“The health innovation ecosystem in Catalonia is attracting more investment and strengthening its leadership in science and clinical research”
Robert Fabregat, CEO of Biocat
Catalonia breaks record with €517M in health startup investment
19 Feb 2026
According to the 2025 BioRegion of Catalonia Report, startups and scaleups in the life sciences a sector attracted a record €517M last year, a 43 % increase compared with 2024.
Catalonia’s health innovation ecosystem has reached an unprecedented milestone. According to the 2025 BioRegion of Catalonia Report by Biocat, startups and scaleups in the life sciences and healthcare sector attracted a record €517 million in investment last year, a 43 % increase compared with 2024 and a new all-time high for Catalonia’s innovative companies.
Strong venture capital and competitive funding
The latest figures highlight Catalonia’s growing strength as a magnet for both private and competitive funding. Venture capital continues to be the main engine of investment, accounting for €327.6 million of the total, with major rounds led by companies such as SpliceBio (€118 M), DeepUll (€50 M) and Qida (€37 M).
Competitive public funding - especially from European programmes - played a vital role in surpassing the €500 million mark, with €124.3 million mobilised in grants. This momentum reflects more than just capital: Catalonia now comprises 1,650 companies (up 8.3 % from the previous year) and 94 research institutions, strengthening the ecosystem’s critical mass and global competitiveness.
Life sciences, a strategic economic engine
Beyond investment volume, the BioRegion’s impact on the Catalan economy is significant. The life sciences and healthcare sector now represents 7.6 % of Catalonia’s GDP, making it one of the territory’s top economic drivers. Turnover hit nearly €48.7 billion, and the ecosystem supported over 306,000 jobs -more than 7 % of total employment in the region.
Catalonia’s strong clinical research activity continues to reinforce its international standing. The region participated in thousands of active clinical trials in 2025 and remains among the top European destinations for life sciences research and development. Scientific output and competitive EU funding per capita also rank highly, underlining the depth of talent and research excellence across Catalan institutions.
Looking ahead: from innovation to impact
Robert Fabregat, CEO of Biocat, noted during the presentation of the study: “The health innovation ecosystem in Catalonia continues advancing in its maturity phase: it is attracting more private and competitive investment, accelerating the clinical pipeline and strengthening its leadership in science and clinical research.”
The challenge ahead, he emphasised, is to “continue scaling up so that these advances translate into more innovation adopted in the healthcare system and a greater impact for patients and society.”
The presentation of the 2025 BioRegion Report in Barcelona brought together senior government representatives, investors and leaders from across the health innovation spectrum, signalling broad support for Catalonia’s ambition to further strengthen its role as a European leader in health innovation and biotech investment.
Source: Biocat
More information
Download the 2025 BioRegion Report (.PDF document)
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