To drive AV industry engagement in Barcelona and Catalonia throughout the year: The new ISE Foundation aims at impact beyond the four days of the yearly ISE trade show.
Barcelona: ISE launches ISE Foundation
Integrated Systems Events – organizer of the ISE trade show – has announced the launch of the ISE Foundation, an industry-led initiative aimed at creating lasting benefits for the AV and systems integration ecosystem. Beyond the annual trade show, the Foundation will enable year-round programmes that connect industry professionals, support emerging startups, and strengthen local community initiatives in Barcelona and Catalonia.
The Foundation ist established alongside the ISE co-owners, Avixa and Cedia, supported by the Barcelona City Council and the Government of Catalonia. The goal is to create a formal structure to extend ISE’s contribution to the industry beyond the four days of the annual exhibition.
Based on three pillars
The overall work of the ISE Foundation is centered around three pillars. The first one is talent development, aiming to address skill shortages through scalable initiatives. Its ‘Training the Trainers’ programme equips educators with industry-aligned AV competencies using curricula developed by Avixa and Cedia.
Last year already saw a successful Avixa pilot in Catalonia. Now, the foundation wants to significantly expand its efforts, with plans to partner with up to 150 institutions. Furthermore, there are complementary initiatives planned, including AV Career Days and the introduction of industry-aligned vocational pathways from 2027.
The second pillar: “Innovation”, is building on the momentum of Innovation Park at ISE 2026, which hosted 130 startups. The Foundation will provide greater continuity and post-event support for emerging companies – through structured mentorship, investor engagement and access to industry networks. The objective is to actively nurture technologies that will shape the next phase of market development.
The Foundation’s third pillar centers on social responsibility, including cooperations with organisations like Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Associació Cívica La Nau and Fundació Joan Miró, as well as projects connected to Casa Batlló. These partnerships aim to translate the capabilities of the AV sector into measurable impact across healthcare, education, and cultural engagement.
Further details will be shared in the next months, according to ISE. To gain some background information, invidis talked to Mike Blackman, Managing Director of ISE, about the foundation’s work.
