Embodying Sabadell's textile traditions, the Institute bears the name of one of the city's most illustrious personalities. An important figure in the Sabadell economic and business world, Joan Sallarčs i Pla was also a parliamentary deputy and chairman of Fomento del Trabajo and of Cámara de Comercio, Industria y Navegación de Barcelona.

Since its origins, the institute's objective has been to help prepare the new generations called on to manage family textile enterprises. In its early days, the institute's main activities lay in providing technical training courses related to the world of textiles, the economy and social aspects, as well as in organising talks and debates featuring leading personalities.

The institute, whose members can remain so up to the age of 40, is an essential tool for the working of the Gremi de Fabricats itself, as it prepares many of the organisation's future officials.

Today, the institute's objectives continue unchanged, though adapted to changing circumstances and times, and focusing on training young business people in socio-economic and cultural subjects as a complement to their specific education.

As a result of agreements with the Federación Textil Sedera and the Federación Nacional de Acabadores, Estampadores y Tintoreros Textiles, young business people from these organisations are also members of the institute.

The Institut Sallarčs i Pla regularly organises such activities as courses, information sessions, lectures, talks, trips, company visits, meetings with international organisations for young business people to exchange information and experiences, publications, etc.

The guests at our dinner talks are all outstanding personalities, from Jordi Pujol to Fabiŕ Estapé and from Javier Mariscal to the president of Greenpeace, Carles Ferrer Salat and Joan Rossell.

The work carried out by the Institut Sallarčs i Pla has always enjoyed enormous projection both nationally and internationally, and it has served as a model and stimulus for the establishment of similar institutions in other countries where they did not exist.

The Institut Sallarčs i Pla promoted the establishment of the Escuela Textil de Artes y Oficios, has carried out several studies of issues of civic concern and of interest to the local wool industry and, in response to the lack of documentation at the time, cooperated with the production of the book "Introducción a la indústrial textil lanera" ("Introduction to the Wool Textile Industry").

This broad vision enables the institute to look back over its 50-year history with pride and to the future with confidence. Proof of its ongoing validity are the many former members who now hold important posts within companies and/or local, national or international organisations.