In a move to remain at the forefront of sports technology, Spanish football giants, FC Barcelona, announced their plan to invest in technology startups through their Barcelona Innovation Hub (BIHUB) initiative.

The LaLiga leaders are looking for early-stage companies that share their passion for sports and their values and in exchange for a shareholding in the startups, Barca will provide access to their brand assets.

By investing in technology startups, Barca’s startup portfolio will be cutting-edge, and the club aims to give the companies involved a high-profile platform for growth.

The investment plan marks the latest evolution in BIHUB, which was established in 2017 as an ecosystem of academics, students, startups, and investors that would benefit the club and wider society.

At the Sports Tomorrow Congress, staged at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) event in the Catalan capital, BIHUB announced its first two investments.

The first investment is in accessibility startup, Visualfy, which develops technology to help people with learning disabilities attend sporting events.

The second investment is in wearable data analytics firm Oliver, which focuses on amateur and regional teams.

Barca’s investment plan is viewed as a catalyst for the digital transformation of the club, with connectivity, cybersecurity, big data, and artificial intelligence (AI) among the most pressing priorities.

The club also cited its agreement with the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre as the first step towards building a digital twin of their soon-to-be-renovated Camp Nou stadium.