Catalonia ranked among most competitive health innovation hubs in Europe

The indicators from the recently published 2024 BioRegion of Catalonia Report reveal a sector that is firmly established as one of the main drivers of innovation and economic and social development in Catalonia. In this regard, the region is one of the most competitive health innovation hubs in Europe. This is primarily due to growth in exports, increased foreign investment, a rise in scientific publications and greater participation in clinical trials.

The report highlights that the life sciences and healthcare ecosystem accounts for 7.6% of Catalonia’s GDP and comprises more than 1,500 companies, 90% of which are SMEs. In terms of employment, the sector provides jobs for over 280,000 people (7.3% of the employed population) and continues to grow, driven by the steady flow of new international innovation centres and major multinational companies, particularly in the Barcelona metropolitan area, which has welcomed 23 new innovation hubs in recent years.

Additionally, 2024 marked a record year for foreign direct investment, totalling nearly €550 million and creating almost 1,700 new jobs. In this context, Catalan health start-ups and scale-ups secured a total of €347 million in 2024, the second-highest figure ever. Notably, 112 health start-ups and scale-ups are actively working on applications for artificial intelligence (AI).

Catalonia is among the top 10 regions worldwide in terms of participation in clinical trials, ranking fifth in Europe. Globally, Catalonia holds the eighth position, while in Europe, it ranks fifth in number of clinical trials involving Catalan research centres.

The BioRegion of Catalonia Report, published by Biocat since 2009, has become the most comprehensive and robust analysis of the assets, achievements and trends in Catalonia’s life sciences and healthcare sector within an international context.