Eibar is taking a new step to strengthen its industrial heritage and its capacity to face future challenges by establishing an urban laboratory in the Matxaria industrial park. This project, funded by the Red Innpulso network, aims to transform the area into an experimentation center for new industrial technologies under real-world conditions.

The initiative seeks to make the industrial environment of the Matxaria polygon a benchmark for advanced industry, technological experimentation, and the modernization of production spaces. The urban laboratory concept will allow companies, entrepreneurs, and innovative organizations to test technological solutions before large-scale implementation.

This pilot project will enable the testing of initiatives such as artificial intelligence for optimizing energy consumption, sensors for monitoring air quality, circular economy solutions among companies, and digital twins for industrial management. Mayor Jon Iraola emphasized that this project is «a unique strategic opportunity» to strengthen Eibar's industrial identity and adapt to future challenges.

Reasons for choosing Matxaria include its historical and industrial importance, the availability of usable pavilions, and the public investment planned for the park's regeneration. Furthermore, the Councilor for Economic Development, Employment, and Innovation, Vanesa Hortas, explained that creating a legal and technical framework to safely develop experimentation processes with guarantees will be crucial.

The demolition of the old ABC pavilions could mark the starting point for a broader transformation of Matxaria. The City Council aims to resolve historical issues of accessibility, mobility, and organization in this key industrial area. To this end, on December 30th, they signed an option-to-purchase agreement for the former premises of the ABC company, with the intention of proceeding with area improvements and offering new uses.