On June 17th, the headquarters of the ARAPDIS Association hosted an important institutional and technical working session aimed at presenting and co-developing the project for the future Observatory for Innovation and Quality of Life (OIQU). Subtitled “Incubator for the promotion of training, entrepreneurship, and professional and social life”, the OIQU is designed as a pioneering, accessible, and community-centered facility in the city of Barcelona.

The meeting served as an open forum for dialogue and consensus among public, social, and economic stakeholders, validating the strength, viability, and high social impact of this initiative. The event was led by the organization’s executive board: Dr. Ramón Blasi (President of ARAPDIS), Roser Vega (Vice-President of Care Coordination), Raquel Yáñez (Vice-President of Economic Coordination), and Vicenç López (Vice-President of Institutional Coordination).

The session brought together key leaders and technical experts from the employment, Mental Health, and disability sectors:

  • Isabel Rozey Arranz, Technician at the Subsection for Employability Improvement and Productive Economy of the Barcelona Provincial Council (Diputació de Barcelona).

  • Dolors García Martínez, Director of Inserta Empleo Catalunya.

  • Marta Obdulia, General Manager of the Municipal Institute for People with Disabilities (IMPD) of the Barcelona City Council.

  • Àlex Lobaco I Cap, Sub-director of Training Programs at the Consortium for Continuous Training of Catalonia (Ministry of Business and Labour, Generalitat de Catalunya).

  • Oriol Valls, representing the National Pact for Mental Health (Ministry of the Presidency, Generalitat de Catalunya).

  • Francisco Villegas, President of AMMFEINA Salut Mental Catalunya.

  • Leandro Tacons, Coordinator of AMMFEINA Salut Mental Catalunya.

  • Patricia Sarrias, Technician at the Department of Promotion and Support of the IMD, District of Gràcia (Barcelona City Council).

  • Bibiana Barnadas, Director at SOM VIA Consultoria.

A Paradigm Shift in Social and Labour Integration The OIQU Observatory directly addresses the urgent need to reshape current support models, firmly focusing on integration into the mainstream job market, specialized training adapted to modern technologies, and the promotion of inclusive entrepreneurship. Through personalized guidance, business incubation, mentoring, coworking spaces, and modern AI literacy programs, the OIQU will support hundreds of beneficiaries annually in reaching their full potential and personal autonomy.

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the attending institutions and organizations for their strong commitment and shared vision in building the future of the OIQU project.