Foreign investment in Catalonia hits record high, surpassing €1 billion

Foreign investment in Catalonia in 2024 reached record levels, exceeding1 billion, with an employment impact of over 8,000 jobs, both newly created and retained. The Catalan Government, through ACCIÓ, the Agency for Business Competitiveness under the Catalan Ministry of Business and Labour, recently announced that €1.051 billion of foreign investment had been attracted, up 19% from the previous year and the highest figure ever recorded.

This figure corresponds to 106 investment projects by foreign companies, which led to the creation of nearly 5,000 new jobs — up 10% from 2023 — and the retention of over 3,200 more jobs. Altogether, the total number of jobs created and retained is the highest on record and represents a 44% increase over last year. Notably, more than half the total projects attracted are directly linked to the digital and green transitions.

It is worth noting that 64% of the foreign investment attracted was industrial and technological. Specifically, 37% of the projects are in the manufacturing industry and 27% in the technology arena. In terms of sectors, ICT and electronics stand out (22% of the total), followed by automotive (14%), chemicals (11%), food (7%) and video games (7%). As for the origin of the investments, most projects came from Germany (11%), United States (9%), France (9%) and China (7%).

Through ACCIÓ–Catalonia Trade & Investment, foreign companies receive guidance to make it easier for new multinationals to invest in Catalonia. In this regard, a total of €3.641 billion has been invested over the past five years, with nearly 28,000 jobs created and retained in this period thanks to multinational investments in Catalonia, up 9% from the previous five-year period.

 

Microsoft opens new digital sales hub in Barcelona to serve European businesses

Microsoft opened a digital sales hub in Barcelona this past March, aimed at providing services to companies in thirteen European countries: Spain, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland. This new centre, which joins existing hubs in Dublin (Ireland) and Cairo (Egypt), completes the company’s Digital Sales Centre network in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa).

The new hub has an initial workforce of 44 people from nine nationalities (59% women), which is expected to grow to around 250 in the coming months. The company is recruiting professionals with various profiles, including technical specialists, cloud architects and solution specialists to fill open positions.

Microsoft Iberica has highlighted that choosing Barcelona as the headquarters for this new centre represents a commitment to supporting development of digital talent in the area, as well as enhancing the city’s appeal as a hub for attracting technology professionals from across Europe. In fact, the centre will offer its services in ten languages.

According to the latest Digital Talent Overview report by Mobile World Capital, Barcelona is one of the most vibrant cities in terms of generating and attracting digital talent, with over 122,000 professionals in the field. Over the past year, more than 5,000 foreign professionals joined companies based in the city. In fact, one in three digital professionals in Barcelona comes from abroad, according to the same report.

 

Barcelona Metropolitan Area to redraft Urban Master Plan (PDUM)

The Metropolitan Urban Master Plan (PDUM) lays the groundwork for planning through 2050 throughout the territory comprising the city of Barcelona and 35 surrounding municipalities. It was initially approved in 2023 and will now be redrafted to incorporate many of the proposals put forward by local councils, some of which introduce substantial changes to the initial document.

The document approved two years ago by the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB) includes sections on natural spaces, buildable areas, housing, infrastructure, mobility routes, green corridors, new centralities and areas of economic activity, among others. Some of the most significant aspects of the 2023 PDUM include ten major metropolitan avenues designed for surface public transport and mobility. Together with streets and paths, these add up to 870 km of green hubs.

Additionally, the document includes fifteen new areas of centrality and proposes to increase non-developable land to 32,000 hectares (51% of the total), decrease private vehicle use by 50% and for 50% of journeys to be made on foot or by bicycle, with 30% using public transport. It also foresees the construction of 217,000 new homes. Of these, 120,000 will be affordable housing, including 62,000 social rental units.

After reviewing the 5,498 submissions made by individuals, councils and sector entities, 26% have been accepted and 28% are still under consideration. Following a new public consultation period, the document will move on to the urban planning commissions of Barcelona and the metropolitan area for their approval. The PDUM won’t get final approval until 2027 or 2028.

 

Tech giant Oracle expands in Barcelona with new European health hub

The multinational tech company Oracle has launched its first European health centre in Barcelona. This new hub provides support and services to clients in the healthcare sector across Europe. Over 60 professionals from various technical backgrounds and nationalities have joined the Oracle Health Hub in Torre Glòries, where the company now occupies four floors and has established two key centres for research and development (R&D) and healthcare.

Oracle’s decision to establish a strong presence in Barcelona is based on the city’s many advantages. According to the company, Barcelona is an exceptional city, offering a combination of economic growth, talent, strategic location, climate, environment, quality of life and rich architectural and cultural heritage. It’s also home to major global events such as Mobile World Congress.

The company also highlights that Barcelona ranks among the top three European cities for start-ups, drawing talent from around the world. This ability to attract talent means that Oracle’s Barcelona teams include professionals from 40 different nationalities among its 450 employees, blending international perspectives with local culture.

It’s also worth noting Oracle’s firm commitment to innovation and active role in Barcelona’s tech ecosystem. The company is part of the Barcelona Health Hub and a member of both the Cercle Tecnològic de Catalunya and the Digital Cluster of Catalonia. Oracle invests more than €5.5 billion in innovation annually, with the goal of making it accessible to businesses of all sizes.

 

Advanced Factories to explore latest trends in industrial automation and robotics in Barcelona

Advanced Factories 2025 will take place in Barcelona from 8 to 10 April. Now in its ninth edition, the event is considered the most important industrial trade fair in Southern Europe and a major international reference point. This year’s edition will explore the latest trends in industrial automation and robotics, and finish off with the Industry 4.0 Congress.

This year’s event, focusing on how AI impacts optimisation of industrial production, will be held at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via fairgrounds. It is expected to attract 30,000 visitors, with roughly 700 exhibitors from more than 9,000 industrial companies, and over 1,000 industrial innovations on display.

With the theme “Redefining Automation with Green Tech”, this year’s Advanced Factories will address key challenges such as decarbonisation, competitiveness, productivity, funding and attracting talent.

The industrial sector plays a key role in Catalonia’s economy, currently accounting for roughly 19% and aiming to grow progressively to 25%. Robotics is becoming increasingly prominent in the sector. Globally, more than half a million industrial robots have been installed in factories for the third year in a row, driven mainly by electric vehicle production.

Advanced Factories will not be the only major event held during these days. The biennial Advanced Machine Tools (AMT), now in its second edition, will also return and is expected to attract 17,000 visitors, with 450 new products and 180 exhibitors. Together, the two events aim to bring in more than 37,000 professionals.

 

Catalonia surpasses EU average for digitalisation

Digitalisation in Catalonia is above the European Union average. This is the main conclusion of the Informe sobre l’estat de la Dècada Digital (Report on the State of the Digital Decade) by the Cercle Tecnològic de Catalunya. The report highlights Catalonia’s strong performance in 11 indicators that are crucial for building a fully digital society and economy.

The study is based on the former Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), published annually by the European Commission, and focuses its analysis on 11 of the 32 indicators across four key areas: digital skills, digital infrastructures, digitalisation of businesses and digital public services. Catalonia exceeds the EU average in 28 of the 32 indicators.

One particularly notable area is network coverage, where Catalonia scores higher than the EU average on all indicators related to digital infrastructures. The region boasts 97% coverage by fixed very high capacity networks (VHCN) and 95% 5G coverage. Catalonia also scores well in fixed broadband of at least 166 Mbps, with 88%, and fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP), with 98%.

The report also highlights Catalonia’s performance in digital public services both for individuals and businesses, including mobile access and digital healthcare services. Furthermore, Catalonia is above the EU average in digital skills and ICT talent, with 67% of the population reporting at least basic digital skills, compared to the EU average of 54%.

 

Strategic alliance between Barcelona City Council and Huawei to boost ICT innovation and training

During the latest Mobile World Congress, the Barcelona City Council and Huawei announced a new collaboration agreement to promote innovation and training in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in 2025. This strategic partnership aims to drive forward key initiatives in the city, focusing on smart cities, smart buildings, connectivity, green energy and digital platforms.

In terms of ICT training, the initiatives will be supported by Huawei Spain Academy. The first institution of its kind in Europe, it was created recently to foster digital skills and talent development around Spain. The training programmes will take place under the IT Academy, the advanced technology training centre run by Barcelona Activa, which already has solid experience in areas like programming and big data.

At the announcement of the agreement, Huawei representatives highlighted the company’s commitment to innovation and the digital transformation of cities. They noted that Barcelona stands out as a global benchmark in technology and sustainability, and that the initiatives launched through this collaboration will help build a more efficient, sustainable, inclusive digital ecosystem.

Through this partnership, the Barcelona City Council and Huawei are strengthening their joint efforts to develop innovative solutions that advance digitalisation and sustainability, reinforcing Barcelona’s position as a leader in the use of technology to benefit the public.

 

Barcelona Catalonia puts Catalan capital and metropolitan area on global map of Life Sciences and health technologies at MIPIM

Barcelona Catalonia, a joint project of the Government of Catalonia through INCASÒL, the Barcelona City Council and Barcelona Metropolitan Area  (AMB), will be at the MIPIM real estate fair again, participating for the 18th time. This annual event, held this year from 11 to 14 March, brings together more than 20,000 participants from the international real estate industry and is considered a benchmark for investment and urban development.

With the slogan Where else? Barcelona Catalonia, it will present its strategic projects from around the region, showcasing various investment opportunities across all sectors. The initiative aims to position Barcelona and Catalonia as a prime destination for investment and new projects, reaffirming their commitment to inclusive, sustainable, cohesive development models.

In this regard, Barcelona Catalonia has strengthened its public-private collaboration model, integrating proposals from various administrations with projects from companies in the private sector. The MIPIM stand will bring together internationally minded businesses and municipal, metropolitan, and supra-municipal administrations that collaborate on urban planning projects in Catalonia.

As part of the official MIPIM programme, Barcelona Catalonia is organising a conference titled Barcelona Catalonia. Life sciences: the roadmap for reindustrialisation, on 12 March from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm in the Salon Croisette (P3) at the Palais des Festivals. This conference will highlight the life sciences industry’s role as a driving force for reindustrialisation in Barcelona, its metropolitan area and Catalonia. Furthermore, it will share new investment opportunities and key players in the industry’s value chain and in the health technologies ecosystem. In short, it will show how the life sciences sector is shaping Barcelona’s metropolitan economy and leading a new phase of reindustrialisation in Barcelona and Catalonia.

Conference host: Silvia Labé, Director of Marketing, Communications and Competitive Intelligence at Biocat. Speakers: Iker Cano, CEO and co-founder of Cosymbio Labs and Oliver Pou, Senior Open Innovation Manager at Barcelona Health Hub.

 

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.

Catalan audiovisual sector grows 14% in one year: €8.6 billion in revenue, 3% of GDP, and 41,000 professionals

Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), a key event in the audiovisual sector, returned to Barcelona for the fifth time last month, continuing its growth in terms of participating companies and international significance. Catalonia being chosen to host this benchmark event has given a major boost to this industry, which has taken advantage of this driving force. In this regard, some 85 Catalan companies took part in the event, 8% more than last year.

Catalonia is currently home to 4,161 audiovisual companies, which is 14% more than last year. The combined turnover of these companies exceeds €8.6 billion, accounting for 3% of Catalonia’s GDP. The audiovisual industry also employs around 42,000 people.

It is worth noting that the companies that existed before hosting the congress have seen a 30% increase in turnover, partly thanks to ISE. All this data comes from the study El sector audiovisual a Catalunya compiled by ACCIÓ in collaboration with the Catalan Audiovisual Cluster.

The audiovisual sector encompasses various areas, from content creation and production to distribution and screening, and includes a wide range of activities and industries related to entertainment, communication and technology. Start-ups have gained significant prominence in this ecosystem. Specifically, there are 335 audiovisual start-ups in Catalonia, more than twice as many as there were five years ago.

On an international scale, the study highlights that the global audiovisual industry generated revenue exceeding €3 trillion in 2024. The United States is the leading global market, with more than a third of all global spending. However, the report also points to the rise of Asian countries as future leaders of the industry. It points to Indonesia, China and India as the countries best positioned to become new global audiovisual powerhouses.

 

Mobile World Congress expects economic impact of €550 M and to surpass last year’s 101,000 attendees

This year’s edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), currently taking place in Barcelona from 3 to 6 March, is expected to exceed last year’s 101,000 visitors, with an economic impact of approximately €550 million for the city. On this occasion, artificial intelligence (AI) will take centre stage and roughly 2,700 companies will attend.

The Mobile World Congress is the world’s most important event for mobile technology and connectivity and, as every year, is bringing together the leading global companies in the sector—including  HuaweiSamsung, Xiaomi, Google and Meta—to showcase the latest innovations and key products for the coming year. Highlights include smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and other innovative technologies.

Plus, MWC will feature a conference programme fostering open discussion of major global issues, with renowned speakers leading conversations on the impact of technology on social, political and economic challenges. These speakers include Jürgen Schmidhuber, known as the father of modern artificial intelligence.

MWC will also feature the 11th edition of 4YFN: the premier platform for connecting with the most disruptive start-ups, visionary investors and industry pioneers shaping the future. This year, 4YFN will be the epicentre of AI-driven innovation, featuring seven stages exploring the latest trends and applications of artificial intelligence.

 

Technology hubs in Catalonia generate €2.9 billion in revenue and employ 35,000 people

According to the third  Tech Hubs Overview, compiled by Mobile World Capital in collaboration with ACCIÓ and the Barcelona City Council, Catalonia now has 160 international technology hubs, up 9% from the 147 hubs recorded the previous year. These technology hubs collectively generate annual revenue of €2.879 billion, with 13% growth over the past year.

Additionally, the report highlights a significant rise in employment at these international technology centres. Specifically, 6,191 new jobs were created in 2024—22% more than in 2023—bringing the total number of professionals in the sector to nearly 35,000.

In 2024, 13 new international hubs were established in Catalonia, fuelled by investors from Germany, the United States, China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Japan, among others. These hubs are particularly focused on mobility and software solutions. Collectively, these new technology centres created 263 jobs and had an economic impact of nearly €22 million. In this regard, AstraZeneca is set to establish its global research hub in the Edifici Estel, where it plans to hire up to 1,000 people and invest €800 million.

At the report’s presentation, Mobile World Capital emphasised that technology hubs have become a strategic element of the digital transformation, driving innovation, talent acquisition and the creation of highly skilled jobs. Their continued growth demonstrates Catalonia’s ability to attract investment and create an environment capable of developing technological solutions with a global impact.

 

Barcelona, fourth favourite European city for real estate investors in 2025

According to a report by real estate consultancy CBRE, Barcelona has risen three places and is now ranked the fourth favourite city in Europe for real estate investors in 2025, surpassed only by London, Madrid and Paris.

Barcelona first made this ranking in 2022, in ninth place. The following year, it climbed to sixth place, before dropping slightly to seventh in 2024. This year, however, it has regained upward momentum, moving up three positions to its best ranking in recent years.

In 2024, the Catalan capital attracted more than €2.5 billion in real estate investment, up 30% from the previous year. According to the CBRE report, forecasts expect growth over 20% this year, to more than €3 billion. This estimate is based on the strong outlook for the sector, particularly in the hospitality, logistics and office markets.

