Catalonia strengthens Life Sciences ties in North Carolina’s Research Triangle

 
Catalonia Trade & Investment hosted a strategic session in Raleigh (NC) to showcase the strengths and opportunities of Catalonia’s life sciences ecosystem to US industry leaders.

The event took place at the headquarters of the North Carolina Chamber, a key business organization representing 700 companies across the state, with a strong focus on biotechnology and health sciences.

Around 30 professionals from the biomedical and life sciences sectors attended, representing companies and institutions from the Research Triangle area,  including Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, one of the leading life sciences hubs in the United States.

The session was hosted by Gary Salamido, President and CEO of the North Carolina Chamber, Jake Cashion, Vice President of Government Affairs, Lorena Patterson, President of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and César Remis from the International Commerce Division.

Showcasing Catalonia’s BioRegion

Robert Negre, Director of Catalonia Trade & Investment’s New York Office, and Marcos González, Director of the Miami Office, delivered the presentation. They outlined reasons for life sciences companies to invest in Catalonia and highlighted the region’s competitive advantages.

A key part of the session was the presentation of the Catalonia's BioRegion Report 2025, published by Biocat, which offers an overview of Catalonia’s dynamic and expanding life sciences ecosystem.

Speakers provided updates on the Tech Hubs 2025 in Barcelona-Catalona initiative and reviewed major international business events and congresses in Barcelona. 

Toward stronger regional collaboration

During the event, both sides announced plans to formalize collaboration between their institutions to strengthen cooperation between Catalonia and North Carolina. The discussion highlighted key similarities, including their diverse industrial economies and strong life sciences sectors. 

The event also counted on the presence of executives from Grifols, whose US headquarters are located in Raleigh. Academic representatives from Duke University and NC State University also attended.

Catalan wines close the event

The Raleigh session followed two recent Catalan Wines USA events in Charlotte on February 24 and Raleigh on February 25. The event at the North Carolina Chamber concluded with a Catalan wine tasting.

Nuria Garrote, founder of Vinovi & Co, a Detroit-based importer specializing in Catalan wines, led the tasting, offering attendees a further experience of Catalonia’s excellence and international reach.

Catalonia: a connected and scalable life sciences hub in Europe

Barcelona-Catalonia, Spain’s most technologically advanced region, has become one of Europe’s leading life sciences growth centers and is increasingly attracting US executives seeking a scalable European base.

Today, more than 1,600 life sciences companies operate in Catalonia, spanning pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, digital health, and emerging fields such as cell and gene therapies. The ecosystem stands out for its scale, density, and connectivity, uniting global pharmaceutical leaders, innovative startups, leading research centers, top hospitals, and a rapidly expanding digital health and AI sector.

International companies, including Amgen, Teladoc Health, and Zoetis, operate strategic platforms in Barcelona. Major pharmaceutical groups such as AstraZeneca, through its Alexion division, have also strengthened the region’s R&D presence with long-term investments.

Barcelona also stands out for its strong cost-to-talent ratio, offering competitive operating costs compared to traditional European hubs while maintaining high research standards. The region combines scientific excellence, engineering capability, design culture, and growing strengths in artificial intelligence and personalized medicine, supported by leading institutions such as Biocat and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.

For US life sciences companies considering European expansion, Catalonia offers market access and an integrated ecosystem designed to scale innovation from research to global deployment.