Catalonia’s ICT sector doubles its value to €10 billion, driving growth and innovation across the economy

Catalonia's technology sector closed 2024 with a gross value added (GVA) of €9.955 billion, twice the figure recorded a decade ago, confirming its position as a key driver of the region's economy. The information comes from the 2025 Barometer of the Technology Sector in Catalonia, which was presented yesterday and produced by the Cercle Tecnològic de Catalunya with the support of the Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council.

Between 2008 and 2024, the sector grew at an average annual rate of 4.6%, far above the 1% growth of the Catalan economy overall, and now accounts for 6.3% of Catalonia's GVA when including indirect and induced effects, with a total impact of €14.86 billion. This makes the sector more productive than ever, generating €56.3 in additional GVA for every €100 of direct GVA, and creating 48 additional jobs for every 100 direct jobs, while its European performance surpasses countries like Austria, Denmark, Italy, and Greece and is just 0.4 percentage points below the EU average (excluding Ireland).

Business Momentum and the Strategic Role of Key Technologies

The sector continues to grow in terms of both company base and turnover, with a 3.76% increase in the number of ICT companies in 2024, reaching 16,020 firms—72% more than in 2008—while three out of four companies increased their revenues last year and 77.8% expect further growth in 2025.

Turnover reached €27.031 billion in 2024, equivalent to 8.5% of Catalonia's GDP, with key revenue drivers including artificial intelligence and machine learning (49%), cybersecurity solutions (43.8%), and big data and analytics (42.4%); looking ahead, 76.6% of companies identify AI as the technology with the greatest future impact, followed by cybersecurity at 45.3%, showing a sector fully aligned with global innovation trends.

Strategic Opportunities in Talent and Innovation Infrastructure

Catalonia's booming ICT sector is generating strong demand for highly specialized talent, with 1,811 positions remaining open at the end of 2024 and 80.1% of companies reporting difficulty in recruitment—particularly in high-value areas such as artificial intelligence (52.7%), cybersecurity (39.7%), and cloud computing (27.3%). This demand, driven by rapid digital transformation, underscores a prime opportunity for international collaboration, talent development programs, and investment in education.

In 2024, applications to ICT-related university programs (3,564) outpaced available places (3,173), revealing a dynamic and highly motivated talent pool ready to grow. With this momentum, Catalonia presents fertile ground for investors seeking to establish or scale innovation hubs, training initiatives, or global tech teams within one of Europe's most competitive digital ecosystems.

Source: Cercle Tecnològic de Catalunya