Barcelona’s ability to attract international real estate investors is primarily driven by the return of international capital, lower financing costs and the appeal of the Euro against the US dollar.

Finally, the report highlights a shift towards widespread optimism. While 23% of investors surveyed believe that the market is already beginning to recover, more than 70% expect activity to bounce back by the end of this year.

 

El Prat Airport breaks records: over 55 million passengers in 2024 and up 5.4% in January

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport ended 2024 with 55,034,955 passengers, up 10.3% over 2023, setting a new all-time annual record. In theory, this figure means the airport has reached its maximum capacity, which had been set at 55 million passengers. However, the airport operator Aena affirms there is still room for further growth by utilising off-peak hours and reducing seasonal fluctuations.

Of these more than 55 million travellers, 54,932,207 were on commercial flights. Among them, 40,721,234 travelled on international flights, while 14,210,973 were on domestic flights. In 2024, El Prat handled 347,977 operations, up 9.1% from 2023. In terms of cargo, freight volume also saw significant growth, reaching 181,688 tonnes, a 16.1% increase from the previous year.

It is also worth noting that Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport started the new year with 5.4% more passengers in January than the same month last year, with a total of 3,695,529 passengers, according to Aena. This marks yet another new monthly record.

The growing number of users has once again revived the proposal to expand El Prat Airport in order to make it a sustainable international hub. This project seeks to address Catalonia’s long-standing demand for long-haul connections to America, Asia and Africa.

 

Barcelona area consolidates position as benchmark technology and innovation hub in Europe

Barcelona and its metropolitan area have consolidated their place as one of the most important technology and innovation hubs in Europe. The dynamic ecosystem, made up of start-ups, accelerators, investors and large fairs and international events, has drawn over €6.1 billion in investment over the past ten years, six times more than the previous decade.

Although this figure is still quite a bit lower than the investment secured in other European cities such as London, Berlin and Paris over the same period, Barcelona is ranked eighth among European hubs in tech investment, according to the State of European Tech 2024 report.  The city’s talent, quality of life and strategic location have made it one of the benchmark capitals in innovation and technology.

One key factor driving investment is Barcelona’s ability to attract global tech events and meetings, such as Tech Spirit Barcelona (gathering of technology entrepreneurs and investors), 4YFN (space for technology start-ups) at the Mobile World Congress, BNEW (events for the new economy) and ISE (world’s biggest audiovisual fair), among others.

In this regard, in 2024 alone the city welcomed more than 420,000 visitors attending international events, fairs and congresses. All the events mentioned above not only help connect local talent with international companies, investors and partners, they also act as a platform to raise awareness of Barcelona’s potential in tech.

It is important to note that one of the key indicators to understand this phenomenon is the significant number of existing start-ups. In 2023, there were more than 2,100 according to the Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub and 86.7% of them were based in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB). In 2024, Catalan start-ups secured €1.44 billion in investment, twice as much as the previous year.

 

Foreign investment in Catalonia up 65% to nearly 3.5 billion

Foreign investment in Catalonia through the third quarter of 2024 was €3.453 billion according to data from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business. These are the latest official figures, showing a 65% increase over the same period the previous year. The data for all of 2024 will be made public this quarter.

In Spain as a whole, foreign investment through September was also up, although not as much. The figure was €23.607 billion, up 21.7% from the January-September figure for 2023. In this regard, it is worth noting that the Spanish government’s statistics count foreign investment in the region where companies have their business headquarters, regardless of where the funds are actually invested. This causes a capital effect, with more investment attributed to Madrid than other regions.

In Catalonia, the majority of foreign capital investment in the first nine months of the year was in Barcelona, with 90% or €3.191 billion. Girona secured €183 million; Tarragona, €66 million and Lleida, €11 million.

Catalonia is a magnet for foreign direct investment, which generates many jobs and fuels innovation and competitiveness in the country, contributing new technology, knowledge and expertise.

 

Record high for Catalan logistics market in 2024, with leases on 710,000 m2 of space

According to data announced by real estate consultancy firm CBRE, logistics leases in Catalonia hit 710,000 m2 in 2024, up 33% from the previous year and an all time high in the sector.

This figure is also higher than the average for the past five years, at 655,000 m2, and for the past ten years, at 600,000 m2. It should also be noted that over 50% of demand was for new products, half in the second logistics ring, and that net leases totalled 530,000 m2, or 75% of the total.

This positive behaviour in logistics leases has driven up prices in the first ring, which are at €9 per square metre/month, 6% higher year-on-year, and also in the second ring, with yearly growth above 7% for €7.25 per square metre/month. Finally, rent in the third ring has held stable at €4.25 per square metre/month.

Sources at CBRE highlight that increased leasing in 2024 wasn’t accompanied by a corresponding increase in investment due to lack of product. Nevertheless, they say that strong demand and new logistics products available in 2025 point to notable growth in investment.

 

Real estate investment in Barcelona hits €2.5 billion in 2024, up 30%

Real estate investment in the city of Barcelona reached €2.5 billion in 2024, which is up 30% from the previous year, according to data from a report by real estate consultancy firm CBRE. This report highlights that the data shows a trend shift from the slowdown in 2023, marked by an interest rate hike and macroeconomic uncertainty.

It should be noted that the hotel sector has led real estate investment in Barcelona, with more than €600 million and 22 transactions. This demonstrates that the strength of the tourism sector in Barcelona has extended to the real estate sector. Furthermore, the Catalan hotel sector made up 18% of all investment in the sector in Spain.

Regarding the housing segment, investment was over €450 million, up 65% from 2023. Additionally, the office segment saw nearly €550 million, up 24%, while investment in retail was over €350 million, compared to €75 million the previous year.

CBRE forecasts for 2024 estimated growth would be around 10%, but in the end it was much higher. In this regard, it is worth noting that family offices and local investors played a central role, while investment funds, which have gained presence, are expected to return in full force this year.

 

Catalan health start-ups secure €235 million in funding

The drop in interest rates and return of big rounds of funding allowed emerging Catalan companies in the health sector to secure 56% more investment than the previous year, with €235 million in 2024.

So, the Catalan start-up ecosystem in the health sector has rebounded after a drop in investment in 2023. In this regard, it is worth noting that the majority of emerging companies in Catalonia are in the health technologies segment, with nearly 400, making up 17% of the total or one in 6 start-ups.

Furthermore, according to the latest study from ACCIÓ (the business competitiveness agency) and Barcelona Health Hub, Catalonia is ranked fifth in the world in securing foreign investment for technology projects in the health sector. Plus, Catalonia has more than a dozen technology centres run by international companies, such as Bayer, AstraZeneca and Novartis.

The eleventh edition of 4YFN, which will be held in March, remains committed to the health sector, boosting its visibility. The official programme will once again include a specific agenda on digital health, and the exhibition space will also feature a special area for this sector in Hall 8.0, next to Mobile World Congress 2025.

 

Barcelona office market recovers and reaches €550 million in 2024, up 24%

The office segment in Barcelona has recovered. In 2024, the joint value of all operations was €550 million, while the previous year it was only €280 million, mainly due to the interest rates and lack of confidence arising from remote working.

Real estate consultancy Forcadell, in a document published recently, stated that the market went from 238,000 m² in contracts in 2023 to 295,000 m² last year. The figure for 2024 shows 24% growth. For 2025, the consultancy firm expects another positive year, consolidating the trend.

It is worth noting that 46% of all contracts in the office segment were for spaces in the city centre (42.24%) and nearly 40% were in the 22@ district (27.27%) and the Plaça d’Europa–Fira District (12.49%), the new business areas.

The most noteworthy operation of the year was the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB) acquisition of the Torre Tarragona building from Blackstone for €93 million. Also significant are the five assets acquired by Stoneshield in Esplugues for a total of €220 million, including the Bayer headquarters and the Imagina building, to create its biomedical campus in Catalonia.

 

German giant Kion Group chooses Barcelona for its new digital hub

Kion Group, a German multinational corporation that specialises in solutions to manage the flow of materials for intralogistics, has established its first digital hub outside of Germany at DFactory Barcelona. This space will be an extension of KION Industrial Trucks & Services (KION ITS), the most important division of the group.

By opening this new facility, the company is reinforcing its commitment to technological innovation, driving development of automation, connectivity and artificial intelligence technologies to offer innovative products and services for storage, machinery, vehicles and advanced software, with brands like Linde, Still, Baoli and Dematic.

Sources inside the company have said that DFactory provides a privileged location to launch and expand their projects, and that Barcelona stands out as the perfect place for technological ecosystems, thanks to its long commitment to innovation and ability to attract talent and companies.

DFactory, promoted by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB), is home to 35 companies developing projects in robotics, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, cybersecurity and other advanced technologies. It features 17,000 m2 of facilities and fosters collaborative innovation.

 

22@ district consolidates recovery and doubles office space leasing by the end of 2024

Barcelona’s 22@ district closed 2024 with a total office leasing volume of 80,000 square metres, marking its second-best performance over the past five years. These figures, published by the real estate consultancy CBRE in its latest report, underline the recovery of the city’s technological district.

This recovery has been driven primarily by the strong performance of 22@ Glòries, while availability in 22@ Nord remains high despite a fourfold increase in leasing activity. CBRE’s report also notes that, across Barcelona, the office vacancy rate stands at 14.4%, with an average rent of €20.4 per square metre.

These results signal the district’s regained prominence in Barcelona after challenging years in terms of leasing activity. The rise of remote work due to COVID-19 and the sector’s downturn led to a significant drop just as 22@ had been breaking records in attracting companies, leasing office space and launching new developments.

Notably, most of the leasing activity occurred in 22@ Sud, the district’s largest area, with a stock of 798,000 m2, representing 56% of the technological district’s total. Meanwhile, 22@ Glòries currently has a stock of 403,000 m2 (28% of the total), and 22@ Nord accounts for 14% with a stock of 220,000 m2.

Finally, CBRE highlights that, with Barcelona’s current office vacancy rate, the city’s absorption capacity stands at 4.6%, placing it as the fourth-ranked European city in this metric. It follows London (6.9%), Warsaw (6.3%) and Budapest (6.2%) and ranks ahead of Lisbon (4.5%), Dublin (4.2%) and Frankfurt (3.8%).

 

Biotechnology company Qiagen establishes its global innovation centre in Esplugues

The Dutch multinational Qiagen plans to invest €13 million over the next five years in its new facilities in Esplugues de Llobregat. Currently based at the Barcelona Science Park, the company is set to relocate to its new operations centre at the former Braun factory. The centre, expected to be operational within two years, aims to nearly double its workforce, increasing from 230 to 400 professionals.

The new facility will span 8,000 square metres, housing laboratories, production lines, development spaces and offices. According to the company, it aims to position Esplugues and Catalonia as a global hub for research and innovation in infectious diseases, establishing itself as a leader in the health sector.

In 2018, Qiagen acquired the start-up Stat-Diagnostica, based at the Barcelona Science Park, for €154 million. In 2020, it purchased the Catalan company NeuMoDx Molecular, which had developed a PCR diagnostic test capable of detecting up to 23 respiratory pathogens within an hour. The Dutch multinational’s current turnover stands at €100 million, with a goal of doubling it to €200 million.

The real estate developer Conren Tramway acquired the Braun factory site in 2022 and undertook a comprehensive renovation of the space, preparing it primarily for activities like those of Qiagen. The British medical biotechnology company Smith+Nephew is already operating in the same complex.

Qiagen’s arrival at the complex is a strategic move, expected to attract more companies to the area and transform it into a biomedical activity hub, in synergy with the nearby Sant Joan de Déu Hospital and the upcoming Hospital Clínic, which is set to open at the end of Avinguda Diagonal.

 

Deeplabs to invest €70 million in its biomedical campus in Barcelona

Deeplabs, the life sciences investment platform of the real estate fund Stoneshield, has already invested €35 million – set to reach €70 million by 2026 – in its biomedical campus located on the premises of the BASID laboratories in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona.

At the campus, Deeplabs has completed the rehabilitation of the first 4,000 square metres of the buildings it acquired in early 2024 for €220 million, aiming to create a scientific hub to meet the growing demand for facilities from pharmaceutical and science-related companies. Over the next three years, up to 11,600 square metres will be rehabilitated out of a total of 60,000 available across all the buildings.

The BASID complex is currently home to companies such as Bayer, Agfa Healthcare and Stockmeier, with an occupancy rate of 83%. Furthermore, Lainco, qGenomics, Koa Biotech and Poseidona are set to establish operations there soon.

Esplugues de Llobregat is becoming a scientific hub for the sector, hosting companies like Salvat, Galenicum, Aldo-Unión and Bayer itself. Qiagen has recently relocated to its new facilities at the former Braun factory, and the area is also home to the Sant Joan Despí and Sant Joan de Déu hospitals. Additionally, it will soon host the future Vithas Hospital and the new Hospital Clínic.

 

Bayer opens a new R&D division for health and agriculture in Barcelona with 82 new professionals

Pharmaceutical company Bayer has recently launched a new R&D division for health and agriculture at its shared services centre in Sant Joan Despí, Barcelona, adding 82 new professionals. This unit will serve the multinational’s various divisions by developing operations for clinical trials and managing safety and quality processes for medicines.

Bayer’s shared services centre in Sant Joan Despí, established in 2001, plays a key role in the company’s transformation and digitalisation efforts and serves as a global benchmark in implementing new operational models. The centre’s team comprises professionals from over 50 nationalities and undertakes internationally oriented projects, providing services to more than eleven countries across Europe and the Middle East.

With the launch of this new R&D division, the centre further strengthens its position as a hub of excellence within Bayer’s organisation. Since its opening, the centre has progressively incorporated new areas of development, specialising in the application of artificial intelligence to improve efficiency, traceability and agility in its processes.

According to the company, this milestone would not have been possible without collaboration with public and private institutions in the country and a favourable ecosystem for job creation and economic development. Over the past five years, the centre’s workforce has grown by 75%, increasing from 471 to 822 professionals with scientific expertise.

 

The Barcelona Supercomputing Center to become one of the EU’s AI factories

The Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) will host one of seven European AI factories aimed at fostering development within the business ecosystem. This infrastructure will provide powerful computational resources and R&D services to companies, start-ups, SMEs and scientists, accelerating the development of AI applications aligned with European values.

To support this initiative, the BSC will receive an investment of approximately €200 million to establish one of the first seven AI factories in Europe. This initiative will position the BSC as a hub for AI development, enabling both public and private sectors to drive high-impact R&D projects in science and technology.

The project is part of the European Union’s recent measures to establish Europe as a global leader in AI. In this context, the Barcelona AI Factory will integrate advanced technological resources, data and specialised talent to democratise access to AI resources for sectors with limited means and to foster innovation in areas such as biomedicine, climatology and chip design.

With an initial investment of €580 million from the European Commission for the EuroHPC JU high-performance supercomputing network, member states are called upon to contribute to these strategic projects. In Barcelona, the AI Factory will not only enhance the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer but will also attract European talent, promoting an experimental supercomputing infrastructure specifically designed for AI.

