Andorra Launches NODE Urban Impact Fellowship with MIT in Boston

A high-level Andorran delegation travelled to Boston to officially launch the first edition of the NODE Urban Impact Fellowship, a paid one-year programme in collaboration with MIT's City Science Lab.

The initiative, driven by Andorra Recerca + Innovació (AR+I), Andorra Telecom and the MIT lab, targets mainly Andorran nationals and residents enrolled in fields like data science, engineering, urban innovation or related areas. Selected participants will spend 12 months split between Andorra and Boston, starting in September 2026, to study the urban and socioeconomic effects of Andorra Telecom's forthcoming NODE headquarters in central Andorra la Vella. The analysis will cover mobility patterns and pedestrian flows, work commutes, economic activity, urban attractiveness, public space interactions, accessibility, sustainability and urban quality. The aim is to develop measurable indicators, innovative solutions and transferable knowledge to guide Andorra Telecom's decisions and national urban strategies.

NODE will accommodate around 200 professionals while featuring public amenities such as the new Carmen Thyssen Museum headquarters, digital wellbeing areas and two exterior plazas. These elements are expected to reshape local dynamics in one of Andorra la Vella's most connected zones.

The delegation was led by Secretary of State for Business, Economic Diversification and Innovation Marc Saura, alongside AR+I manager Marta Domènech, Andorra Telecom director Jordi Nadal, and Director of Higher Education, Research and Technological Innovation Xavier Campuzano. They met MIT representatives to deepen existing ties, including talks with Media Lab members on educational technology like the LifeLong Kindergarten project, which fosters lifelong learning through play.

The programme forms part of the government's National Plan for Innovation and Economic Diversification and AR+I's Annexa’t initiative to attract, develop, connect and retain local talent. It builds on a partnership announced weeks earlier with Barcelona's Centre for Genomic Regulation.

Applications close on 9 June. Candidates must submit a CV, motivation letter, short video presentation and initial project proposal to recursos-humans@ari.ad. Full details are available on AR+I's website at www.ari.ad. The fellowship offers a full-time paid research contract with mentorship from AR+I, Andorra Telecom and MIT experts. Selection will prioritise country ties, analytical skills, initiative, professional maturity, communication abilities and interest in international, multidisciplinary settings, with added value for programming knowledge and experience in tech or urban projects.

"This continues our rollout of the national plan to drive innovation, create opportunities for young people and retain homegrown talent, while positioning Andorra as a living laboratory for urban innovation with international reach," Saura said.

Domènech added that the programme links young talent to real national challenges, leading global institutions and high-value academic and professional experiences aligned with Andorra's future priorities.