Symrise has inaugurated its first global Data & AI Hub in Barcelona, marking a significant step in the company’s digital transformation. The new center serves as a dedicated platform for developing data-driven solutions that enhance innovation across multiple customer industries, including food, beverages, nutrition, pet food, fragrances, personal and household care.
The initiative begins with approximately 25 postgraduates enrolled in a structured 12-month program that combines training and practical project work. This model establishes the foundation for long-term in-house capabilities in data and artificial intelligence.
Barcelona was chosen for its strong academic institutions, rich talent pool, and vibrant technology ecosystem. With its established Symrise presence and international connectivity, the city offers an environment that supports both creativity and scalability. The hub provides facilities for designing concepts, building prototypes, and turning them into market-ready digital solutions that deliver measurable value to customers.
The hub’s activities concentrate on six key business areas: finance, research and development, procurement, supply chain, consumer insights, and sustainability. By applying data and AI tools in these areas, Symrise aims to help its customers respond more quickly to consumer demands, optimize product development, and strengthen supply chain resilience. This approach supports shorter innovation cycles, greater transparency, and improved efficiency in highly competitive markets.
Eliza Millet, Chief Digital & Information Officer at Symrise, described the hub as “an in-house center for innovation, collaboration, and transformation,” highlighting its role in accelerating product development and operational efficiency. Nick Russel, Chief Transformation Officer, emphasized that digitalization opens “new ways to approach challenges creatively and deliver value.”
The hub’s graduate program attracts participants from fields such as computer science, physics, and bioinformatics. By combining strong analytical skills with hands-on experience, these graduates contribute to real-world projects under the guidance of experienced mentors. The program ensures a pipeline of digital expertise that supports Symrise’s long-term innovation strategy.
The hub also connects with Barcelona’s broader innovation ecosystem. Symrise collaborates with the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, engages in recruitment initiatives, and partners with leading technology companies such as Microsoft. Planned events and meetups will further integrate the hub into the local tech scene.
On the technological side, the hub leverages Symrise’s existing platforms: the Atl@s Lakehouse built on Databricks for analytics, UiPath for automation, and Mendix for rapid application development. This infrastructure enables fast prototyping and smooth scaling of solutions.
The Barcelona hub serves as a blueprint for future facilities worldwide, reinforcing Symrise’s commitment to digital transformation as a driver of customer-focused growth. With the launch of the BCN Hub, the company strengthens its global presence and sets the course for its next chapter in innovation.