Level begins a new chapter as an independent airline to expand long-haul routes from Barcelona

Level, the long-haul airline based in Barcelona and part of the IAG group, received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) at the end of the year, placing it on equal footing with Vueling, British Airways and Iberia. This milestone allows Level to operate as an independent airline within the group, separate from Iberia.

With this move, the company aims to position Barcelona’s El Prat Airport alongside Madrid, London and Dublin – where other IAG airlines are based – and enable the airport to expand its long-haul offerings. These will build on existing routes to the United States, where Level has increased its capacity by 300,000 seats (a 9% rise), as well as to Argentina and Chile, which it already serves.

With the AOC, Level will operate as its own entity, allowing it to independently manage its own contracts and workforce. Moreover, the airline has already confirmed the addition of two new aircraft by 2026. Level is also considering the possibility of adding new long-haul markets from Barcelona in the future, including routes to Asia.

In this new phase, Level plans to hire additional staff, expanding its current workforce of 50 captains, 85 co-pilots and around 60 professionals based at its offices in Viladecans.

 

Barcelona is the eighth most attractive city in the world to work

The Barcelona Observatory 2023, an initiative of the Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, has certified that the city remains among the top cities in the world for professionals and entrepreneurs to live, work or establish a start-up.

According to the Observatory, which compiles data from various benchmark global reports, including Decoding Global Talent 2024, World’s Best Cities Report 2024 and Global Power City Index, among others, Barcelona is the eighth most attractive city in the world to work (ahead of Tokyo, Los Angeles and Paris) and tenth in the world for digital and tech professionals.

In this sense, the Barcelona Observatory 2023 shows that the Catalan capital has consolidated its place as one of the leading cities in tech, science and research.

Additionally, Barcelona is ranked eighth in the world and third in Europe for entrepreneurs, professionals and residents, is among the top 25 cities in global competitiveness and eleventh on the European ranking, ahead of Brussels, Geneva and Milan.

Finally, looking at foreign investment, Barcelona had the best strategy to attract foreign investment projects for the third year in a row, according to the FDi Cities and Regions of the Future 2024FDi Cities and Regions of the Future 2024 report, ahead of London and Berlin.

The Observatory has become a reference for measuring Barcelona’s competitiveness and its business, innovation and cultural fabric. The study aims to provide benchmarks for institutions and multinational corporations interested in doing business or setting up in Barcelona, and to attract talent and support bids to host events or open headquarters in the city.

 

Catalan exports up 3.4% year-on-year in September

Catalan exports rose 3.4% year-on-year in September, recovering from the 7.3% drop in August and marking the second highest figure for the month of September, according to data published recently by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism. In total, Catalonia sold goods abroad valued at €8.0898 billion.

This increase was mainly due to the good results in the capital goods and chemicals sectors. On the other hand, however, the food and automotive sectors sold less abroad. In any case, from January to September, exports were still down 2.9% year-on-year, with €74.1829 billion. It should be noted that the automotive sector experienced a noteworthy drop in exports, down 16.1% to €1.0018 billion.

By sectors, chemicals (up 6.7% to €2.3692 billion) remained the biggest exporter. Overall, the sector with the most growth in sales abroad was capital goods, up 11.9% in exports for €1.3336 billion. The increase in sales abroad of energy products is also worth noting, with €413.8 million (+57.2%).

Looking at cumulative sales for 2024 between January and September, the sector with the most exports was also chemicals (€22.4876 billion), while food and beverages, up 2.4%, was ranked second with €11.3589 billion in exports.

 

Barcelona’s ICFO to lead €380 million European project to create photonic chips

The Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO) will lead and coordinate the PIXEurope programme across the continent. This programme aims to boost creation of photonic chips and make Europe a global leader. The project, promoted by the European Commission, is endowed with €380 million and will bring unique technological capacities to the industry, creating European-owned technology in a sector that is extremely important for technological sovereignty.

In this regard, the global market for photonic chips (PIC) will grow more than 400% over the next 10 years and the global photonics market will hit more than €1.5 billion. This impressive growth is due to the incessant and growing demand for these devices for various applications in the telecommunications, artificial intelligence, automotive and mobility sectors, as well as medicine and healthcare, defence and security, plus a wide range of consumer goods.

The European Commission, which has selected this programme as its 5th pilot line, has chosen ICFO to coordinate it on a continental level, with a consortium that will include organisations from Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Leading this Photonics Chip Pilot Line will attract talent to Catalonia and boost business competitiveness.

ICFO is a research centre that belongs to the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), founded by the Government of Catalonia and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). It is located at the Mediterranean Technology Park and currently has more than 500 people working in 26 research groups in 80 cutting-edge labs.

 

Chinese firm Shining 3D opens Southern Europe headquarters in DFactory Barcelona

This year, Shining 3D, which specialises in research and development of high-precision 3D digitalisation technologies and 3D printing, focusing on three areas (metrology, professional 3D scanning and digital dental tools) has joined the DFactory Barcelonaglobal benchmark industry 4.0 ecosystem promoted by the Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona (CZFB).

The multinational corporation, founded in 2004 and based in China, has consolidated its place as a key stakeholder in 3D digital technology, with global influence and a commitment to spreading the use of digitalisation technologies. The company has more than 1,000 professionals on staff around the world, with strategic headquarters in China, Germany and the United States, so far.

DFactory Barcelona continues working toward the goal of becoming the factory of the future, encouraging and developing industry 4.0, new talent and new technologies and investment, in an unparalleled location, with technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, cybersecurity, blockchain and artificial intelligence. Its facilities are roughly 17,000 m2, home to nearly 30 companies, and it expects to add 72,000 m2 more in the coming years to house 1,500 direct employees and 5,000 indirect ones.

 

Former Nissan plant in Barcelona reactivated to make first Ebro model

Ebro has recently relaunched production at the former Nissan factory, where the last vehicle came off the line in December 2021. The company aims to become a benchmark in the automotive sector in Spain and Europe. EV Motors has chosen to relaunch the historical Ebro brand, which disappeared in 1987.

Three years ago, EV Motors and Chinese multinational corporation Chery signed a deal giving the Chinese company control of 40% of EV Motors to reactivate the facilities, which will initially manufacture the S700, a 4.5-metre long SUV. Then Ebro will start manufacturing a second model, the S800, and in the last quarter of 2025, the Omoda 5.

In mid-2025, the company expects to have three shifts up and running with 350 workers. And in 2026, Ebro will reach its commitment to the administrations and trade unions to employ 1,250 former Nissan employees.

In a first phase, the vehicles will arrive in parts and be assembled at the plant, which is known as CKD assembly. The factory expects to manufacture nearly 1,400 vehicles in 2024 and more than 30,000 in 2025.

 

Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) to develop next-generation supercomputers

The Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) will be part of a partnership with NEC Corporation, a Japanese multinational electronics and information technology corporation, and Openchip, a public-private engineering company based in the Catalan capital. Their goal is to develop a new vector computing accelerator for use in supercomputing data centres.

With this partnership, the BSC is taking another big step forward. Some months ago, the centre launched the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, which is the largest investment Europe has ever made in a scientific facility in Spain, with a total cost of €202 million. The new vector computing processor will benefit from the Barcelona Supercomputing Center’s design experience and NEC Corporation’s leadership in supercomputing architectures.

Additionally, it is important to note the Barcelona Supercomputing Center’s role in developing artificial intelligence. Currently, the top supercomputing research centres are the ones using artificial intelligence to tackle problems that would otherwise be impossible to resolve.

The Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centre Nacional de Supercomputació is a public consortium of the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, Government of Catalonia and Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Founded in 2004, it now has more than a thousand employees and offers supercomputing facilities and services.

 

Swiss dermatology multinational corporation Galderma establishes European ICT and research centre in Barcelona

Galderma has established the offices for its Global Capacity Centre in the Colonial building on Avinguda Diagonal in Barcelona. The new facilities, with 1,500 square metres of space, will support business growth in its areas of activity, including research and development (R&D) and ICT, among others.

This space will also be used as a centre to attract and manage talent in the group globally, this Swiss multinational corporation’s only one in Europe. Roughly 150 people will work at the centre and Barcelona was chosen for the city’s ecosystem of start-ups, ability to attract highly educated local talent and quality of life.

Galderma has three lines of business: therapeutic dermatology, injectable aesthetics and dermatological skincare. The company has more than 6,500 professionals on staff, is present in 100 countries and has factories in Canada, Sweden, France and Brazil, where it produces more than 300 million product units each year.

The decision to establish this centre in Barcelona reinforces the city’s position as a hub for foreign companies in the life sciences sector, which is highly strategic and currently makes up 8% of the Catalan GDP.

 

Record number of foreign companies established in Catalonia: over 9,600

Nearly 350 new multinational corporations have come to Catalonia in the past year, up 3.7%, for a new record of foreign companies established here: 9,602. These figures were published recently by ACCIÓ, the public agency for business competitiveness that has been working to attract foreign investment and help Catalan companies abroad for the past 40 years.

It is important to highlight, in this regard, that the number of new foreign companies arriving has increased 68% over the past ten years, and the figures show this growth has been steady and even accelerated in the past decade. These companies generate one in ten jobs in Catalonia, 30% of turnover and 47% of exports.

If we look at the turnover of these foreign companies by sector, the most noteworthy are automotive (17%), food and beverages (11%) and chemicals (9%). Nevertheless, by number of companies, technology makes up more than 20% of the total, as Barcelona is a hub that attracts many multinational corporations in this sector.

On the other hand, looking at country of origin, the largest share of subsidiaries established in Catalonia are from the United States (15%), followed by France (14%), Germany (12%), the United Kingdom (10%) and Italy (8%). In total, more than 90 countries are represented by companies established in the region. US and French companies have the strongest growth, 6% per year, although they are behind the notable growth of Canadian companies (12%).

The presentation of the Report highlighted that Catalonia, as a generator of talent, has traditionally been a country open to foreign investment that contributes to the people’s wellbeing by creating quality jobs, green energy and international connections, and they are spread throughout the territory. A good part of the projects identified for future investment are associated with the green and digital economies.

 

Real estate investment in Barcelona recovers, hitting €1.5 billion for year through September

Real estate investment in Barcelona continues its progressive recovery and hit more than €1.5 billion for the months between January and September, which is 12% higher than the same period in 2023. These figures are from real estate consultancy CBRE.

By sectors, hotels secured €141 million in investment in the third quarter of this year for €426 million so far this year. This figure, however, is 21% less than the same period for 2023 and 12% under the average for the past 10 years. Nevertheless, Barcelona has consolidated its place as a preferred destination for hotel investment, with 25% of the national total.

Next we have the living sector, with a 25% share of the Catalan market and €377 million so far this year, up 29% from 2023. The consultancy attributes this to a boom in halls of residence for students, with €276 million, or more than double the amount in 2023. This sector continues dominating due to the lack of supply to meet growing demand.

Additionally, the office sector has consolidated its place with the third-highest investment, €357 million, up 44% from last year, while the retail sector saw €90 million, up from €76 million in 2023. Finally, the industrial and logistics sector posted €80 million, far below the €199 million invested in the same period the previous year.

 

Catalonia now has 340 deep tech start-ups, 6% more than last year

Catalonia has 340 deep tech start-ups, 6% more than last year, according to a study carried out by the Catalan Government through the public agency for business competitiveness ACCIÓ. Deep tech companies have roots in science, technology or engineering and require STEM expertise to address global challenges.

In this regard, Catalan deep tech start-ups currently have 2,735 employees (up 17% from 2023) and turnover of €166 million (up 3%). Compared to the data from the first edition of the study published two years ago, the number of deep tech start-ups has grown roughly 17%, but their turnover is up 34% and number of employees, 58%.

According to the study, deep tech firms make up 16% of the Catalan start-up ecosystem. They mainly work in biotechnology (37%), artificial intelligence (28%), sustainable and frontier materials (11%), clean energy and batteries (6%) and robotics (6%). Other fields that stand out include photonics, blockchain, supercomputing, semiconductors and quantum physics.

Finally, the ACCIÓ study shows that Barcelona is the top hub in southern Europe in funding secured for deep tech start-ups, with €544 million between 2019 and 2024. In Europe as a whole, the Catalan capital is ranked ahead of Copenhagen, Madrid and Amsterdam, among others.

 

Catalan economy grows 0.9% in third quarter and year-on-year GDP is up 3.8%

The Catalan GDP grew 0.9% in the third quarter of 2024, showing solid growth of 3.8% year-on-year. This is 0.4% higher than the Spanish economy as a whole for the same period (3.4%). This data is from the Statistical Institute of Catalonia (Idescat).

This growth in the GDP for the third quarter is due to positive results in all sectors, particularly services (4.4%) and industry (4.3%). Additionally, construction is up 2.9% and agriculture continues with its recovery that started earlier this year, up 14.4%.

Regarding the services sector, its growth has been thanks to the hospitality sector, followed by retail, computer services, legal services, transport services, motor-vehicle sales and insurance services. In terms of industry, growth is mainly from the pharmaceutical and food and beverages industries.

Chinese AI company Coovally establishes European headquarters in Barcelona

The Chinese company Coovally, which specialises in artificial intelligence (AI) services, has opened its new European headquarters in Barcelona. From here, the firm aims to expand business throughout Europe and into Latin America. The Coovally central headquarters was previously located in Vienna.

The company, founded in Shanghai in 2021, has a support platform for companies and individuals interested in adding artificial intelligence to their processes. Their services help accelerate implementation of projects that use AI and boost the company’s productivity in carrying them out, with solutions such as automated data management and internal processes.

Coovally explained they have chosen Barcelona for its great connections with other markets in the world, growing ecosystem of start-ups and large corporations, and capacity to generate and attract all sorts of talent.

 

Cargo traffic through Port of Barcelona up 11.3% for the year through September, with more than 53 million tonnes

The total traffic through the Port of Barcelona was more than 53 million tonnes from January through September, up 11.3%. Container traffic is noteworthy, with nearly three million TEU, up 21.4% from the same period last year.

In this regard, liquid bulk cargo continues to post good results, with 10.5 million tonnes, up 11.2%. Additionally, the number of ITU (intermodal transport units) has increased 2.6% for a total of 328,918 lorries and trailers. The number of new vehicles, 509.255 units, continues to decrease (-13.8%), reflecting the state of the European automotive market.

On the other hand, a total of 4,317,304 passengers travelled through the Port of Barcelona between January and September, up 4.2% from the same period last year. Ferries had 1.4 million passengers (1.1%) and cruise ships, 2.8 million (6%).

Port of Barcelona traffic with the main markets has increased for both imports and exports. It is important to remember that the port facility generates €4.213 billion in gross value added (GVA), which is 2% of the GVA of Catalonia and 0.4% of Spain.

 

First year of Norrsken House Barcelona with over 140 start-ups, 250 companies and 20 accelerators

Swedish non-profit organisation Norrsken is celebrating its first year in Barcelona with a community of 1,200 members. It has consolidated its place as a European technology and impact hub, connecting entrepreneurs with the resources, knowledge and networks they need, and driving businesses that help make this world a better place, according to sources inside the foundation.

