We regret to inform the community and friends of Citilab that our managing director, Vicenç Badenes, passed away yesterday. It is a very sad moment for this center, which came to light in 2007 thanks to his effort and commitment.

Vicenç Badenes was born in 1957 in Cornellà. He pursued a degree in journalism and work as a city counsilor for Cornellà during 15 years with the Catalonia's Socialist Party, occupying the departments of Education, Culture, Knowledgde Society and Citizen Relations.

He promoted and encouraged the democratization of new technologies as a social development tool. In 1997 he started, with the help of some colleagues, to think about opening a center in Cornellà that applied this idea. Once they found a suitable space, a 19th Century old textile factory now converted into a 21st Century knowledge factory, Citilab became a reality.

As of these days, Badenes combined Citilab's duties with the presidency of Cornellà Solidari, a NGO working on development projects in third world countries.