Health & Life Sciences
in Catalonia

Catalonia, one of Southern Europe’s most dynamic business environments, is progressively and proactively earning its place as a global hub for life sciences and healthcare innovation.

With a vigorous ecosystem of over 1,500 companies, world-class infrastructure, and a progressive policy environment, Catalonia offers unmatched opportunities for international investors and businesses seeking growth in this sector. And growth there is, with 78 investment organizations and 369 startups in the health tech sector, which represents 16% of the total 2,285 startups in Catalonia.

A powerful economic engine for Catalonia

The life sciences sector is a cornerstone of the Catalan economy, contributing 7.6% to the region's GDP (including healthcare services), and representing 7.3% of the working population, a workforce of 75,379 people, and a turnover of 25.50 billion euros. Catalonia has historically accounted for over 50% of the Spanish pharmaceutical industry, making it a robust sector. This includes the digital health sector and medtech, which is currently the leading area for fundraising, attracting more than 170 million euros.  Investment in biotechnology firms in Catalonia increased from €114 million in 2023 to €143 million in 2024, indicating a positive trend in the sector's financial performance. 

Foreign direct investment (FDI) underscores the region’s international appeal. Between 2020 and 2024, Catalonia attracted €2.28 billion in life sciences FDI—nearly 54% of Spain’s total—creating over 6,050 jobs. This influx underscores Catalonia’s business-friendly environment and its reputation as a global hub for innovation.
 

Barcelona-Catalonia, a leading innovation hub

Innovation needs the right conditions, and Spain’s solid healthcare system, together with high-level scientific facilities, highly qualified professionals, favorable regulations, and growing recruitment of subjects, all enhance the attractiveness of its pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, Catalonia ranks internationally in 5th place in Europe and 8th in the world in terms of active clinical trials, engaging with 87.2% of the clinical trials performed in Spain, clearly standing out as the leading region in Spain in this respect.

Catalonia is also the 3rd European Region as regards publications in advanced therapies, as well as the 3rd-ranked region in ‘Highly Cited Papers’ patent publications in Europe, and 1st in Spain. Leading facilities, like the Biomedical Research Park and the Center for Genomic Regulation, have contributed to placing Catalonia at the forefront of biomedical innovation.

Catalonia’s world-class research infrastructure, featuring over 50 specialized life sciences centers, has propelled the region to the forefront of global healthcare innovation. These institutions, coupled with top-ranked universities such as the University of Barcelona, make Catalonia a magnet for scientific talent and advanced R&D activities.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly gaining ground in Catalonia’s BioRegion, with 168 AI tools currently registered by 73 entities, and 58% already in advanced stages of development or deployment. The most common applications are in radiology, oncology, and family medicine. Notably, 83% of these AI solutions are designed for use in hospital settings, highlighting their relevance for real-world care. Public-private collaboration also plays a key role, with 44% of partnerships actively involved in the deployment of AI technologies across the healthcare system.