Norrsken has emerged as an ecosystem that is already driving the growth of over 140 start-ups and 280 companies, which co-exist with roughly 20 venture capital firms and accelerators. In addition to welcoming 15,000 visitors and hosting 244 events, Norrsken House Barcelona has also become a catalyst for impact initiatives in its first year, raising over €30 million.

The Swedish foundation is now tackling new challenges in Barcelona, including building bridges with the main local entities, such as ACCIÓ and Barcelona Activa, as well as the ecosystems in other major European cities. Their goal is to attract new international investors to the Catalan capital and foster solutions in areas such as climate technology, healthcare, biotechnology and other emerging sectors.

 

Catalan exports reached a historic peak in July with a growth of 9.4%.

Catalan exports reached a historic peak in July with a growth of 9.4%

Exports from Catalonia marked a new historical milestone by registering an increase of 9.4% in July, according to the latest published data. This growth is a reflection of the solidity of the Catalan productive fabric and its ability to compete in the international market, placing the autonomous community as one of the main economic locomotives in Spain.

Growth factors

Among the factors that have driven this historic peak is the diversification of markets. Catalan companies have expanded their presence in destinations such as Latin America, Asia and Africa, which has made it possible to mitigate the effects of economic slowdown in some European markets. In addition, the increase in investment in innovation and technology has allowed Catalan companies to improve the competitiveness of their products.

Another key element has been the commitment to sustainability and the green economy, which has opened up new business opportunities in emerging markets and in those with a high demand for ecological and sustainable products.

Challenges in the future

Despite the good results, Catalan exports face several challenges. Global inflation, fluctuating energy prices and geopolitical tensions are factors that could affect growth in the coming months. In addition, international competition continues to be fierce, so it will be crucial for Catalan companies to continue investing in innovation, digitalisation, and sustainability in order to maintain their position in the global market.

In conclusion, the historical record of Catalan exports in July is a sign of the strength and competitiveness of the region’s economy. This 9.4% growth shows that Catalonia has been able to adapt to changes in the global market, diversify its markets and products, and bet on innovation, which predicts a promising future for the export sector. However, it will be key to continue to face external challenges with a solid and sustainable strategy.

Equinix opens a new data center in Barcelona with a total investment of 52 million euros.

Equinix, global leader in digital infrastructure, has opened its first data center in Barcelona, with an investment of 52 million euros. The new center, called BCN1, has been built with the aim of promoting connectivity and digital services in the region, consolidating Barcelona as one of the most important technological hubs in southern Europe.

This data center offers placement, interconnection and connectivity services for local and international companies, especially in the telecommunications, finance, e-commerce and health sectors. The aim is to facilitate the expansion of companies into new global markets thanks to a secure and efficient infrastructure.

Barcelona has been chosen for its strategic position between Europe, Africa and Latin America, as well as for its growing technological ecosystem. According to Charles Meyers, CEO of Equinix, “Barcelona is a key center for digital transformation in Europe, and this center will help boost the digital growth of the region.”

One of the strengths of BCN1 is its commitment to sustainability. The centre uses advanced technologies to minimize energy consumption, with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint and making operations 100% neutral in emissions in the near future.

The construction of this data center has had a positive impact on the local economy, generating numerous jobs. Equinix hopes that BCN1 will become an essential pillar for the digital development of Catalan companies, supporting both large corporations and SMEs that need high-level connectivity services.

With the inauguration of BCN1, Barcelona reinforces its position as a hub of technological attraction, attracting new investments and companies that want to take advantage of digital infrastructures and the innovative environment of the city. This investment by Equinix is added to other technological projects that place Barcelona as a benchmark in the global connectivity map.

The Catalan economy exceeds the average for Spain and the EU in growth in the second quarter.

The economy of Catalonia has recorded a significant growth during the second quarter of the year, exceeding both the Spanish and European Union average, according to the latest published data. This acceleration of growth consolidates Catalonia’s role as one of the most powerful economic engines in Spain and shows a solid recovery after the impact of the pandemic and other recent global crises.

Growth above average

During this period, Catalan GDP has grown by 3.2% in year-on-year terms, while the average in Spain stood at 2.7%, and that of the EU at around 1.8%. These figures show that the Catalan economy has been able to better withstand international economic uncertainties, driven by key sectors such as industry, services, and tourism.

Economy Minister Natàlia Mas Guix highlighted that this growth is the result of policies focused on innovation, attracting investment and adapting local companies. “Catalonia has shown great resilience and a firm commitment to modernization and digitalization,” said Mas.

Promoting factors

Several factors explain this good progress of the Catalan economy. On the one hand, the export of goods and services has continued to grow at a solid rate, especially thanks to the promotion of sectors such as the automotive industry and the chemical industry. On the other hand, tourism has had a strong recovery, especially in coastal areas and the city of Barcelona, one of the main attractions for international visitors.

In addition, foreign investment has been key, with multiple projects by technology companies that have chosen Catalonia as the basis for their operations in Europe. These investments have helped to create jobs and strengthen emerging sectors such as digital technologies and renewable energies.

Conclusions

The Catalan economy has once again demonstrated its ability to overcome the average growth of Spain and the European Union, driven by dynamic sectors and a clear commitment to modernisation. Despite the challenges, Catalonia remains one of the economic engines of southern Europe, with a solid recovery that places it in a good place to face the challenges of the future.

The blue economy adds up to one thousand companies and 5.5 billion turnover in Catalonia.

The blue economy, linked to the sustainable exploitation of marine resources, is growing strongly in Catalonia. According to the latest data, this sector already has more than 1,000 companies that generate a total turnover of 5.5 billion euros. This figure consolidates the blue economy as a key piece for the economic and environmental development of the territory.

An expanding sector

The blue economy includes activities such as fishing, aquaculture, coastal tourism, shipbuilding and marine renewable energies. In Catalonia, this sector has not only grown in number of companies, but has also become an important engine for job creation, creating thousands of direct and indirect jobs.

The sustained growth of this sector responds to the growing demand for sustainable solutions and the commitment of companies to the protection of the marine environment. It is also the result of the impulse of the Catalan Government and European institutions, which are committed to developing a green and circular economy.

Opportunities and challenges

The Minister for Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda, David Mascort, stressed the importance of the blue economy for the sustainability of the region. “We must take advantage of the opportunities offered by this sector, without compromising marine resources,” he said. However, he also pointed out the need to continue investing in technology and innovation to ensure long-term sustainable growth.

With a privileged location in the Mediterranean, Catalonia has great potential to continue leading this sector and generate new economic opportunities linked to the marine environment.

British investment in Catalonia grows with the implementation of 936 companies, 20% more than in 2019.

British investment in Catalonia has experienced remarkable growth, with 936 companies established, 20% more than in 2019. This increase is significant, especially in the post-Brexit context, where trade relations have been subject to change.

Sectors of Interest

British companies have shown particular interest in several sectors:

Information Technologies: It includes software development, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

Renewable energy: Especially in wind and solar energy projects.

Life Sciences: Biotechnology and pharmaceuticals have been key areas for investments.

Economic benefits

This growth has generated more than 15,000 direct jobs and has contributed significantly to Catalan GDP. British companies not only contribute capital, but also knowledge and innovation to the local market.

Futurist perspectives

With a favourable policy towards foreign investment, Catalonia is positioned as an attractive hub for British companies. The Catalan authorities are working to maintain this pace of growth, adapting to global changes and improving the infrastructures necessary to sustain this development.

INCASÒL announces the competition to regularize the cultivated land within the scope of the Gallecs Natural Interest Area Park.

The Catalan Soil Institute (INCASÒL) has announced the call for a public competition to regularize the farmland within the scope of the Gallecs Natural Interest Area Park. This initiative aims to guarantee the sustainable use of agricultural spaces, while preserving the ecological and landscape value of this protected area, located between several municipalities of the Vallès Oriental.

Protection of the environment and promotion of agriculture

With this call, the INCASÒL aims to establish a legal framework that regulates the use of agricultural land within the park, ensuring that agricultural activity is compatible with the conservation of natural ecosystems. Gallecs is a key space for biodiversity and the preservation of native flora and fauna, but it also has strong agricultural roots, with crops that are part of its landscape and heritage.

The competition allows local farmers to access contracts for the use of land, always under sustainability criteria. The Minister of Territory, Juli Fernandez, stressed that this measure will promote “environment-friendly agriculture, which will contribute to the protection of the area and its natural value”.

A commitment to the territory

The Gallecs Natural Area has been consolidated as an example of coexistence between human activity and the protection of the natural environment. With this contest, INCASÒL reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the balance between the preservation of biodiversity and sustainable rural development, supporting local farmers who contribute to keeping this unique space alive.

The District brings together in Barcelona the main real estate actors with a focus on housing.

The District, one of the most influential real estate events in Europe, brought together the main actors in the sector this week in Barcelona, with special emphasis on housing problems. The event, held at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, has served as a key meeting point for investors, promoters and public administrations, who have discussed the future of the real estate market and investment opportunities in a context of growing demand for affordable housing.

Among the most outstanding participations, Barcelona Catalonia and the Catalan Soil Institute (INCASÒL) have played a fundamental role. Barcelona Catalonia, the brand that brings together the Generalitat, Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Metropolitan Area for the promotion of the territory as an investment destination, has highlighted the opportunities offered by the city in terms of housing and sustainable urban development. During their interventions, they have highlighted Barcelona’s potential as an attractive hub for investors looking for projects aligned with sustainability and innovation criteria.

INCASÒL, for its part, has presented several initiatives to promote the mobilization of public land with the aim of promoting the construction of affordable housing in Catalonia. With its intervention, the entity has highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration to respond to the growing demand for social housing, especially in densely populated urban areas such as Barcelona. According to INCASÒL managers, the promotion of these projects is already giving tangible results, with the creation of new affordable homes that respond to the needs of the population.

The representatives of Barcelona Catalonia and INCASÒL also stressed that collaboration between the private sector and administrations is key to the transformation of the territory. Sustainability, energy efficiency and social inclusion have positioned themselves as central factors in the new real estate projects promoted in the city and the metropolitan area.

The success of The District reaffirms the role of Barcelona as the European epicenter of real estate activity, and consolidates its position as a pioneering city in urban innovation and housing solutions. The event has attracted the eyes of international investors who see the city as a space conducive to the development of projects with high added value, paving the way for new investments that will help transform the Catalan urban landscape in the coming years.

ConstruNext begins construction of a new circular economy hub in Barcelona

The construction of an innovative circular economy hub in Barcelona begins, led by the University of Mondragón and TeamLabs Barcelona.

This project, located in front of the La Mercedes eco-district, extends over 3,405 square meters. The complex, developed by ConstruNext S.L., is designed to fulfill the mission of Mondragon Team Academy (MTA), which seeks to create an international community.

The hub will become a dynamic space for entrepreneurship, bringing together companies and startups with the aim of promoting collaboration, the exchange of knowledge and the creation of synergies. Innovation, circular economy and sustainability are the pillars that support this project.

The design of the hub has been carried out in collaboration with the architectural studio Blossom Barcelona and follows the Level(s) sustainability standards of the European Union. Additionally, the project adopts a circular design strategy that includes the renovation of an old industrial warehouse with a green facade and the use of cradle to cradle certified materials.

To ensure fast and efficient construction, ConstruNext will employ the Lean Design & Construction methodology, which optimizes the process by reducing waste and continuous improvement. Key methodology to ensure that the project is executed within the stipulated period.

The hub will also be distinguished by its focus on technology and creativity, with facilities that go beyond traditional energy efficiency. An example of this will be the 3D printed lamps made from recycled plastic, a reflection of the project’s commitment to the circular economy.

This new space not only aims to be a catalyst for a more sustainable economic model in Barcelona, ​​but also a tangible example of how construction and design can be attractive, accessible and respectful of the environment.

Industry and construction drive GDP growth in Catalonia with 2.9% year-on-year

According to information shared by the Statistics Institute of Catalonia, the Catalan economy experienced growth of 0.8% during the second quarter of the year, with a year-on-year increase in GDP of 2.9%.

These figures coincide with those of the Spanish economy as a whole, and exceed the average of the European Union, which registered a growth of 0.7% in the second quarter, and an increase of 0.3% compared to the first three months. of the year.

The industrial sector, with an increase of 4.9%, was the main driver of this growth, followed by construction, which grew by 3.8%, agriculture with 2.4%, and other sectors with 2. 3%.

Barcelona moves towards affordable housing and urban development

Barcelona takes a decisive step towards the urban future with an agreement between the City Council and the Consorci de la Zona Franca from Barcelona (CZFB). This protocol marks the beginning of multiple key projects for the city of Barcelona. Among them, the construction of almost 2,000 officially protected homes (VPO) in the districts of Sant Andreu and Sants-Montjuïc stands out, accompanied by various municipal facilities.

The CZFB grants strategic land in the Cuarteles de Sant Andreu and in the Marina del Prat Vermell for this ambitious housing plan. In total, 1,878 homes will be enabled in an area of ​​185,000 m², with another 97,000 destined exclusively for community services.

In addition, the agreement includes the revitalization of the emblematic La Escocesa manufacturing site, in San Martín, to turn it into a nerve center for creative industries and innovative projects in gastronomy and food. The CZFB joins this transformation project, committing to the rehabilitation of old industrial warehouses.

Finally, the City Council acquires the Mediatic and Creatic buildings in 22@, thus consolidating a hub of municipal services focused on education, citizen service, economic development and technological training.

This pact not only responds to the urgent need for affordable housing in the city, but also boosts key sectors such as creative industries, technology and innovation. Barcelona is moving towards a more inclusive and sustainable urban model, committed to balanced development and the quality of life of its citizens.

Catalonia exceeds 3.8 million workers in May and reduces unemployment to the lowest level since 2008

The month of May marked a turning point in the Catalan labor market, registering a new record of more than 3.8 million workers. This historic milestone anticipates a summer period full of dynamism and opportunities in the regional labor market. According to data provided by the Ministry of Labor and Social Economy of Spain, there is a notable increase of 90,131 workers compared to the same period of the previous year, reflecting a growth of 2.43%.

Furthermore, the decrease in unemployment continues, with a reduction of 6,248 people on the list of job seekers compared to April 2024. This decrease of 1.85% compared to the previous month places the unemployment rate at its lowest level for a month of May since 2008.

The Secretary of Labor of Catalonia, Enric Vinaixa, highlighted the magnitude of these achievements as “unprecedented figures”, highlighting Catalonia’s leadership role in reducing unemployment at the national level. Although he recognized the need to continue improving, especially with regard to the quality of employment, Vinaixa celebrated the significant reduction in youth unemployment and in people over 45 years of age. Regarding the seasonality of employment, he noted a notable improvement compared to previous years, which suggests greater stability in the labor market throughout the year.

Catalonia’s airports exceed pre-pandemic levels with record passengers

According to Aena, Barcelona Airport received more than 4.6 million passengers in April, which represents an increase of 9.5% compared to the same month last year, surpassing figures that have been in a streak for 6 months.

Of the total, 4,600,973 passengers flew on commercial flights, 3,411,915 on international flights (an increase of 11.8% compared to 2023) and 1,181,226 on domestic flights (an increase of 3.3%). Compared to April 2019, the pre-pandemic period, passenger numbers increased by 1.7%.

