In an increasingly digital world, public administration faces the challenge of adapting to new technology to offer more accessible, efficient services. Yet many citizens still find it hard to reach the information and public services available online. That's the context in which Cercat was born, an innovative project built by a group of young Catalan founders aiming to overhaul access to public information in Catalonia.
Cercat: transparency and simplicity for citizens
Cercat sets out to create a single digital window where citizens can look up all the public information published across the Catalan government's portals. What sets it apart is its ability to centralise scattered information and present it accessibly and intuitively for any user, whatever their level of technical knowledge.
Driven by Pau Riba, Marc Celeiro, Roger Bach and Humbert Blanco, the project uses natural language processing so people can interact with the platform as easily as having a conversation. That means anyone can ask things like:
- "What do I need to apply for a grant?"
- "How do I renew my ID card?"
- "What paperwork do I need to register as self-employed?"
Questions that would normally mean working through several websites or wrestling with complex forms are answered in seconds thanks to Cercat's AI. The platform gives clear answers matched to each person's situation.
A young team with talent and technical vision
Cercat isn't just a bright technical idea; it's an example of how young talent can transform the public sector. Its creators are young professionals with a shared goal: using technology to improve how citizens interact with public services.
- Pau Riba, 22, founder of Nuvol.cat, says Cercat was born out of a desire to remove the technical barriers that make public information hard to reach. His aim is that anyone can use the platform, whatever their technical background.
- Marc Celeiro and Roger Bach, both 23, lead New Spirit Studio. Marc highlights that the project aims to simplify access to public information and make the process faster for everyone.
- Humbert Blanco, 26, behind Estic.online, brings his experience in digital solutions for public administration. In his view, Cercat could radically change how citizens deal with government, giving them agency and making everyday paperwork easier.
The team shares a clear vision: build a tool that is inclusive, useful and accessible, combining simplicity with efficiency.
GovTech Catalunya: recognising young talent
Cercat was picked as one of three finalists in GovTech Catalunya, a competition run by the Catalan government to promote technological innovation in the public sector. In the challenge "The window to the information you want, the way you want it", Cercat stood out for its potential to transform access to public services.
If Cercat wins the next stage, the team gets a budget of 41,000 euros to build a pilot that validates the idea in real life. That could be the first step towards wider adoption across other public administrations.
A track record of innovation
The team behind Cercat is no stranger to socially useful innovation. In 2020, Blanco, Celeiro and Riba won Hackovid, run by the Catalan government and the i2CAT Foundation with the support of Mobile World Capital Barcelona. There they presented Ajudem.cat, a neighbour-to-neighbour volunteering platform that made exchanging help safe and accessible. That win set the tone for the spirit behind Cercat.
Their earlier work shows they can build technology that is not only innovative but functional, and aimed at real problems people actually have.
What's next for Cercat
Cercat is currently a prototype, but being a GovTech Catalunya finalist validates its potential as a key tool for improving the relationship between citizens and government. Its creators are convinced that Cercat can become a reference point in public sector digital transformation, removing technical barriers and making public information faster to reach.
If it gets built, it could serve as a model for other public administrations, in Catalonia and beyond. Cercat's impact isn't limited to simplifying paperwork; it also promotes greater transparency, inclusion and trust in institutions.
In short
Cercat isn't just a smart idea for improving access to public information; it's a vision of how technology can bring government closer to people, inclusively and efficiently. With advanced technology, a young, capable team and recognition in serious competitions, Cercat has the potential to mark a before and after in how citizens deal with the public sector.