Real Madrid and Community of Madrid Sign Collaboration Agreement to Develop the ‘Madrid Innovation District’.

Roger Hampel

Image: Real Madrid

Real Madrid and the Community of Madrid have signed a formal collaboration protocol to create the Madrid Innovation District (MID), a large-scale technological and economic development zone to be built on 85 of the 120 hectares surrounding Ciudad Real Madrid. The project is designed as a multi-stakeholder hub where companies, research institutions, sports organisations, entrepreneurs and citizens will coexist, forming one of the region’s largest innovation ecosystems.

According to economic modelling conducted by PwC, the initiative is projected to generate €1.2 billion annually for the regional GDP and create more than 23,000 permanent jobs once fully operational. Construction alone is expected to involve €1.3 billion in investment and support approximately 4,700 jobs.

A Strategic Alliance Between a Football Institution and Regional Government

The protocol was signed at Ciudad Real Madrid in the presence of:

• Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid Director of Institutional Relations

• Miguel López-Valverde, Regional Minister for Digitalisation

• Miguel Garrido, President of the Madrid Business Confederation

The agreement strengthens cooperation between the club and public institutions, framing Real Madrid not only as a sporting entity but as an anchor organisation within Madrid’s technological and economic development strategy.

A Multi-Sector Innovation Zone Focused on Technology and Talent

The Madrid Innovation District is conceived as a long-term development hub with space dedicated to:

• research and development centres,

• technology and data-driven organisations,

• digital skills training and educational institutions,

• companies operating in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, analytics and emerging tech,

• innovation programmes connected to sport, health and performance.

The aim is to establish a hybrid district combining public and private innovation, with Real Madrid acting as a key land-holder and institutional partner. MID’s scale positions it among the most ambitious innovation-led urban developments in European sport, linking a high-visibility brand with regional industrial modernisation objectives.

Economic Impact: A New Technology Cluster for Madrid Real Madrid

PwC’s report outlines substantial economic projections:

• €1.2 billion in annual GDP contribution once the district becomes fully operational

• 23,000 long-term jobs in technology, research, services and operations

• €1.3 billion investment associated with construction

• 4,700 jobs during the building phase

Such projections underline the project’s positioning as a regional economic driver rather than a Real Madrid-specific asset. MID is also intended to strengthen Madrid’s competitiveness as a European centre for digital talent, innovation and tech-driven industry, putting the city in direct comparison with other major EU innovation districts.

Image: Real Madrid

A Growing Trend: Elite Football Clubs as Urban Development Stakeholders

Real Madrid’s involvement in MID follows the increasing integration of football institutions into urban development, real-estate holdings and long-term infrastructure projects.Across Europe, several clubs — including Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Juventus — have expanded roles in city-level development linked to stadium infrastructure, performance centres and digital innovation zones.

The MID project goes further, positioning Real Madrid as a strategic partner in a region-wide innovation district with economic outputs far beyond football. By opening land within the Ciudad Real Madrid area, the club is leveraging its physical assets to participate in long-term city planning and economic development.

Next Steps and Long-Term Vision

Both Real Madrid and the Community of Madrid will cooperate to attract:

• technology companies,

• research centres,

• educational institutions,

• digital-skills training entities,

• and public-private innovation programmes.

The district is expected to serve as a hub for AI, big data, digital transformation and applied research, with strong links to both sports performance and broader technological sectors.

The project forms part of Madrid’s wider digitalisation strategy, while for Real Madrid it represents a major diversification move reinforcing the club’s growing identity as a global entertainment, technology and infrastructure stakeholder—not only a football organisation.