The rest of the airports in Catalonia, managed by Aena, also experienced significant activity. Girona-Costa Brava, the second busiest in the region, registered 170,688 passengers in April 2024, 88.0% more than last year but 2.7% less than in 2019.

Reus airport, located in the south of Catalonia, registered 101,970 passengers in April, 31.5% more than the previous year and 87.6% more than in 2019.

Sabadell airport had 4,502 operations in April 2024 but only 455 passengers, 23.4% less than last year but 87.2% more than before the pandemic.

Overall, Catalonia’s airports are experiencing a strong recovery, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and setting new records.

Green light for the Biopol PDU that will regenerate 96 hectares with an investment of 230 million

The Urban Development Master Plan (PDU) Biopol-Granvia of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat has been definitively approved by the Urban Planning Commission of the Government of Catalonia after years of procedures and legal disputes. This ambitious urban and economic project covers 8% of the city’s territory, with an estimated investment of 230 million euros.

The main objective of the PDU is to create a new center of economic activity focused on biomedical research and health sciences, with the construction of more than 556,000 square meters of space for economic activities. The project includes changes such as the undergrounding of the Granvia de L’Hospitalet and improvements to access to the Llobregat River, as well as the rehabilitation of historic buildings.

Biopol, a hub of companies related to biomedicine, will be the core of this development, with the participation of institutions such as the Bellvitge Hospital and the University of Barcelona. It is expected that this biomedical cluster will have a significant impact on the labor market and the Catalan economy.

Although it has received political support, some local entities have expressed environmental concerns and have initiated legal actions to stop the project. However, it is expected that the PDU will come into force once it is published in the Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia (DOGC).

Companies dedicated to AI in Catalonia will triple in 5 years

The study “Artificial Intelligence in Catalonia”, conducted by the Generalitat through Catalunya Trade & Investment (ACCIÓ), reveals a significant increase in the number of AI companies in the region.

In the last five years, these companies have nearly tripled, reaching 488. This represents a 60% increase in revenue, reaching almost €2.2 billion, and the creation of 14,525 jobs.

Albert Castellanos, CEO of Catalunya Trade & Investment, emphasizes that AI is creating jobs instead of replacing them.

In Catalonia, AI companies are only outnumbered by cybersecurity ones, totaling 495. Additionally, 44% of these companies are startups. AI contributes to 0.8% of Catalonia’s GDP, and the region ranks fifth in Europe in attracting foreign investment, with €475 million. Barcelona leads in startup financing in Southern Europe.

The use of AI in companies allows for cost reduction, improved efficiency, and competitiveness, according to Imma Rodríguez from ACCIÓ.

An annual growth rate of 35.5% is projected for AI, with a global market value of $1.85 trillion by 2030. However, challenges such as increased resource consumption and job changes are posed, and warnings about its geopolitical use are issued.

Catalonia attracts foreign investments worth 880 million euros in 2023

The Minister of Business and Labor of Catalonia, Roger Torrent, announced in a press conference that the Catalan Government, through ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, attracted 880 million euros in foreign investment in 2023 and 2,955 million euros in the last five years. This achievement marks a 42% increase over the previous year and is the highest figure recorded since 1985.

The Annual Report of Catalonia Trade & Investment reveals that during 2023, 112 projects by foreign companies were formalized, with the creation of 4,533 jobs, 31% more than in 2022. Of the 112 projects, 42% were greenfield investments.

Regarding greenfield investments, Albert Castellanos pointed out that “We are immersed in the transformation of the production model and diversification of investments,” emphasizing the attraction of companies that contribute to the green and digital transformation of companies.

On the other hand, the Minister highlighted that “These record figures demonstrate the competitiveness of Catalonia in the business world and the confidence of international investors in our country” and stressed that “These figures help us position ourselves internationally and accompany the economic and business transformations from the country”.

If we talk about the distribution based on its nature, in 2023, 67% of foreign investment was of an industrial nature, 26% in technology sectors, 14% in life sciences, 12% in automotive, 11% in video games and 10% in food. This diversification is also reflected in the origin of the investments, coming from more than 30 countries, led by the US (21%), France (13%) and the United Kingdom (9%).

Currently, Catalonia has almost 600 projects in development, and close to 50% of the companies that invested in Catalonia in 2023 plan to reinvest in the future, demonstrating the solid prospect of economic growth in the region.

Talus Real Estate consolidates its presence in Catalan logistics with an acquisition of 47,000 square meters

Talus Real Estate has taken a significant step by securing a strategic plot of more than 47,000 square meters in the Catalan Metropolitan Region, thus consolidating its position in the logistics sector. Located at the crossroads of the A-2 and the AP-7, this location further reinforces its presence in the region’s first logistics ring.

This acquisition marks a milestone for Talus by driving the development of a 17,000 square meter logistics warehouse, equipped with 20 truck docks, ESFR sprinkler systems and BREEAM Excellent and Net Zero Carbon Emissions certifications. In addition, the facility will have solar panels for self-consumption, LED lighting, parking areas for more than 176 vehicles, as well as charging spaces and patios designed for electric vehicles.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, at which time the asset will be available for lease. Angel Ovejas, Head of Asset Management at Talus, emphasized the company’s continued commitment to the expansion and consolidation of its presence in the real estate market.

At MIPIM, Barcelona Catalonia positions the Catalan capital and its metropolitan area on the world map of Life Sciences and the innovation economy

  • Barcelona Catalonia attends the real estate fair in Cannes MIPIM 2024 which starts today and runs until this Friday, March 15.
  • The delegation has once again incorporated public and private partners to offer a joint offer to the foreign investor.
  • Projects such as Parc de l’Alba, 22@Nord or the GranVia Biopol project stand out.

 

Barcelona Catalonia, formed by the Generalitat de Catalunya, through INCASÒL, the Barcelona City Council and the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), will attend the MIPIM 2024 real estate fair, the 17th edition in which it will participate. This year the real estate fair, one of the largest trade fairs for property and investment in Europe, takes place in Cannes (France) from March 12 to 15.

In this year’s edition, MIPIM wants to influence and accelerate the transformation of the urban environment. It also wants to become a space where concrete solutions can be proposed and the international real estate community connected to create more sustainable, livable and prosperous places for people. In this context, the fair is an opportunity to explain the strategic projects that are being developed in Barcelona, in the metropolitan area and throughout Catalonia.

Under the motto Making IT happen!Barcelona Catalonia will present projects from all over the Catalan territory with different investment opportunities for all sectors, presenting Barcelona and Catalonia as an ideal area for investments and new projects while reaffirming the its commitment to inclusive, sustainable and cohesive development models.

Barcelona Catalonia Conference: The Science & the City

Within the framework of MIPIM and as a conference of the official program, Barcelona Catalonia is organizing, for the sixth time, a meeting to discuss the recruitment of talent and reindustrialization linked to innovation. On this occasion, the conference will explore the dynamic intersection of scientific innovation and urban development in Barcelona, its metropolis and in Catalonia. It will present investment opportunities at the forefront of innovation, from life sciences to semiconductors, promoting the reindustrialization of the territory and the development of sustainable urban ecosystems. The session will be led by Mercè Conesa, CEO of Barcelona Global, and will have the participation of José Luis Garrido, ICREA research professor and @ICN2 group leader, and Eva Jodar, senior director of Client Care & Client Solutions at CBRE Spain.

Barcelona City Council’s Commissioner for International Relations and City Promotion, Pau Solanilla, will participate in the Political Leaders Summit 2024, which brings together city leaders from all over Europe and the world to share perspectives to achieve urban improvements. The attraction of investments in the current macroeconomic and geopolitical environment, decarbonisation and net zero, the economy of innovation, transforming infrastructures, or affordable housing will be the focus of the round tables.

Apart from the official program of the fair, the Barcelona Catalonia stand organizes a series of meetings, talks and presentations to discuss Barcelona and Catalonia as a space for innovation, for investing and for settling down. In this edition, Barcelona City Council wants to highlight its profile as a city for science and innovation with areas such as the 22@ nord, and projects such as Port Olímpic, focused on the blue economy sector, or that of the Ciutadella del Coneixement, with more weight in the life sciences sector. On the part of INCASÒL the presentation of the Parc de l’Alba de Cerdanyola del Vallès project, located around the Sincrotró Alba, a new urban district that is designed to host the most advanced platforms at a scientific, technological and entrepreneurial level, as well such as the creation of more than 5,300 homes in a sustainable, balanced and connected environment.

The AMB’s Economic Development Agency participates for another year in the fair accompanying eight metropolitan municipalities to promote municipal urban developments on an international scale: Cerdanyola del Vallès, Cornellà de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, Gavà, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Sant Boi de Llobregat and Viladecans. Under the slogan ‘Discover the Metropolitan Projects’, the Barcelona Catalonia stand will present the investment opportunities of Gavà (Els Joncs project, Sector Ponent), Esplugues de Llobregat (Porta Barcelona project), Sant Adrià de Besòs (Les tres xemeneies project), Sant Boi de Llobregat (Casernes project – District Z) and Viladecans.

Public-private collaboration as a claim for the foreign investor

Barcelona Catalonia consolidates its model of public-private collaboration that combines the proposals of the different administrations and the projects of private companies in the sector. In this sense, the MIPIM stand brings together companies with an international vocation and municipal, metropolitan and supra-municipal administrations that collaborate on urban planning projects in Catalonia. On this occasion, the B-Tec Foundation of the Diagonal-Besòs Campus, Catalonia Trade & Investment and the University of Barcelona are collaborating with Barcelona Catalonia. The town councils of Cerdanyola del Vallès, Cornellà de Llobregat, Esplugues de Llobregat, Gavà, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Sant Boi de Llobregat and Viladecans are also present. As well as more than 30 private partners, made up of engineers, architects, lawyers and real estate services based in Catalonia.

Barcelona awarded as the best city in Europe for attracting investments

For the third year in a row, Barcelona will receive the prize for the best European city in terms of future investment attraction strategy at MIPIM. fDi Magazine, from the Financial Times group, has ranked Barcelona as the city that deploys the best promotion and investment attraction strategy in Europe, ahead of London, Berlin and Dublin. The ranking highlights Barcelona’s work in promotion to grow clusters in supercomputing, artificial intelligence, health and biotechnology.

Catalonia leads the panorama of technological hubs

Catalonia leads the panorama of technology hubs with 140 centers in 2023, marking an increase of 11% compared to the previous year, according to the Tech Hubs Overview report by Mobile World Capital Barcelona, supported by the Catalan Government and Barcelona City Council.

Catalonia has inaugurated fourteen new hubs in 2023, especially in areas such as health, mobility and entertainment. Investment has grown significantly in technologies applied to health, while video games represent close to 20% of the Catalan ecosystem. Barcelona concentrates 76% of the hubs, with 22@ being its epicenter, attracting companies due to its multidisciplinary talent, high local level, business and industrial ecosystem, and strategic geographical location.

These hubs employ more than 26 thousand people, an increase of 5%, with an average workforce that has gone from 168 to 203 people in one year and an increase in business volume of 25%, reaching 2.5 million euros annual.

It is expected that by 2026, the sector will exceed 36 thousand professionals and 3.6 million euros in turnover.

Industrial sheet metal manufacturing acquires key land in Sallent thanks to INCASÒL

INCASÒL has sold a plot of 11,363.04 m2 in the Plans de la Sala sector, Sallent (Bages), to Planxisteria Industrial M. Vidal, SL. With this operation, INCASÒL exhausts the available land in the sector.

Planxisteria Industrial M. Vidal together with Mecanizados Gumer SLU, they form a group specialized in industrial sheet metalworking, laser cutting, folding, welding, machining and assembly. With an investment of approximately four million euros, they will build a warehouse to expand operations and create 10 new jobs.

The Plans de la Sala sector is connected to important roads such as the C-16 (Eix del Llobregat) and the C-25 (Eix Transversal), promoting the economic activity of Bages with companies such as Top Cable, Climesa, Holding Grupo MTA, Ferros Puig, Casa Mas, and the LOGIS Bages logistics center.

Freudenberg invests 11 million euros in Catalonia to modernize automotive production

The German industrial group Freudenberg has renewed its commitment to Catalonia through an investment of 11 million euros to modernize its automotive components factory in Parets del Vallès, Barcelona.

The new facility, recently inaugurated, operates with renewable energy and cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence. With 6,800 square meters and 171 employees, it specializes in shock absorber seals and steering components.

The modernization will increase production by 15%, generating about 30 million euros annually. The project received 200,000 euros of aid from the Government through ACCIÓ. The president of the Generalitat, Pere Aragonès, and the Minister of Business, Roger Torrent, attended the inauguration.

Based in Baden Wurttemberg, the family-owned company had a global turnover of 11,753 million euros in 2022, operating in 60 countries with more than 51,000 employees. Apart from the automotive industry, Freudenberg owns the Vileda brand and is present in lubricants, chemicals and medical devices. Its Spanish subsidiary had a turnover of 342 million in 2022 through various subsidiaries.

Shanghai Jingqingrong Garment chooses Catalonia for its first plant outside China

The Chinese textile company Shanghai Jingqingrong Garment will open its first production plant outside China, located in Catalonia, with an investment of 3 million euros and the creation of approximately 30 jobs. This project has the support of the Government through ACCIÓ. The plant, located in Barcelona (Ripollet), is in the process of adaptation, and the production of knitted products is expected to begin in the first half of 2024.

Roger Torrent, Minister of Business and Labor, highlights the strategic choice of Catalonia by Chinese companies for their expansion, with more than 1,000 million euros invested in the last five years and generating 2,000 jobs. In this context, Shanghai Jingqingrong Garment, founded in 2004 and specialized in global clothing design and distribution, is an example of growing Chinese investment in Catalonia, contributing to a total foreign investment of 1,164 million euros.

The Catalan Strategy to Promote the Semiconductor Industry: Heading to European Leadership

The Catalan Government has presented the Strategy for the Promotion of the Semiconductor Industry in Catalonia, promoted by Semiconductor and Chip Alliance of Catalonia. The objective is to consolidate Catalonia as a leading center for the semiconductor industry in Europe. The initiative, framed in the National Pact for Industry 2022-2025, seeks to develop valuable industrial policies and support actions that improve the competitiveness of the sector in the region.

 

The strategy is divided into five pillars, aligned with European and international standards, with a total of 23 specific actions. It includes measures to strengthen the semiconductor ecosystem, attract international investments, develop advanced infrastructure, foster talent and facilitate technology transfer. Actions such as financial support through specific funds and the creation of cutting-edge infrastructure stand out, such as the Innofab project for the construction of a chip prototyping plant.

 

Catalonia aspires to be an international center for semiconductors, seeking to become a hub of talent in this field. Educational programs will be implemented, such as a master’s degree in Semiconductor Engineering, Microelectronic Design and the application of the Industrial Doctorate Plan for companies in the chip sector. The strategy also encourages collaboration between research and business to boost the competitiveness of Catalan knowledge in semiconductors.

 

According to the study “Semiconductors in Catalonia” by ACCIÓ, the current ecosystem has 86 companies and 4,400 professionals, the majority being SMEs and startups. The Semiconductor Alliance is positioned as essential for coordination between industry actors and the implementation of key projects for digital and social transformation. All companies and agents are encouraged to participate in the collaborative construction of this ecosystem.

