Barcelona Emerges as a Global Top 3 Hub for AI Investment

Barcelona is the third city worldwide for attracting foreign investment projects in Artificial Intelligence (AI). This is one of the findings of the Global Location Trends 2025 report produced by international consultancy IBM, through its Plant Location International unit and in collaboration with Moody’s, which analyzes business investment location decisions worldwide during 2024.

“Catalonia is a leading destination for technology-driven investment projects, particularly in the strategic field of Artificial Intelligence”

Jaume Baró, CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment

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According to Jaume Baró, Secretary for Business and Competitiveness and CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment, this recognition "underlines Catalonia’s attractiveness as a top-tier destination for technology-driven investment projects, especially in a field as relevant as Artificial Intelligence, which is increasingly present in the daily activity of all companies". Baró highlighted that "the Catalan Government, through Catalonia Trade & Investment, gives top priority to attracting foreign investment that generates wealth and jobs in Catalonia, and it is highly significant that international institutions such as IBM and Moody’s underline these results".

According to the report, Barcelona ranks only behind London and Singapore globally in attracting foreign investment in AI. It is therefore the leading city in the European Union in this category.

IBM’s study also analyzed job creation associated with foreign investment. Here, the consultancy concludes that Catalonia is the top region in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), capturing 20 % of all jobs created in Spain, ahead of Madrid, which accounts for 14 %. At the city level, Barcelona again ranks third within the EMEA region, behind London and Dubai.

This report, which started being published in 2006, highlights international cross-border business location decisions taken in the previous year. It assesses the capacity of countries, regions, and cities to attract new projects or expand existing ones, as well as the expected job creation generated by these investments.

160 international tech hubs

Catalonia is currently home to 160 international technology hubs, 9 % more than the previous year, according to the latest Tech Hubs Overview report (.PDF document) prepared by Mobile World Capital Barcelona (MWCapital) together with ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment, the Catalan Government’s agency for business competitiveness under the Ministry for Business and Labour, and the International Economic Promotion Directorate of Barcelona City Council.

These hubs created 6,191 new jobs in 2024 (up 22 %) and now employ a total of 34,869 people. Their presence, with high-value-added activities, demonstrates Catalonia’s – and particularly Barcelona’s – capacity to attract technological investment from multinationals, generating significant impact on the Catalan economy and on job creation.

AI in Catalonia

According to an ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment study, nearly 500 companies in Catalonia are dedicated to AI, with a combined turnover of more than €2.155 billion and employing almost 14,500 people – figures that have continued to grow in recent years. Furthermore, some 41 % of Catalan companies invested in digital transformation in 2024 (up 38.6 % over the previous year), driven mainly by the adoption of AI, which was the most widely implemented technology that year.

In total, 24 % of Catalan companies with more than nine employees invested in AI-related technologies, including generative AI, in 2024. This figure almost doubles the share of companies that incorporated AI in 2023 (12.6 %). In parallel, it is notable that 37 % of the foreign investment projects attracted by the Government through ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment in 2024 were in the technology sector.

Global corporations are betting strongly on Catalonia as a hub for AI innovation. Microsoft opened a research and development hub in Barcelona fully focused on artificial intelligence, while Apple announced that it will establish the headquarters for its AI and machine learning team in the city.

NTT Data selected Barcelona to host the European headquarters of its Global Center of Excellence, specialized in advanced AI solutions. Similarly, GFT has been developing digital transformation and AI projects from Barcelona, reinforcing the city’s position as a reference for applied innovation.

In the life sciences field, Sanofi is opening an innovation center in Barcelona, creating 300 new jobs and accelerating projects that integrate AI into healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Creative industries are also represented: Sony AI chose Barcelona as one of its global bases, attracted by the city’s unique blend of talent, creativity, and inspiration.