Bank of Spain inaugurates DELTA applied technologies lab in Barcelona with a focus on artificial intelligence

The Bank of Spain has inaugurated the Department of Experimentation and Applied Technologies Laboratory (DELTA) in Barcelona, creating a dedicated unit to test and scale emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, for use in its central banking and public service functions. DELTA is intended to develop practical solutions that improve the Bank’s economic analysis, internal processes, financial supervision and the information it provides to citizens, firms and policymakers. The unit is designed as an internal hub across Bank departments and as a platform for external collaboration with public institutions, academia, research centres and the technology ecosystem, with the governor citing an agreement with the BSC, the launch of a call for industrial PhDs linked to DELTA research projects, and joint projects with other central banks, with further collaboration with entities in the financial system planned. The Bank framed responsible deployment as central to DELTA’s work, highlighting considerations including transparency, explainability, bias, data protection, security and accountability. Alongside DELTA’s launch, the Bank announced an agreement with the Generalitat of Catalonia for the acquisition of part of its Plaza de Cataluña building for new public uses, and the signing of a general protocol with the Generalitat to promote financial education in the education system, including sharing Bank-produced materials, supporting teacher training and evaluating the impact of the initiatives.