Catalan exports boost regional economic leadership

In October, Catalan exports amounted to 8.57 billion euros, registering a year-on-year increase of 8.3%, according to the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

The main export sectors were chemicals (2,450 million euros, +8.8%), capital goods (1,340 million euros, -1%), and food, beverages and tobacco (1,290 million euros, +9.7 %). Despite the general drop in Spanish exports by 2.4%, Catalonia represented 26.5% of the national total.

Catalan exports accumulated from January to October reached 85,000 million euros, reflecting an increase of 9.7% compared to the previous year.

Catalonia reinforces its digital leadership with a digitalization index of 63.96%

Catalonia reaffirms its outstanding position in digital transformation, according to the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI Catalonia 2022). The report, led by the Department of Business and Labor of the Generalitat de Cataluña and prepared by the Technological Circle of Catalonia, confirms that the region remains the fifth most digitally advanced in Europe for the fourth consecutive year, with a digitalization rate of 63.96%, exceeding the EU average by 11.69 points. Despite improvements in all dimensions, the emphasis on advanced skills training and stagnant growth in electronic commerce among small and medium-sized businesses stands out.

 

Catalonia stands out in connectivity, occupying second place, and leads in fixed broadband. In the integration of digital technology, it advances to seventh position, highlighting the level of digitalization of Catalan companies. In digital public services, it maintains fourth position, but there is still room for improvement in the position of users within electronic administration and open data in Catalonia.

The UPC positions Catalonia at the forefront of green hydrogen

The Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya has inaugurated its hydrogen laboratory and pilot plant for the production of green hydrogen. These state-of-the-art facilities represent a laboratory dedicated to advancing research and innovation in technologies related to hydrogen, a crucial energy component on the path to decarbonization.

The rector of the UPC, Daniel Crespo, highlights the uniqueness of this infrastructure, being unique in Spain and one of the few currently operational in the European Union.

This achievement places Catalonia at the forefront in the development of green hydrogen and in the transition towards more sustainable energy sources.

Record employment in Catalonia in the third quarter, with more than 3.71 million people in work.

The unemployment rate stands at 8.5%, with a total of 345,000 people looking for work at the end of September.

According to the latest Labour Force Survey (EPA) report by the national statistics institute, Catalonia closed the third quarter with a new employment record: more than 3.71 million people in work between July and September, more than 62,400 new jobs compared to the previous quarter.

The only sector in which the number of unemployed has increased is industry (from 4,100 to 25,400). The services sector still accounts for more unemployed than any other sector, with 131,700.

Catalunya Trade & Investment has supported 26,000 internationalisation projects of Catalan companies over the last 35 years.

Mr. Pere Aragonès, the current president of the Generalitat, announced last Tuesday that ACCIÓ has supported more than 26,000 projects over the last 35 years.

Today, it is the government’s main tool for promoting economic growth abroad. The first offices in international territory were opened in 1988, with Tokyo, Hong Kong, Milan, and New York being the selected cities.

The global network of Trade and Investment Offices is an essential resource for promoting the internationalization of companies in Catalonia. In fact, since 1995, when the historical series began, Catalan exports have experienced a remarkable increase of 5.3 times, reaching a total of 94,926.7 million euros in 2022. This increase exceeds the average growth of exports worldwide, which recorded an increase of 4.8% during the same period.

The Chinese multinational WANHUA will open an innovation centre in Catalonia.

The current Minister of Enterprise and Employment, Roger Torrent, has announced from Yantai (China) the successful operation of the Chinese multinational company WANHUA in Catalonia.

WANHUA is currently one of the largest chemical companies in the world, with more than 27,000 employees worldwide, and until now it has only been present in Hungary and the Czech Republic.

According to Roger Torrent, this is the company’s first investment in Southern Europe and it has chosen Catalonia as the location to develop this major project.

The large project is planned to be established in Cornellà (Barcelona) at the end of 2023. The main objective of this center is to support the company’s business development in Europe.

In the last five years, foreign investment from China to Catalonia has reached 1,164 million euros, which has been transformed into 2,100 new jobs and 114 subsidiaries of Chinese companies in Catalonia.

Catalan exports reach 6.9 billion euros

During the month of August, Catalan exports experienced an increase of 1.7%, reaching a value of 6,941 million euros, according to data provided by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism of Spain.

Over the course of the year, sales abroad have accumulated a total of 68,612 million euros. Compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic, exports have experienced a significant increase of 45%. Chemical products top the list of exports, representing 27% of the total, with a value of 1,871 million euros. They are followed by food, beverages and tobacco, with 1,213 million euros, equivalent to 17.5% of the total, and the automotive sector, with 1,124 million euros, corresponding to 16.2%.

When we compare these data with the previous year, automobile sales have experienced an increase of 58.8%, those of chemical products by 5.3%, while exports of food, beverages, and tobacco have decreased by 4.5%.

Catalonia promotes the creation of 5,000 social rental homes

In 2023, the Government of Catalonia has promoted the creation of more than 5,000 social rental homes through public subsidies, as part of an ambitious plan to increase the number of these homes in Catalonia by 10,000 in the next three years. These subsidies, coming from both European funds and specific resources from the Generalitat, have resulted in the construction of a total of 5,337 homes, exceeding initial projections.

The Minister of Territory, Ester Capella i Farré, highlighted the relevance of collaboration between government entities and private actors with a social commitment to improve access to housing in Catalonia. Likewise, she called on the Government to comply with the State Housing Law, which would allow rental prices to be regulated in Catalonia.

This comprehensive plan contemplates various strategies, such as subsidies for housing promotion, the transfer of public lands and the direct construction of housing by the Generalitat.

UNESCO selects Barcelona as the world capital of architecture for 2026.

Barcelona has been officially selected as the world capital of architecture in 2026 by Unesco and the International Union of Architects (UIA). This initiative seeks to highlight the role of architecture and urbanism in culture, the identity of cities and their sustainable development.

As the World Capital of Architecture, Barcelona will host a series of events and activities throughout 2026 in collaboration with the Higher Council of Spanish Colleges of Architects (CSCAE) and the Official College of Architects of Catalonia (COAC). Barcelona City Council will facilitate an extensive program that will include exhibitions, activities and companies to highlight the value and importance of architecture and urban design in the sustainable development of the city.

With this designation, Barcelona became the first city to host the UIA World Congress twice, having hosted it in 1996, four years after the Olympic Games. This opportunity will allow the city to once again highlight its international architectural importance and its commitment to sustainable development.

HMM launches its own line to connect Valencia and Barcelona with India and the Far East.

The South Korean ship HMM (Hyundai Merchant Marine) will start its own transport service between the Far East, India and the ports of Valencia and Barcelona that will consist of 26 calls to ports in 11 countries.

This service will start on August 6 in the port of Busan (South Korea) with a duration of 84 days in total. Company sources have predicted that the ship will arrive to Valencia and Barcelona, approximately, in September.

From its departure, it will also pass through the ports of Kwangyang (also South Korea) and continue its route through China, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to later reach the African continent and pass through Egypt, and finally, enter Europe and pass through the ports of Greece, Italy and the APM Terminals facilities in Valencia and Barcelona (Spain).

“With the introduction of the FIM (Far East – India – Mediterranean) service, we hope to expand our reach to India and the Mediterranean trade,” sources from the shipping company said.

The “good rhythm” of the Catalan economy: resilience, return of tourism and more exports.

The Catalan economy has closed 2022 with a “good rhythm” and a growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) of 5.5% thanks to the resilience of the Catalan economy. Catalonia, to face the increase in prices and the energy crisis, has relied on three fundamental pillars: the resilience of household consumption, the recovery of foreign tourism and the increase in exports of goods.

To define 2022, we should look at five global shocks, of which the cost of financing and core inflation levels are the only ones that have not improved. For Carme Poveda, director of the Economic Memory of Catalonia, they are the following:

  • The spread of the omicron variant of covid-19
  • Supply chain problems
  • Rising energy prices
  • Core inflation
  • The cost of financing

It should also be noted that an important point has been the attraction of foreign investment in industry and in the ICT sector, which represents 52%. On the other hand, we also find considerable changes in the occupational structure, for example, with the increase in workers in the public sector, although the loss of purchasing power of wages in Catalonia in 2022 was 5.5%.

One of the priorities of the Catalan economy at present is the importance of increasing R&D on a European scale, since the European average exceeds 2% while here we remain at 1.64%, a figure that could become the Historic opportunity to lead digital and sustainable transformation with the support of Next Generation funds. Another of the priorities still pending is the volume of public debt, which remains at very high rates.

For 2023, a good evolution is expected in the first semester with tourism, employment, the moderation of inflation and European funds. A slowdown is also expected at the end of the year with the impact of interest rates and weakness in Europe, but we can conclude that what will determine economic growth in the coming years will be monetary policy.

The Generalitat forecasts that 60% of Catalan companies will innovate this 2023, 4 points more than last year.

Approximately 60% of Catalan companies foresee an innovation process during 2023, 4% more than last year (56.4%), according to the Barometer of Innovation in Catalonia prepared by ACCIÓ.

Among the different objectives established, the most noteworthy, and therefore, that want to be achieved are: improving efficiency, increasing billing and productivity or cutting the average costs of your products or services.

The main explanation for the increase in innovative activity, explains the Secretary for Business and Competitiveness and CEO of ACCIÓ, is due to “the end of the crisis caused by Covid-19, the tractor effect of the Next Generation and Horizon Europe funds ”, but also, justified by the growth of the internationalization of Catalan companies.

Based on these and other data obtained, the ACCIÓ document finds a marked correlation between the growing international character of the Catalan business ecosystem and the search for new and better products and services, thus verifying that according to the barometer, 58% of companies who say they innovate will also export, while the 30% that come to Catalonia will dedicate resources to innovation in 2023.

Mainly, there has been innovation in the field of the product (almost 60%) and in information and communication systems (50%), but importance has also been given to production processes (37.2%), process development business (35.1%), administration and management (28.4%), among others.

In fact, according to the forecasts of the companies and the data obtained, the impact of this innovative activity would mean an increase in efficiency of 61.9%, on turnover of 54.5%, productivity of 50.5%, the reduction in the average cost of the product or server by 32.3% and the increase in workers by 16%. These statements lead Albert Castellanos to ensure that: “innovation is the main lever for companies to grow, export, be more productive and create new jobs”.

The Semiconductor Aliance was created with the aim of turning Catalonia into a reference point for the sector in Europe

On the 29th of June, the public-private initiative, announced in May: “The Semiconductor and Chip Alliance of Catalonia” was definitively established. This initiative will bring together the agents of these ecosystems to lead the transformation and consolidation of Europe.

In addition to this project, the Government has already been promoting other actions in this field on semiconductors, such as the deployment of support programs for business and technological projects to reinforce the result that is to be achieved.

It is currently in the development phase, but it has great growth potential, since it has 86 semiconductor companies in Catalonia, as well as 3,700 researchers involved in research projects in this field. 81% of the companies in the sector in Catalonia are SMEs and 8% are startups.

The objective of the Alliance is promoting the growth and consolidation of the semiconductor, microelectronics, photonics and quantum ecosystem of Catalonia in order to achieve a competitive, innovative and sustainable economy. To achieve this, the Alliance focuses on the strategic axes for the Government: strengthening the chip value chain in Catalonia, its international connection, the creation and attraction of productive investment and the promotion of talent and research.

Together, what is also sought is to strengthen relations and the positioning of Catalonia, promoting the participation of the country in European initiatives for the development of this ecosystem.

The act served for the integration of the Board of the Alliance, the governing body of this new initiative, to the Department of Business and Labor. The project has also been promoted by other departments, such as Economy and Finance and Research and Universities, and with the participation of the Presidency and Foreign Action and European Union departments. In addition, through ACCIÓ, the technical and administrative support necessary for the development of the functions of the Board will be provided.

Olvan prepares for economic growth with the opening of the new sector driven by INCASÒL

The Institut Català del Sòl, INCASÒL, starts the commercialisation of the economic activity sector of Rocarodona-Olvan, located in the municipality of Olvan (Berguedà).

A total of 14 plots are for sale, for different uses, mainly industrial, commercial and offices. The plots have different surface areas and range from 13,000 m2, the largest, to 1,800 m2, the smallest. A total of 5 are already developed and the remaining plots are expected to be completed by the beginning of 2025. 

The deadline for acquiring one of the plots was 22 June of this year and the application was made online and then the proof of purchase was presented to INCASÒL

It has a total surface area of approximately 53 hectares. They are located in a strategic place, near the Gironella Nord exit of the Eix del Llobregat (C-16), Eix Europeu E9 of communication between Barcelona and Tolosa de Llenguadoc and connected with the Vic – Gironella regional road (C-154).

The Catalan Government is promoting these sectors, generating jobs in Catalonia. They will facilitate the economic growth of Berguedà and will respond to the demand for industrial land.

Inflation falls to 3.2% in Catalonia in May

In May, inflation in Catalonia was 7 tenths of a percentage point lower than in the previous month. This is mainly due to lower fuel prices and the slowdown in the rise in food and non-alcoholic beverages prices. The latter have been falling for two months in a row, although the current CPI is 11.5% more expensive than a year ago.

At first glance, this figure may not seem very relevant, but if we compare these numbers with inflation over the last two years, it is the lowest figure ever recorded in Catalonia.

Also in Spain as a whole, inflation fell by 9 tenths of a percentage point to 3.2.

Tarragona is chosen by Covestro for its new chlorine plant with an investment of around 200 million euros

The German company Covestro inaugurated its new chlorine production plant in Tarragona this June, a project that represents an investment of around 200 million euros and the creation of 50 new job opportunities. 

Pioneers in the start-up of this new chlorine production plant in the world based on ODC (oxygen depolarised cathode) technology, it will provide Tarragona with an efficient, independent and permanent supply of chlorine and caustic soda, two essential materials in the chemical industry. In addition to being a raw material for many other sectors.

Covestro’s growth project in Tarragona received the backing of ACCIO-Catalonia Trade & Investment, the agency in charge of promoting business competitiveness of the Department of Enterprise and Employment.

The inauguration of the project was attended by Pere Aragonès, President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Àngel Xifré, the Secretary for Enterprise and Competitiveness and Director General of ACCO-Catalonia Trade & Investment, Sucheta Govil, Covestro’s Global CCO and Andrea Firenze, Managing Director of Covestro and General Manager of the company in Spain.

In relation to the importance of industry for the country, Pere Aragonès emphasised the need to promote the reindustrialisation of Catalonia with an ambitious, innovative vision and an unwavering commitment to sustainability and the environment. In this sense, he stated that this approach will allow Catalonia to regain its position as one of the most industrialised regions in Europe.

The political leader expressed his gratitude and satisfaction at Covestro’s new investment in Catalonia, highlighting the clear commitment that the company has shown to the country over the years. Pere Aragonès also took the opportunity to recognise the four centres that Covestro has in Catalonia, which employ more than a thousand people. He also assured that the government will stand by the company on its path towards generating shared prosperity.

