FC Barcelona and Georgetown University sign collaboration agreement

FC Barcelona and Georgetown University (Washington DC) have reached an agreement to explore possible avenues of cooperation within the framework of the Barça Innovation Hub.

The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Jordi Monés, club director and commissioner of the Barça Innovation Hub, and Kelly Otter, Dean of Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies, which is home to the master's in Sports Industry Management program. The collaboration between Barça and Georgetown University seeks to enter in the development of mutual programmes regarding football and leadership, professional education and research in the field of sports management, among others areas.

As a first initiative of this agreement, FC Barcelona will take advantage of its stop in Washington, on 25 and 26 July, during the first team’s summer US tour in order to carry out a first cycle of lectures on subjects such as innovation in sport, analytics in sport and women’s football.

After the signing of the cooperation agreement, Dr. Jordi Monés was able to visit the facilities of Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies accompanied by the Dean and other heads of the institution, such as professor Daniel Kelly, assistant dean Kelly Leahey, director of the Sports Industry Management programme Andrew Hirsch, and programme coordinator Tamika Battle.

What is the Barça Innovation Hub?

Barça Innovation Hub aims to become the world’s number one sports centre of knowledge and innovation in the sports industry to create value for the Club and society in general. It is the project which allows the Club to innovate, generate, attract, manage and share knowledge, both internally and externally, through collaborations with universities, prestigious brands, research centres, startups and entrepreneurs around the world. With this project, Barça seeks to contribute in transforming the world through sporting excellence using knowledge and innovation.

Statements from Dr. Jordi Monés, Barça Innovation Hub commissioner

“It is with great pride that FC Barcelona and the prestigious Georgetown University have reached this collaboration agreement in order to work together within the framework of the Barça Innovation Hub. This will allow FC Barcelona, during the first team’s summer US tour, to be present at the University to have a round-table discussion about our innovation project."