[1] In 2002, it was named "Medialab Madrid", a space focused on the research, production and dissemination of cultural works around society, science, art and digital technologies.

[11] In 2014, the City Council considered renting the building to the Telefónica corporation, in order to host innovation hub initiatives such as Wayra.

[12] A manifest signed by a list of renowned names (such as Javier de la Cueva or Antonio Lafuente) supporting the center was published, and eventually the building remained for the sole use of MLP.

[40] Medialab Matadero has hosted multiple talks of renowned names, including major academics such as Nancy Fraser,[41] Yochai Benkler,[42] or Langdon Winner,[43] or politicians such as EU Commissioner Karmenu Vella.

[51] Others claim they "enable the creation of new and highly constructive new communities of concern around difficult topics, as well as building legitimacy for bold experimental approaches",[52] that they are "reinventing mediation patterns" (Phys.org),[53] turning Madrid into "an international reference of the urban commons" (openDemocracy),[28] the most relevant Spanish citizen lab (El Mundo),[54] "emerging institutions at the intersection of art and technology" (TechCrunch).