In summary, Pere Aragonès stressed the importance of promoting the reindustrialisation of Catalonia with an ambitious and sustainable mindset. He thanked Covestro for its investment in the country and highlighted the company’s commitment to Catalonia over time. He also reaffirmed the government’s support for the goal of generating joint prosperity.

Construction completed on the 21,000 square metre, 21-storey building located in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat

The building, owned by Colonial and Inmo, located in Torre Plaza Europa 34, was completed last June. The location of the offices is strategic, as they are located in one of the areas with the greatest development in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. 

The project developed by Albert Viaplana between 2007 and 2008 aims to create a new centrality in the area that connects El Prat airport and the city of Barcelona. To achieve this, a comprehensive transformation was proposed involving the redevelopment of roads, the incorporation of green spaces and the construction of mixed-use buildings.

The completion of this project represents an important milestone for the business fabric of Plaza Europa. With the construction of the last office tower of the urban plan, the presence of companies in this area is consolidated and strengthened.

The architectural conception of both towers brings a remarkable dynamism to the urban landscape. The Puig Tower, designed by GCA Architects in collaboration with Rafael Moneo and Lucho Marcial, presents a spiral ribbon that generates an effect of upward movement. On the other hand, the Plaza Europa 34 Tower, designed by Josep Riu, achieves visual impact through a displacement of volumes that gives it a sense of lightness and movement.

In addition to its aesthetic appeal, the Plaza Europa 34 Tower has been designed with a focus on sustainability and energy efficiency. Low energy consumption and easy maintenance technologies have been prioritised, contributing to the reduction of the building’s environmental footprint. In recognition of these efforts, the building has obtained LEED Gold certification, a prestigious award that distinguishes the most sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings.

The International Logistics Exhibition (SIL) in Barcelona has ended with a 20% growth in the number of visitors

More than 15,000 people took part in the event, during the three days of its 25th edition. In addition, the organisation counted the participation of 650 companies, 40% of which were international, and more than 250 events held within the framework of the sectoral fair. It had an economic impact in Barcelona of 50 million euros, exceeding the initial estimate of the Zona Franca de Barcelona.

The profile of the vast majority of the participants is that they are decision-makers in their companies, said the director general of the Zona Franca de Barcelona, Blanca Sorigué. She also stated that the organisation’s wish was to continue the success of the event for at least another 25 years. She also announced the dates for the next edition to be held in 2024, which will take place on the 5th, 6th and 7th.

The special delegate of the State in the Zona Franca of Barcelona, Pere Navarro, highlighted the satisfaction of the companies participating in the event, who closed business deals and established high quality contacts throughout the three days. Navarro highlighted the growth of the fair in terms of internationality, business impulse, networking and market knowledge.

The organisation emphasised the use of its digital platform to encourage networking, revealing that 8,317 digital contact exchanges, nearly 3,000 meeting requests and 7,106 messages were made between attendees, according to official sources. In addition, a marketplace for recruitment was set up in collaboration with the public platform Barcelona Activa, which resulted in 107 job interviews out of the 374 applications submitted. Among the companies offering vacancies were Alquimia Fruits, Cargobici, Cargo-Partner, Decathlon, DHL Supply Chain, Grupo CTC, Mail Boses, Torrella Ingeniería-Arquitectura and Vanapedal, according to the event organisers.

Catalonia’s logistics market will add more than 650,000 m2 by 2025

In total, the Catalan logistics market will add more than 650,000 square metres over the next three years.

There are currently 412,000 square metres under construction, with delivery scheduled for 2023. To this amount, the 27,000 square metres planned for next year and 211,000 square metres under construction will be added.

This year, 203,000 square metres located in the second ring and 193,000 square metres located in the third ring will be delivered. In the area of the first logistical arch, with an availability of 0.4%, 17,000 square metres will be delivered.

The 41,000 square metre warehouse, owned by Scannell Properties, in Constantí (Tarragonès), will be the first project to come onto the market in 2023. Other projects will also be launched, such as Bentall Green Oak’s 40,000 sqm warehouse in Santa Margarida i els Monjos (Alt Penedès) or Clarion Partners’ project in Esparraguera (Baix Llobregat), with a 22,000 sqm warehouse.

According to the Associate Director of Research at CBRE Spain, Arancha González, availability rates are expected to rise slightly in Barcelona this year, due to the fact that despite the good pace of business, deliveries are being concentrated more in the second and third ring, where, at present, there is not so much demand.

Berry establishes its new global centre of excellence and circular innovation in Barcelona, boosting the city’s circular economy

Berry Global, a leading developer of sustainable and revolutionary packaging solutions, is excited to announce the upcoming opening of its Centre of Excellence and Circular Innovation in Barcelona. The opening of this centre is scheduled for the third quarter of 2023 and will mark an important milestone in the company’s global expansion.

The main objective of the centre of excellence will be to foster innovation in the design of products that meet customers’ sustainability objectives. Berry Global is committed to delivering a new generation of circular products, giving its international customers access to advanced and sustainable solutions. This revolutionary approach will drive the adoption of more environmentally friendly practices in the packaging industry.

With the opening of this centre of excellence, Berry Global will also generate new job opportunities in the vibrant city of Barcelona. The company intends to recruit local talent, taking advantage of the cultural diversity and rich supply of talent that characterises this European metropolis.

Berry Global’s centre of excellence will focus on developing innovative circular solutions that improve recyclability and reduce waste. It will also provide a collaborative space where customers will be able to work closely with Berry experts on customised projects tailored to their specific circularity needs. In addition, visitors will be able to explore an interactive learning area that will allow them to get an up-close look at Berry’s latest sustainable product developments, as well as learn about the design, manufacturing and recycling processes.

Berry Global’s new centre in Barcelona will be staffed by a team of more than fifty committed professionals. These talented individuals will work in a state-of-the-art environment, supporting the company’s vision of building and maintaining a diverse and highly skilled workforce. In addition, Barcelona’s strategic location, with its international airport, will provide an ideal platform for global collaboration with clients around the world.

With this initiative, Berry Global reinforces its commitment to leading the sustainable packaging industry and contributing to a greener future. The Circular Centre of Excellence and Innovation in Barcelona represents a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards creating more sustainable and efficient packaging solutions.

Toyota’s logistics division boosts employment in Catalonia with the creation of 300 new jobs in its new centre

In an exciting event, Toyota Material Handling España, the world-renowned logistics subsidiary, has broken ground on its innovative new headquarters in Sabadell, Barcelona. Toyota Material Handling Spain’s managing director, Joan Catalán, was present at the ceremony, highlighting the company’s commitment to growth and sustainability.

Scheduled for completion in 2024, the new centre will occupy an impressive 16,500 m2 on a 37,247 m2 plot of land. There, a team of 225 professionals, in addition to on-site associates, will work closely together to provide exceptional service to Toyota Material Handling España’s customers.

This significant development will enable the company to further enhance its ability to deliver efficient logistics solutions and advance its commitment to achieving zero emissions across its operations. The site has been designed with state-of-the-art technologies and systems to maximise efficiency and reduce the carbon footprint, demonstrating Toyota Material Handling España’s focus on sustainability.

Joan Catalán, general manager of Toyota Material Handling Spain, expressed his enthusiasm for this new move to Sabadell, highlighting the choice of location for its modernity and convenience for the team. The new centre will integrate several activities, including distribution, marketing and after-sales service of industrial machinery, as well as financial services, automation projects and sustainable energy.

The construction of this modern headquarters reflects Toyota Material Handling Spain’s commitment to providing exceptional service, fostering innovation and contributing to the region’s economic growth.

The INCASÒL puts on sale three plots of the sector of economic activities Puig Vell de Roda de Ter to promote local development

Roda de Ter has experienced notable industrial development thanks to Puig Vell, a sector that has provided new land area to meet the industrial demand in the area. This diversified and constantly expanding sector is characterised by the prominent presence of the agri-food industry, the leather sector, metallurgy and logistics transport.

With a total surface area of 16 hectares, Puig Vell has become an important pole of attraction for companies from various sectors. Prominent companies such as Costa Food Meat, Acto Reparación Blanco SLU, Ovinos del Ter, SL and Ova Projects have already acquired land in this area to develop their business projects. Likewise, other companies, including Tierras Boix, La Selecta and Muebles Bellmunt, have plots of land in the sector and have plans to start their activities in the near future.

Puig Vell enjoys a privileged location, bordering in the south with the municipality of Les Masies de Roda and in the north with the C-153 road from Vic to Olot, which is the main access to the area and very close to exit 183 of the C-25 motorway. This booming sector has consolidated itself as an effective response to the demand for industrial land in the area, driving economic development and generating new employment opportunities in Roda de Ter.

This booming sector has established itself as an effective response to the demand for industrial land in the area, driving economic development and generating new employment opportunities in Roda de Ter. With its industrial diversity and strategic location, Puig Vell continues to attract investment and reaffirm its position as a key economic driver in the region.

The Port of Barcelona launches the call for tenders for the third phase of the extension of the Adossat quay

The Board of Directors of the Port of Barcelona has approved the tender for the superstructure works for the third phase of the extension of the Adossat quay. This important investment has a base budget of seven million euros, excluding IVA, and its main objective is the construction of 631 metres of promenade, as well as the installation of various port facilities such as scales, water service networks, telecommunications, medium voltage connection and drainage network.

The estimated execution period for these works is six months, as reported by the port authority. The purpose of this extension is to prepare the Adossat quay for the future construction of the MSC cruise terminal and the Ro-Pax terminal, as established in the agreement signed with Barcelona City Council in 2018. 

Once the works have been completed, the concessionary companies will be responsible for the development of the area and the installation of the necessary infrastructure to ensure its full operation.

The work to extend the Adossat quay at the Port of Barcelona includes the superstructure needed to install a medium-voltage network, which will enable electricity to be supplied to ships in accordance with the Nexigen quay electrification project. With this extension, the port seeks to strengthen its position as one of the leading ports in the Mediterranean, reaffirming its commitment to the modernisation and sustainability of its port facilities.

The first quarter of 2023 has seen steady growth in the Catalan economy

During the first quarter of 2023, the Catalan economy showed steady growth. Compared to the previous quarter, Catalonia’s Producto Interno Bruto (PIB) increased by 1.2%. Moreover, a year-on-year growth of 3% was recorded, indicating a favourable economic outlook in the region.

Catalonia’s economy shows quarter-on-quarter growth above the average for Spain and the EU-27, with an increase of 1.2%. On an annual basis, Catalan PIB has grown by 3%, driven by the industrial sector. Although this growth is lower than that of the Spanish economy, it is still above the European average. A technical recession, which had been a possible scenario, has been avoided.

Pharmaceuticals, machinery manufacturing, beverages and the automotive sector have performed well, while food and chemical production has experienced declines.

Health startup investment in Catalonia has increased by 87%, bucking the global downward trend

An astonishing 87% increase in investment in the health sector has managed to defy the downward trend observed around the world. The data has been provided by the Study on investment in the Life Sciences & Health sector in Catalonia 2022 promoted by CataloniaBio & HealthTech and EY.

During the year 2022, there have been notable declines in investment in the biotechnology and medical technology sectors in Europe and the US, according to the study. Making a big difference, the Catalan ecosystem continued to thrive and reached an incredible €445 million.

The main source of financing for companies in Catalonia continues to be venture capital (VC) funds. These funds have co-operated in raising €445 million, representing 77% of the total.

In the last year, notable deals have been carried out in the corporate sector, such as Medtech Impress, which raised €122m, and biotech companies Minoryx Therapeutics and SpliceBio, which raised more than €50m each, positioning themselves as key players in their respective sectors.

The digital health sector has raised capital of €39 million and operations increased by almost 20% by 2022. It is worth noting the increase in capital raised by service providers, with €28 million generated by 2022, €6 million more than in 2021.

The origin of the investments is mostly local. Around 90% of the shares of each company are owned by Catalan investors, with the exception of pharmaceutical companies, which tend to obtain foreign investment.

Health Sector Development in 2022

The study was based on direct surveys of companies and institutions belonging to CataloniaBio & HealthTech. The report includes the perspective of investors, offering a complementary view of the sector.

According to the data collected, 80% of the companies surveyed achieved their targets for 2022. Product development companies in the biotech and Medtech sectors were 71% and 82% successful respectively.

In addition, 92% of companies in digital health and 71% in the services sector also met their targets. The pharmaceutical industry performed outstandingly well, with 100% of companies surveyed meeting their targets. Both companies and investors are satisfied with the performance of the healthcare sector in 2022, considering it an example of the quality of the ecosystem and the professionalism of the sector in Catalonia.

INCASÒL opens the doors to economic success in Sant Feliu de Pallerols with the sale of its new sector of activity

The sector will remedy the lack of land due to the existing industrialisation in the area, thus avoiding the relocation of existing companies and expanding the industrial fabric of the municipality.

The two plots have a surface area of 8.483,31 m² floor area and 9.501,31 m² roof area and the other of 27.612,31 m² floor area and 27.612,31 m² roof area.

Organisations interested in acquiring a plot of land must have submitted their application electronically to the electronic registry of the Generalitat de Catalunya before 22 May 2023.

There is no limitation as to the sector to be exploited, there are several possibilities. Industrial and tertiary sector use is foreseen, but other uses such as logistics, warehousing, technical and environmental services, car mechanics, service stations, road services, catering, recreational, educational, health-care, sports for gymnasium activities, paddle tennis, etc., cultural and urban services are also permitted.

The Llongafollia Plan has a surface area of 8.31 hectares. The plots belong to INCASÒL, which are located near the town of Sant Feliu de Pallerols and bordering the C-63 road towards Olot.

A total of 3.6 hectares will be used for economic activity and will be concentrated on the land known as Plan de Llongafollia. On the other hand, the land to be ceded for public facilities and green areas will be in the part located in La Plana.

The new economic activity sector of Sant Feliu de Pallerols, carefully planned for harmonious integration with its surroundings, is strategically located near the natural park of the Garrotxa volcanic area.

Easter tourism boosts Catalonia’s economy with 90% hotel occupancy rate

Despite rising prices due to inflation, hotels in the Catalan capital were almost full during Easter. According to Eduard Torres, president of Barcelona Tourism, “It went very well. There has been a lot of demand.” Most visitors came from other parts of Europe, especially the UK, France and Germany, although there has also been an increase in visitors from the United States. The number of tourists from Asian countries is slowly increasing again as flight connections are restored after the pandemic.

The president of Barcelona Tourism, Eduard Torres, expects this year to be a good one in terms of tourism and believes there will be no increase in the number of visitors because of the limited accommodation options in the city. The president of the association of travel agencies Acave, Jordi Martí, has stated that Easter has been good for business, as more than 80% of the association’s companies have invoiced more in 2023 than in 2022 because of the good weather.

During the Easter holidays, hotels and campsites in the Barcelona area had high occupancy rates of 90% and 70% to 90% respectively. Most visitors were families and young people from Catalonia or other parts of Spain, followed by European tourists from France, the UK, Germany and northern Europe. Official occupancy figures will be known later this week.

AstraZeneca to create 1,000 jobs and invest 800 million in R&D in Barcelona, the largest foreign investment in Catalonia’s history

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will invest 800 million euros to create an R&D centre in Barcelona that will become a reference centre for clinical innovation in Europe in the company’s five main therapeutic areas.

