first post the following sentence:

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…

I’m able to add more people to the group that has chosen Barcelona. Few day ago I was listening the radio and I heard the news that Barcelona is the city of Spain with more conferences every year, more than Madrid or Valencia. Since the CCIB (Centre de Convencions Internacional de Barcelona) opened the number of conventions has risen very fast. You have to wait more than a year to reserve a conference room.

This is another fact to take into account. Barcelona is becoming a center of research and knowledge and Google must be here!

(SPAM: You can find a copy of this post and more thing at my blog)

Some may say, OK Ludo, the idea is ok. But why Barcelona would benefit from having a few hundreds of Google engineers working in a building. Thinking about impact would not be better to have a new automobile factory around ? SEAT-VolskWagen or Nissan or GM that’s big boy! Lots of goods coming in an out of Barcelona’s harbor thousands of new jobs in direct employment and working in small companies that supply the BIG factory!

Yeah, ok. That’s cool and we had plenty of that here. And plenty of trouble when some company wants to take the production of a van to an East European country, or another place in the world… Then what will remain ? Unemployeds, empty buildings and lots of small companies simply broke. So … if they come (big industries…) they are welcome, but I also want Google (and any other knowledge based company) to come here.

Because what would bring here Google is guys with brains, illusion and passion about doing something that matters. About changing the world for the better and, also, earn some money in the process. People who would be around, taking coffee with our students, researchers and entrepreneurs. Showing them is that possible and that they also can. Not that they can be Google’s employees - nothing is impossible though - but that they can be part of the knowledge society and economy.

And if they leave some day…. we will keep the knowledge and the attitude.

(Image CC Lisenced by stijnbokhove)

ps.And let’s not forget that others are already here (Yahoo, Intel, IBM …. )

The link is the tool that the PageRank algorithm uses to guess meaning in the crazyness of the web. The link is what helped to build Google as is now. Linking and linking back is like joining hands and make meaning of something, together. One of the symbols of Barcelona and Catalonia is the way we (used to) dance… joining hands. The dance’s name is Sardana.

Some friends and guys who I don’t know personally (yet) are speaking about this crazy idea, they link here and thus we know about it. I’m returning the interest and the courtesy by linking to them in the Blogroll…. Just like if we joined hands in a Sardana…

Another Barcelona’s specialty.

Ludo

(Image CC lisenced by by gorgeoux)

Eva in an enlightened comment just gave some reasons that a knowledge based company such as Google should consider:

“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!”

Well, considering that Google has offices in California with a “Mediterranean like” weather I don’t think that sunny days may be an inconvinient

Thanks Eva!

Ludo

(Photo CC licensed by Mòni)

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