Catalonia has 374 deep tech startups, 10% more than last year

Catalonia has 374 deep tech startups, 10% more than last year and representing 16.4% of all Catalan emerging companies, according to a study by ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment. The report was presented publicly on Wednesday during the Barcelona Deep Tech Summit, organized by Barcelona Activa, and highlights the sustained growth of these companies, which now generate a turnover of €167 million and employ 2,846 people, a 1% and a 4% growth over the previous year, respectively.

As defined in the report, deep tech companies are those that use disruptive technologies based on scientific research and advanced engineering, with high potential impact on solving global challenges and creating new markets. These startups share characteristics such as long development cycles, high necessary capital intensity, and the need to ensure intellectual property protection. On this last point, 57% of Catalonia’s deep tech startups already hold some form of patent or intellectual property protection.

“The sustained growth of deep tech companies positions Catalonia as a reference point for the development of technologies that will define the rules of today’s and tomorrow’s world”

Jaume Baró, Secretary for Business and Competitiveness and CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment

Share quote:

• X
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Whatsapp

Jaume Baró, Secretary for Business and Competitiveness and CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment, commented during the presentation: "The startup ecosystem is no longer just about quantity; quality now matters as well. The sustained growth of deep tech companies positions Catalonia as a reference point for the development of technologies that will define the rules of today’s and tomorrow’s world."

In Catalonia, deep tech startups mainly apply technologies such as biotechnology (35%), artificial intelligence (29%), and sustainable or advanced materials (11%), though other technologies such as blockchain, photonics, quantum computing, and semiconductors are also used.

In terms of sectors, deep tech startups in Catalonia are concentrated primarily in healthcare (45%), green energy (13%), and software and business services (9%), also standing out.

Record investment figures

The study shows that deep tech startups in Catalonia are growing faster than the overall startup ecosystem. Over the past three years, the number of deep tech companies has risen 28%, compared to 20% growth for startups overall during the same period.

Record figures were also achieved in venture capital investment, which reached €200 million in 2024, 26% more than the previous year. The report identifies Barcelona as the 6th largest hub in the European Union, with €610 million raised over the last five years (2020–2024). Catalan startups have also achieved strong results in attracting European funding for deep tech, accounting for 3.3% of total EIC Accelerator funds awarded over the past four years.

Female presence in a strong and diverse ecosystem

For the first time, the study analyzes women’s participation in the deep tech startup ecosystem. Women serve as CEOs in 21% of these companies, and 32% of founding teams include at least one woman—figures higher than the overall average for Catalan startups (22%).

Finally, the report highlights Catalonia’s strong and diverse deep tech ecosystem, which supports the growth of these companies. It points to the presence of research centers and institutions that generate spin-offs, incubators and accelerators, venture capital funds and investors, as well as public institutions and administrations that support the sector through programs such as ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment’s Startup Capital grant line.