Health & Life Sciences
in Catalonia

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

With a vigorous ecosystem of over 1,650 companies, world-class infrastructure, and a progressive policy environment, Catalonia offers unmatched opportunities for international investors and businesses seeking growth in this sector. And growth there is, with 81 investment organizations and 415 startups in the health tech sector, which represents 17.3% of the total 2,403 startups in Catalonia.

A powerful economic engine for Catalonia

The life sciences sector is a cornerstone of the Catalan economy, contributing 4.6% to the region's GDP and representing 2.1% of the working population, a workforce of 84,781 people, and a turnover of 29.23 billion euros. Catalonia has historically accounted for almost 50% of the Spanish pharmaceutical industry, making it a robust sector. 

Foreign direct investment (FDI) underscores the region’s international appeal. Between 2021 and 2025, Catalonia attracted €2.38 billion in life sciences FDI, creating over 5,149 jobs. This influx underscores Catalonia’s business-friendly environment and its reputation as a global hub for innovation.

Barcelona-Catalonia, a leading innovation hub

Innovation needs the right conditions, and Spain’s solid healthcare system, together with high-level scientific facilities, highly qualified professionals, favorable regulations, and growing recruitment of subjects, all enhance the attractiveness of its pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, Catalonia ranks internationally in 4th in Europe and 7th in the world in terms of active clinical trials, engaging with 92% of the clinical trials performed in Spain, clearly standing out as the leading region in Spain in this respect.

Catalonia ranks first in Europe for the percentage of high-impact articles and third among European regions for publications in Highly Cited Papers and patents, and first in Spain. Leading facilities such as the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park and the Centre for Genomic Regulation have helped place Catalonia at the forefront of biomedical innovation.

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

Artificial intelligence is rapidly gaining ground in Catalonia’s BioRegion, with 184 AI tools currently registered by 85 entities, and 58% already in advanced stages of development or deployment. The most common applications are in radiology and oncology, with generative AI entering the field with 7 care tools. Notably, 83% of these AI solutions are designed for use in hospital settings, highlighting their relevance for real-world care. Public-private collaboration also plays a key role, with 46% of partnerships actively involved in the deployment of AI technologies across the healthcare system.