Barcelona named the best startup ecosystem in Southern Europe

Barcelona has received the Best Startup Ecosystem in Southern Europe Award at StartupBlink's Startup Ecosystem Awards 2026. StartupBlink is one of the world's leading startup research firms. The Catalan capital earned the highest overall score among eligible city ecosystems in Southern Europe in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026.

The overall score combines the Index's three core dimensions: startup quantity, startup quality, and business environment. The award recognizes Barcelona as the strongest all-round startup ecosystem in the region.

The global research platform on economy and innovation presented the award to ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, the Department of Business and Labour's agency for business growth, in recognition of its work supporting early-stage startups through grants, acceleration, and internationalization.

“This award highlights that Catalan startups are a strategic asset, both for their ability to generate innovation and jobs and for attracting international talent and investment”

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The Startup Ecosystem Awards recognize startup ecosystem achievements worldwide through StartupBlink's research. The 2026 program featured an on-site ceremony at ICT Week Uzbekistan in Tashkent on September 23, followed by the online awards event on September 30, where Barcelona's award was announced.

The StartupBlink study analyzes more than 1,500 cities across around a hundred countries and considers, among other indicators, the number of startups in each ecosystem, their quality, and the business climate.

According to Minister of Business and Labour Miquel Sàmper, "this award highlights that Catalan startups are a strategic asset for the country's competitiveness, both for their ability to generate innovation and jobs and for attracting international talent and investment." He added that "the role of ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment drives this recognition and is the result of the public-private collaboration that helps nurture this ecosystem and project it to the world."

A growing ecosystem

According to ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment data, Catalonia is home to 2,403 startups, the highest figure in the historical series and a 5% increase compared to the previous year. The number of emerging companies has more than doubled since the first year of the series, 2016. This ecosystem now has an aggregate turnover of nearly €3 billion (26% more than a year ago) and generates more than 30,500 jobs (+34%).

These figures come from the Barcelona & Catalonia Startup Hub, a directory created by ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment in 2016 that lists emerging companies up to 10 years old (12 in the biotech sector) that are technology-based, have scalable and repeatable business models applicable in global environments, and are focused on rapid growth.

About StartupBlink

StartupBlink is a global innovation economy platform and research center mapping and analyzing startup ecosystems worldwide. Its research helps governments, investors, and ecosystem developers understand ecosystem performance, identify strengths, and make informed decisions.