A Year of Growth in 2025 with Major International Investments in Catalonia

This year, global leaders such as AstraZeneca, Sanofi, AGC, Elian, ICL & Dynanonic, HIPRA, and others have announced new facilities, major expansions, and strategic projects in Catalonia.

These investments strengthen the region's status as a European leader in life sciences, automotive, energy transition, digital infrastructure, gaming, and logistics.

Here is an overview of the 12 most significant investments in Barcelona-Catalonia for 2025:

#1: AstraZeneca invested €1.3 billion in its Barcelona headquarters, a global hub for biomedical research

 
The British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca announced a landmark €1.3 billion investment to expand its Barcelona headquarters into a global center for biomedical innovation. The project brings together 1,600 professionals and nearly 400 R&D initiatives, reinforcing Catalonia's growing role at the forefront of health sciences.

The AstraZeneca Global Hub represents a pioneering model of international innovation, combining biomedical research with data science and technology to develop new treatments in areas such as oncology, cardiovascular diseases, rare diseases, and vaccines, among others.

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#2: Repsol invested over €800M in the Tarragona Ecoplant, a pioneering project in Europe to produce renewable methanol

 
Repsol is investing over €800 million in the Tarragona Ecoplant, a pioneering project in Europe to transform urban waste into renewable fuels and circular products. This will add a solution for reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector while promoting the circular economy.

The startup of the plant, scheduled for 2029, will create 340 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, as well as 2,800 jobs during the construction phase. The Ecoplant will be integrated into Repsol's industrial complex in Tarragona, Southern Europe’s central chemical hub, to leverage existing infrastructure and accelerate the center's transformation into a multi-energy hub that will continue manufacturing products such as renewable fuels and circular materials.

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#3: HIPRA opened new €500M Biotech campus in Catalonia, strengthening Europe’s Life Sciences hub

HIPRA inaugurated a new €500 million biotech campus, expanding its research, production, and innovation capabilities. The new facilities strengthen Catalonia's status as a major European hub for advanced health solutions and veterinary and human biotechnology.

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#4: Chinese multinational Chery opened an R&D center in Catalonia

In 2025, the Chinese multinational company Chery established a research and development center in Catalonia. This investment project was facilitated and supported by Catalonia Trade & Investment, the government agency focused on enhancing business competitiveness within the Department of Business and Labour. Specifically, this initiative was made possible through the China Desk, which aims to attract investment projects that bring production facilities from China to Catalonia.

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#5: American company Digital Realty invested 230 million euros in a new Data Center in Barcelona

Digital Realty, a major American data-infrastructure company, announced a €230 million investment to develop a state-of-the-art data center in Barcelona. The facility is expected to begin delivering services in 2026, after completion of its technical phases and operational tests.

Recently, AQ Compute started the construction of a new data center in Barcelona, while Equinix opened a new €52 million data center in the city.

Together with Digital Realty’s latest investment, these projects confirm the growing role of Barcelona as a Mediterranean hub for interconnection and digital services.

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#6: US company Elian invested over €200 million to expand its plant-based protein facility in Barcelona

US company Elian is investing more than €200 million to expand its plant-based protein production complex in the Port of Barcelona. The project will scale up manufacturing capacity and reinforce Catalonia's role in the fast-growing alternative protein industry.

Supported by a €2.25M Catalonia Trade & Investment grant, one of Elian's main objectives for growth in Catalonia is to promote greater sustainability through an innovative process for producing clean-label, hydrocarbon-free foods. With this approach, the company aims to become a European and global benchmark in plant-based protein.

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#7: APM Terminals invested €156 million in Barcelona to boost Mediterranean logistics hub

Dutch global port operator APM Terminals is investing €156 million in modernizing and expanding its container terminal at the Port of Barcelona. Beyond capacity expansion, the project is also aligned with decarbonisation goals. By 2028, the terminal will integrate an Offshore Power Supply (OPS) system, enabling ships to connect to the local electricity grid while docked, thus reducing emissions and improving environmental performance.

The investment will enhance port efficiency, expand capacity, and strengthen Barcelona's position as a critical logistics gateway in the Mediterranean.

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#8: Lidl launched €140M logistics platform in Barcelona, its biggest in Spain

The German supermarket company Lidl announced it will invest 140 million euros in a new warehouse in Martorell (Barcelona). This is the company's largest logistics investment in Spain since its arrival 30 years ago.

The opening of this warehouse, scheduled for 2025, will allow Lidl to continue generating local wealth and employment, consolidating its position as one of the main drivers of the Catalan economy and labour market.

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#9: Japanese multinational AGC opened new plant in Catalonia with over €100M investment

Japanese multinational manufacturer AGC inaugurated a new production plant in Catalonia with an investment exceeding €100 million. The facility will expand the company's European manufacturing footprint and contribute to Catalonia's advanced industrial capabilities.

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#10: PreZero invested €42M in Barcelona to launch Spain's largest SRF plant and first urban biomethane facility

German firm PreZero has inaugurated Spain’s most advanced facility for the production of Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) from non-recyclable industrial waste in Barcelona’s Zona Franca. Marking a strategic milestone in the transition to the circular economy, the SRF plant is soon to be complemented by Barcelona’s first biomethane facility, the Bioenergy Factory, which will feature direct injection into the natural gas network.

With a combined investment exceeding €42 million and the creation of over 85 qualified jobs, the two projects position Barcelona and Catalonia at the forefront of Europe’s waste-to-energy innovation landscape.

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#11: Video game multinational Scopely opened its new tech hub in Barcelona, employing 700 people

U.S.-based Scopely, one of the world’s leading video game companies, inaugurated its new 8,500 m2 creative and technological video game development hub in Barcelona’s 22@ district. With this new facility, the company strengthens its presence in the Catalan capital as its main technological center in Europe, where it employs over 700 people.

To set up and expand in Catalonia, Scopely received support from Catalonia Trade & Investment, which also advises and assists companies throughout their post-establishment processes in the region.

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#12: Multinational company Sanofi opened an innovation center in Barcelona, creating 300 jobs

The French biopharmaceutical company Sanofi ​​​​​​announced the launch of an innovation and operations hub in Barcelona. The hub will create 300 highly qualified jobs by 2026 and is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year.

For this project, Sanofi has received support from Catalonia Trade & Investment, the agency for business competitiveness under the Department of Business and Labour. The agency provides advisory and support services to companies after their establishment in Catalonia.

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How about expanding your business to Catalonia?

Catalonia offers a dynamic environment for business growth, with a strong talent pool, strategic location, and a proven track record of attracting global industry leaders. Many companies are already thriving here; yours could be next.

Contact Catalonia Trade & Investment to explore the opportunities.

As we close 2025, our team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Here's to another successful year for Catalonia's growing business community.