Catalonia Trade & Investment

Barcelona, proud to host the 37th America's Cup in 2024.

Barcelona will host the 37th America's Cup, offering a unique opportunity for international companies to explore this thriving business region.

Explore the unique synergies between Barcelona & the America's Cup

Why Barcelona-Catalonia works for you

Barcelona-Catalonia is open to business and open to the world. A talented proactive workforce in a dynamic business climate offers international companies numerous competitive advantages.

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Industrial Ecosystem

Catalonia’s economy is industrially based and rivals any other location in Spain and in Europe. Industry represents 20.1% of Catalan GDP, above Spain’s average, and manufacturing and industry-related services amount to 50% of the global GDP.

The manufacturing industry is a strong asset for the Catalan economy and an important driver of employment and prosperity. In fact, Catalonia is the 4th European region by number of professionals employed in manufacturing activities (2022).

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Facts and Figures

Located in the north-east of Spain and with 7,7 million inhabitants, Barcelona-Catalonia is the most competitive economy in Southern Europe. It concentrates 22.3% of the Spanish industry, and its GDP (€270,710M) is higher than Portugal's and similar, for instance, to Finland’s.

Historically a trading nation, its strategic location in the Mediterranean and its transport infrastructures, as well as its entrepreneurial and business friendly economy, have made it a top location in the south of Europe. Add to that a capital city, Barcelona, that is an unbeatable meeting point for international business.

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Scientific Facilities

An extensive network of scientific and tech centers in Barcelona-Catalonia connects our talent at all levels while empowering numerous prestigious applied and basic research groups that make tech transfer an ongoing reality in all sectors.

Catalonia is home to some of Spain's top scientific facilities, such as the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia, the Institute of Photonic Sciences, the Alba Synchrotron, Barcelona’s prestigious Biomedical Research Park, and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.

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Research and Innovation

Thanks to its dynamic research culture, Catalonia is today consolidating its role as an industrial, R&D, and tech investment magnet. Barcelona, Catalonia's capital, not only is, in fact, the third favorite city worldwide for R&D investment (Global Cities Investment Monitor, 2022)), but tech investment itself has grown 72.2% over the last five years (2019-2023) with a record figure of 408 projects.

Today, Catalonia is home to the highest number of innovative companies in Spain (20.7%). It also leads the way in European patent applications, while over 50% of Catalan exports show high to medium-high technological levels. According to fDi markets, it leads within Spain in R&D investment, with 45% of total investment in 2023.

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Strategic Location

Barcelona- Catalonia is a coastal Mediterranean location in Southern Europe, bordering France and located in the north-east of Spain. The logistics network can access 400 million consumers in less than 48 hours by different means of transport: plane, train, vessel or truck.

With excellent transportation systems, it is the ideal place from where to reach markets in Europe, the Americas, North Africa, and Asia. Thanks to its close ties with Latin America, due to cultural, language and historical links, it is the natural gateway from Europe to markets in that region. Its capital, Barcelona, is one of the few cities in Southern Europe with full-modal transport integration (sea, airport, motorways & railways) within a 12-kilometre radius, each with global connectivity.

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Discover Barcelona-Catalonia’s top industries and technologies.

Strongly industrialized, Catalonia is one of Southern Europe’s main economic powerhouses as well as one of the world’s top spots to live & work. A wide and dynamic industrial base with strong connections to ICT, mobile & smart solutions makes it easy to find suppliers for any specific area of business in Catalonia.

Industries and technologies

Success stories.

Check out the testimonials of international companies that have already invested in Catalonia (Spain).

Latest News.

Read the latest news about Barcelona and Catalonia.