Cybersecurity in Catalonia

Catalonia’s cybersecurity sector generates over €1.76 billion in annual turnover, up 19.8% year-on-year.

Download our report about the Cybersecurity ecosystem in Catalonia

In Catalonia, 607 cybersecurity companies employ some 12,000 professionals

Catalonia’s cybersecurity sector continues to expand, with 607 companies, an increase of 9% over the previous year and 72.4% since 2018. Together, these businesses generate €1.76 billion in annual turnover (+19.8%) and employ 11,887 professionals (+11.4%). It also has a strong international dimension: 24.1% of companies export their products and services, and 15% are subsidiaries of foreign businesses.

These are some of the main findings of the 2026 Cybersecurity in Catalonia report, prepared by ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment and the Cybersecurity Agency of Catalonia.

Search our database to find Catalan companies working in the cybersecurity sector.

A leading European destination for cybersecurity investment

Catalonia ranks seventh among European regions for foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in cybersecurity between 2021 and 2025.

During this period, the region attracted 13 international investment projects, 62.5% more than in the previous five years. These investments represented over €250 million in capital expenditure, seven times the previous period’s total, and generated more than 1,200 new jobs.

Catalonia also ranks fifth among European regions for Horizon Europe cybersecurity funding, securing €11.3 million across 19 projects between 2022 and 2024.

International companies are increasingly choosing Catalonia for their technology operations. Of the 203 international technology hubs established in the region, 39% work in cybersecurity. These include operations associated with major multinational companies such as Cisco, IBM, Oracle, Lufthansa, Nestlé, AstraZeneca, and Boehringer Ingelheim.

607 companies
11,887 jobs
€1.76B in turnover

“In Barcelona, we have many excellent research centers, mainly in the areas of life sciences, photonics, and supercomputers”

Mateo Valero, Director of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center

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An ecosystem combining established companies and emerging technologies

Catalonia’s cybersecurity ecosystem covers the full range of digital security services, from identifying vulnerabilities and preventing attacks to detecting threats, responding to incidents, and recovering compromised systems. The sector is also developing capabilities at the intersection of cybersecurity and other advanced technologies.

Protection is the largest business segment, with 90.6% of companies, followed by identification (65.9%), detection (43.2%), incident response (38.7%), and recovery (26%).

244 cybersecurity companies (40.2%) incorporate artificial intelligence into their solutions, while 43 (7%) work with quantum technologies. Another 108 companies (17.8%) develop cybersecurity products and services for the security and defense sectors. This convergence is creating opportunities in areas such as AI-powered threat detection, automated incident response, secure communications and post-quantum cryptography.

Barcelona’s cybersecurity startup ecosystem is also attracting venture capital. Between 2021 and 2025, 14 startups completed 19 funding rounds, raising more than $55 million.

Research, technology and specialized talent

Catalonia’s cybersecurity industry is supported by universities, research and technology centers, business associations and public initiatives that encourage innovation and collaboration. The ecosystem includes the Cybersecurity Agency of Catalonia, the CYBERCAT research network, the Digital Catalonia Alliance, ASCICAT and the DIH4CAT digital innovation network.

Barcelona also hosts the Barcelona Cybersecurity Congress, an international meeting point for companies, technology providers and cybersecurity professionals.

Furthermore, the Catalan university system offers 21 undergraduate, master’s and postgraduate programs specializing in cybersecurity, alongside 58 vocational training courses delivered by 47 educational centers, aimed at filling a growing demand for much-needed professionals in this sector.

Global cybersecurity trends and investment opportunities

The global cybersecurity market is forecast to reach $265 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of approximately 5.7%.

Financial services, public administration, telecommunications and IT, and healthcare are major drivers of cybersecurity demand. The growing adoption of cloud technologies and increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks are pushing further growth, while European regulations are creating sustained demand across critical infrastructure, financial services, industry and digital sectors.

Artificial intelligence is transforming the industry on both sides of the security equation. While AI-powered systems are improving threat detection and incident response, cybercriminals are using the technology to automate attacks and make them more sophisticated. Other important developments include the transition to post-quantum cryptography, the protection of critical infrastructure, digital sovereignty and the growing need for operational resilience.

For companies and investors, these developments are opening opportunities in automated security services, advanced threat intelligence, identity protection, secure cloud infrastructure and next-generation encryption. Catalonia’s combination of established international technology companies, research capabilities, and a growing cybersecurity business ecosystem provides a base for developing and scaling these solutions.