The facility will bring together experts in clinical development and operations, pharmaceutical sciences, drug safety and data analytics to develop new therapies and address unmet patient needs. AstraZeneca’s CEO highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in the development of new medicines and announced the company’s investment plans in Spain until 2025.

In the drug research and development sector, Spain stands out for its high level of professionals and its R&D&I ecosystem. In Catalonia alone, there are 91 research centres and more than 1,300 biopharmaceutical, healthcare, MedTech and digital health companies. The country has authorised more than 900 clinical trials with medicines, demonstrating its commitment to innovation.

The company AstraZeneca has invested more than 93 million euros in innovative projects in 2021, and the investment multiplied last year, reaching almost 400 million euros. In addition, the international pharmaceutical investment project in Barcelona has the support of ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, the Catalan government’s agency for foreign investment and business competitiveness.

Barcelona has become a strategic location for AstraZeneca, especially since it opened, together with Alexion, its clinical trials centre for rare diseases with an investment of 32 million euros. According to ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment data, Catalonia ranks sixth in Europe in clinical trial development, with more than 1,200 active trials, 50% in oncology, one of the areas in which AstraZeneca is strongest. This demonstrates the importance of the region to the company’s innovation and drug development strategy.

The Fraunhofer research centre, the largest in Europe, to be based in Barcelona for the first time

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Europe’s largest applied research organisation, will establish its Spanish headquarters in Barcelona, in collaboration with the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC). This alliance will boost the internationalisation of the biomedical sector and contribute to the development of a hub for medical bioengineering in southern Europe, as well as for precision medicine and advanced therapies, with a research centre for bioengineering applied to health.

This project will accelerate the internationalisation of the biomedical technology sector and contribute to the development of a medical bioengineering hub in southern Europe. The Regional Ministry stresses that the benefits of this alliance will be the increase in the capacity to link academic research sectors with industrial sectors and the acceleration of knowledge transfer.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is an organisation with a worldwide partnership programme, with centres in Europe, America, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. In Europe, it has collaborative centres in Austria, Great Britain, Italy, Portugal and Sweden.

The port of Barcelona attracts more flows thanks to the success of Chinese vehicles

According to Salvadó, the figures indicate that the current volumes will have a knock-on effect, meaning that more and more Asian brands will use the port of Barcelona for their operations, which will allow for a significant future in this regard. Salvadó also mentioned that the port’s current silos will not be sufficient to accommodate the expected increase in volumes.

Lluís Salvadó stated that in 2022 the Port of Barcelona experienced an important development in the import of electric vehicles from American and Asian brands, which have chosen Barcelona as the most efficient port to enter the Iberian Peninsula and head to the rest of Europe.

The port’s president stressed that the increase in volumes will have a knock-on effect, which will also lead Asian brands to work with the port of Barcelona. Salvadó added that the number of electric vehicle manufacturers passing through his facility is around 20, but this number is expected to continue to increase this year.

The president of the Port of Barcelona has stated that the port is confident that the import traffic of vehicles produced in Asia will increase by 2023. According to Salvadó, the flow of Asian cars is considered a strategic commitment, and the figures indicate that more and more Asian brands will come to work through the Port of Barcelona. The president also pointed out that the port will have to make changes to accommodate this traffic, as the current silos will not be sufficient. In 2022, the port of Barcelona recorded a significant increase in the import of electric vehicles, which has led to the need to make modifications to the facilities.

Panattoni acquires land in Parc de l’Alba in Cerdanyola del Vallès to build a data centre

A technology campus of up to 68,000 m² will be built with a 42 MW installed capacity data centre, which is expected to be the largest in Catalonia. The estimated investment for the project is 300 million euros and the first phase, of 42,000 m², will begin to be built at the end of 2023.

Quark, a leader in Architecture, Engineering and Project Management for Data Centres, will be responsible for the design and construction of a large data centre in Cerdanyola, just 20 km from Barcelona.

The future operator and tenant will be defined after an orderly process led by Colliers and Telam Partners. The location of the data centre ensures unbeatable connectivity and immediate power availability, which guarantees the success of the project and is a sure bet for the business development of the future tenant.

Experts are confident that this project will be the largest Data Centre to be built in Catalonia and Spain, and will contribute to expanding the digital infrastructure throughout southern Europe and North Africa. In addition, the project has the support of the Cerdanyola del Vallès City Council.

LaSalle invests in a Scanell logistics ship in Barcelona for 35 million

LaSalle has invested 25 million to raise the property to 21,000 m2. The ship, which has been occupied by the French group Daher since the second quarter of 2022, is located at quince kilometres from Barcelona and 25 kilometres from the port.

Scannell Properties is a private equity company specializing in promoting developed real estate. They have offices in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, where they have carried out over 360 projects with a total volume of 7.8 million m2.

Since its inception to the national market, the company has deployed a growth strategy, buying land in different parts of the territory. The last operation was at the La Cova industrial estate in Manises, Valencia, with the development of a 19.171 m2 logistical platform.

The logistics centre will be state-of-the-art, sustainable, with additional offices and adapted to customer needs. It will be erected on a plot of 26,589 m2, where a warehouse of 16,612 m2, with offices and anexos buildings, will be built, totaling 2,559 m2 more.

It will have twenty loading docks, a large 32-metre maneuvering beach and a ship-free height of over 11 metres. It will have outdoor parking areas. It is expected to be completed during the third quarter of 2023.

INCASÒL encourages the economic promotion of Parc de l’Alba in Cerdanyola del Vallès

The Institut Català del Sòl, INCASÒL, promotes the environmental promotion of Parc de l’Alba and the municipality of Cerdanyola del Vallès by making the plots available to facilitate the expansion of the activity of the Alba synchrotron.

These new spaces will allow for more detailed and faster analysis of the development of drugs, microchips and green energy.

Parc de l’Alba is located in Cerdanyola del Vallès, north of the city of Barcelona. It is being consolidated as one of the main strategic projects. From Catalonia offering new investment opportunities.

A location surrounded by nature with good connection and connectivity with affordable homes.

The German company BASF will build a new international hub of engineering on the Tarragona plant

Carles Navarro, the general manager of BASF Spain, announced this during the annual results presentation. He commented that Spain plays an important strategic role on the company’s gloal map.

Two locations in the Spanish territory will increase their activities. On the one hand, the center of production in Tarragona, which houses the engineering unit. And on the other hand, Madrid, will take advantage of the synergy with our main partners in the projects of naïveness in the country. One important point in these two new projects is the creation of new jobs, in both locations.

During this 2023, the group will invest some 43 million euros in Spain to improve facilities and processes. In digital transformation, Spain ratified its strategic position in 2022. In Tarragona, at the production center, it has continued to advance with its own private red 5G facility, becoming one of the first companies in Spain, and pioneering chemistry to receive a 5G spectrum of its own to operate.

ICC is performing a new 22.400 m2 logistic project in Sabadell

ICC, the company specializing in the promotion and management of logistical assets and Toyota Material Handling Espaaa have begun construction of the Sabadell ICC Logistic Park, a new project of more than 22,400 m2.

The hub logistic will be erected over a 37,247 m2 (3,247 sq ft) parent cell and will consist of two modules, one of which will be 16,500 m2, which will be the new headquarters for the Japanese company. This module is joined by another 5,900 m2, currently available.

This new Logistics Park will have the ICC label, which supports the highest levels of sustainability in the construction process and in the use of the building. In this respect, the logistics centre will have the most vanguard systems for waste management and energy efficiency.

Use measurements such as photovoltaic panels, LED lights, etc. In order to make it sustainable, the building is planned to opt for the LEED Gold certification granted by the US Green Building Council.

José Luis Martínez, a member of the ICC, comments, “the demand for logistical space remains strong in Catalonia and in this sense logistical centres with such an excellent location as we find ourselves in will continue to awaken interest from both tenants and investors.”

Toyota, future tenant of the new center

Toyota Material Handling Espaaa is one of the future tenants, who will move their headquarters from Barberà del Vallès to Sabadell next year. This location change is part of the company’s growth consolidation strategy, which aims to improve service.

With this privileged location, the firm will offer greater coverage thanks to its connections and facilities, created to provide good service.

Catalonia and Barcelona revalidate their first position in the European ranking in strategy to attract foreign investment

  • The Parc de l’Alba project in Cerdanyola del Vallès was a finalist at the MIPIM Awards as Best New Mega Developement.
  • FDi Magazine of the Financial Times consolidates the leadership of Catalonia and its capital in attracting foreign investment.

The Government of Catalonia, through INCASÒL, the Barcelona City Council and the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB) reaffirmed their commitment to inclusive, sustainable and cohesive development models at the world’s leading real estate fair, MIPIM. The fair was held in Cannes (France) from Tuesday 14 March until Friday 17, and was attended by more than 2,400 companies from some eighty countries. More than 2,000 investment and financial companies attended and more than 50% of the participants were CEOs and senior professionals.

Catalonia as a whole, especially Barcelona and its metropolitan area, has a great international, open and cosmopolitan vocation, which seeks to grow in an inclusive manner and to generate wealth and a diversified economy. It is in this sense that Barcelona has been awarded, this 2023, with the distinction of European Entrepreneurial Region.
This is why it is a very attractive territory for foreign investment and the attraction of international talent, as shown by various studies. In 2022, foreign investment in Catalonia reached 620 million euros, a figure that has been on the rise since 2018. Last year’s investment has led to the creation of 3,464 new jobs.

Under the slogan: A way of living! Barcelona Catalonia took its ambitious programme of promotion and investment attraction to MIPIM this year. It had a 250 m² stand and the participation of 35 public and private partners who jointly presented strategic areas and projects. The projects are located in excellent locations connected by a rich network of infrastructures that favour the development of business and host services for international companies and operators.

The outstanding projects presented at the stand were Barcelona Centro, the new 22@, the PDUAE of La Plana de Lleida and La Cònca de Òdena, residential sectors with land available for the development of affordable housing, Biopol-GranVia in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat and Fira, in Cornellà de Llobregat. In this edition, Catalonia Trade & Investment and the universities of Barcelona and the Diagonal-Besòs Campus of the UPC joined the project to increase the value of the offer presented to Cannes. All these business opportunities were projected onto the interactive Barcelona Catalonia model that captured the attention and interest of visitors to this year’s MIPIM.

Barcelona and Catalonia consolidate their leadership in attracting foreign investment

The European Cities and Regions of the Future 2023/2024 report published annually by the Financial Times group’s fDi Magazine ranks Barcelona and Catalonia as the best city and the best territory in terms of investor promotion strategy for the second year running. Thus, Barcelona is ahead of cities such as Berlin and London, and Catalonia is tied with the Ile-de-France region and ahead of the Madrid region and Scotland.

Specifically, Barcelona won the category “Major European Cities of the Future 2023 – FDI Strategy” for its commitment to technology and sustainability. The publication also highlighted the city council’s commitment to encouraging companies to invest in solar energy and Spain’s first green hydrogen plant. They also highlighted the “Plaza Barcelona” initiative, which uses virtual reality to promote the city and facilitate tasks such as finding work.

For its part, Catalonia tied for first place with the French region where Paris is located, in the same category but analysed by region. The jury highlighted Catalonia’s commitment to the SDGs and its digital transformation. It also emphasised the attraction pole, which are the 12 Catalan universities and their engineering degrees. These, according to the magazine, “create a pole of attraction of power that accelerates the transformation of the region” towards an industry 4.0.

The fDi Awards ceremony took place on Tuesday, 14 March.

Parc de l’Alba was nominated as Best New Mega Development at the MIPIM Awards

One of the projects presented at the Barcelona Catalonia stand, Parc de l’Alba in Cerdanyola del Vallès, was selected as a finalist in the Best New Mega Development category at the Mipim Awards, out of 186 projects from 38 different countries.

Parc de l’Alba, located around the Alba Synchrotron, is a new 340.6-hectare sector that will become one of the most advanced platforms for science, technology and entrepreneurship. Its location around the synchrotron and close to the Autonomous University of Barcelona make the site an ideal location for new companies related to research, science, innovation and technology.

The MIPIM Awards are a real estate awards that were created in 1991 and are internationally recognised. The awards recognise the most outstanding projects, consolidated or about to be built all over the world. This year, the awards ceremony was held on Thursday 16 March at 18.30.

Barcelona Catalonia conference. The ESG strategy towards better cities and stronger businesses

The official programme of MIPIM included the Barcelona Catalonia conference. This year, the round table will be entitled The ESG strategy towards better cities and stronger businesses and will take place on Tuesday 15 March at 17.15 in the Verrier Grand Audi hall, at the Palais donis Festivals in Cannes. The conference was given by Jordi Gálvez, member of the governing board of Llar Unió Catalonia, Maria Buhigas, from Urban Facts, Miquel Morell, from Promoacsa, economist expert in real estate trends, and Olivia Blanco, Director of International Operations at PGI Engineering; and was moderated by Carles Vergara, associate professor of Financial Management at the IESE Business School.

The conference focused on the importance of incorporating ESG criteria, which seeks environmental, social and corporate governance, in order to achieve better cities and stronger businesses.

The official programme of the fair also included the Barcelona Conference, where the Commissioner for City Promotion, Pau Solanilla, presented the Green Deal as a framework of opportunity for foreign investment aligned with the values of fairness, sustainability and competitiveness. The conference, entitled “The Barcelona Green Deal: New Investment Opportunities”, explained the transformation of the Olympic Port, the enlargement of Mercabarna and the Diagonal-Besòs Campus. The presentation of the Olympic Port was given by Olga Cerezo, Director of this project, who explained the urban planning changes that the area is undergoing in order to open up to its immediate surroundings and to respond to the challenges of this new stage as a new centre of business activity around the Barcelona economy, of nautical dynamism and development of a new gastronomic model. The conference took place on Thursday 16 March at 10 a.m. in the Verriere Grand Audi of the Palais donis Festivals.

Betting on public-private partnerships to attract foreign investors

As in previous editions of the fair, Barcelona Catalonia has opted for a model of collaboration between public and private agents in the sector to make the range of projects on offer more attractive to foreign investors. In this sense, the Mipim stand was attended by 35 companies with an international vocation and municipal, metropolitan and supra-municipal administrations that collaborate in urban development projects in Catalonia. On this occasion, the Barcelona Catalonia stand was attended by the city councils of Cerdanyola del Vallès, Cornellà de Llobregat, l’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Sant Vicenç dels Horts and Viladecans and the public institutions Catalonia Trade & Investment, Campus Diagonal-Besòs (UPC Barcelona Tech), Cimalsa, Parc del Començar el dia and the University of Barcelona.

Also in attendance were the companies Amat Immobiliaris, API – Col-legi i Associació d’Agents Immobiliaris, Archikubik, BuildingCenter, Cornex Capital, Fabregat Perulles Sales, Forcadell, Gina Barcelona Architects, Grup aFinance (aCapital – aRetail), L35 Architects, Maher Homes, Lava Corporació, Barcino Property, Domus Management, Fomenti, Invest Center Catalonia, Jap, JG Enginyers, Meridiana, Smart Point, Spinnia, Tasinsa, TrGrupo Immobiliario and the social housing cooperative Llar Unió Catalonia.

 

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