Traditional models of sports facilities have proven to be insufficiently prepared to address sustainability challenges. On the other hand, rising energy costs and weather conditions causing increasing water scarcity further complicate the situation. Furthermore, most sports facilities in Europe were built before 1990, without considering energy efficiency criteria. For all these reasons, a transformative change towards sustainable management practices is essential.
INDESCAT, the Catalan cluster of the sports industry, which knows the fundamental role of sports facilities in the well-being and development of society, participates in the ESMIS project (Enhance Sustainable Measures in Sports Facilities), which aims to transform those facilities in totally sustainable structures.
Within the framework of the project, INDESCAT is responsible for promoting and developing guidelines for the success of sustainable sports facilities, the promotion and dissemination of these facilities and the assessment of the viability of the European Network of Sustainable Sports Facilities.
INDESCAT, through the "Energy efficiency in sports facilities" working group, has already begun to define what the necessary steps should be to achieve the energy transition in the field of the sports industry. One of them is the exchange of good practices and innovative solutions with other countries. These learnings will serve as inspiration to optimize the use of energy thanks to the reduction of its consumption and costs, so that they can be applied in sports centres throughout Catalonia. On the other hand, we will work with the firm purpose of collecting and monitoring indicators that allow us to know the costs associated with the consumption of water and energy resources, as well as other evaluative parameters. The objective of this monitoring is to obtain real and verifiable data, accessible to all centres, which can be used as a reference to monitor their evolution and to compare with other sports facilities.
All these actions must serve not only to achieve more efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly facilities, but must also improve user perception. With a sustainable approach, in addition to reducing operating costs, customer satisfaction and loyalty are also improved. Furthermore, added to effective communication, it contributes to user engagement and improves the reputation of organizations.
The ESMIS project
The ESMIS project will leverage cross-sector collaborations, knowledge sharing and policy interventions to achieve defined challenges in order to lead a paradigm shift. By disseminating critical knowledge and lessons learned, the project aims to enhance informed decision-making and the implementation of best practices across Europe, while fostering a more sustainable and resilient sports sector that aligns with economic, social and environmental.
The project, which has a total budget of almost 400.000 euros, is led by the Sports and Technology Cluster of the Netherlands, and involves, in addition to INDESCAT, the European Platform for Sport Innovation (EPSI), the sports entities Olympiacos SFP and Sport Ireland, and the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM).
The launch of this European project was held on March 4 and 5 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. In the initial sessions, the concept of innovation in sports facilities was delved into and the foundations were laid for a future where sustainability occupies a central place in the world of sports.
The Grass-Twin project offers an innovative solution based on functional printing and smart monitoring for the maintenance of sports surfaces.
Grass-Twin is an industrial research project launched with the aim of addressing a common challenge in the management of sports surfaces—whether natural, hybrid, or artificial turf: the lack of advanced technological solutions for efficient and tailored maintenance.
This Wednesday, July 9, INDESCAT and the AMBIT cluster held a key session at the Eurofitness Perill sports center, where we presented the first results of the project “LIVINGLAB-FIT: Reinventing fitness spaces.” This is an initiative driven and led by both clusters with the support of ACCIÓ, as part of the competitiveness support program. The project, a pioneer in its field, aims to respond to the need of companies in the sector to redesign sports spaces to make them more attractive, inclusive, and efficient, taking into account the diverse profiles of the centers' users.
30 June 2025
Thanks to the European I3-INSHAPE initiative, INDESCAT, the sports industry cluster, has secured direct grants for Catalan companies amounting to more than €570,000. In the first phase, €329,240 was awarded to Onalabs, Eurofitness, Sevenmila, Berrly, and Tot per l’Esport — all members of INDESCAT. In a second phase, nine interregional collaborative projects involving innovative SMEs from various EU regions — including Catalonia — received a total of €244,000 in direct funding for eight Catalan companies: Barcelona Zero Limits, Factual Consulting, Improfit, MyPlay, Neorg, North 3, Placenet, and Rockfit, four of which are cluster members. All of these projects focus on innovative solutions in the fields of sport, technology, and healthy lifestyles.
30 June 2025
In a context shaped by digital transformation, demographic shifts, and a constantly evolving sports industry, the training of future professionals requires educational models adapted to today’s realities. Escola Vitae emerges as an innovative proposal within the educational sector, offering programs focused on a direct connection with the job market and the challenges of the future.
We speak with Roger Saladich, Co-CEO of Vitae, a school specialized in the fields of sports and health, which has been offering official and in-house qualifications for over fifteen years through an immersive pedagogical approach. We explore the origins of the initiative, how they integrate technology and personal competencies into their programs, and the steps they are taking to establish themselves as a leading institution in shaping the next generation of professionals in the sector.
The opening event of INDESCAT’s 15th anniversary celebration, the sports industry cluster in Catalonia, brought together members, former and current board representatives, institutional figures, and other key players from the Catalan sports sector on June 19 at the Joan Miró Foundation.
The event featured a review of the cluster’s history, the unveiling of a commemorative illustration, the presentation of special recognitions, and an interactive session led by Emogg. The celebration concluded with a cocktail reception, offering industry professionals the chance to network and foster synergies.
Prior to the celebration, INDESCAT held its Annual General Assembly, during which members reviewed the activities and budget from the past period, and future plans and forecasts for the cluster were presented.
6 June 2025
The Best Practices in Healthy Companies Conference was successfully held this Friday, June 6th, at the Tabaris Building in Coma-ruga (El Vendrell). The event was organized by the Associació Corporativa Empresa Saludable (ACES) with the collaboration of various key local stakeholders, including the Ajuntament del Vendrell, Ranking Games, Umivale Activa, FCC Medi Ambient, and the INDESCAT cluster itself.
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