Catalonia’s space technologies sector is made up of over 80 companies generating nearly €240 million in revenue

Catalonia’s space technologies sector is now made up of 83 companies generating €237 million in revenue (2024 data). This is one of the main conclusions of an ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment study, the agency for business growth belonging to the Ministry for Business and Labour, carried out in collaboration with the Secretariat for Digital Policies and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC). According to the report Space technologies in Catalonia, the number of companies in the sector has more than tripled since 2019, and these companies now employ a total of 1,822 people.

According to the Minister for Business and Labour, Miquel Sàmper, "the study demonstrates the potential of the space sector as a driver of industrial growth, investment attraction and the creation of skilled jobs, particularly in high-value-added segments." In Sàmper’s view, "Catalonia has the ambition and the assets to lead the future of space, a highly strategic sector. This is why the Government is driving the Catalonia Space Strategy 2030, helping to contribute to European technological sovereignty in this field."

The space technologies value chain in Catalonia includes component suppliers; infrastructure and testing, with specialist centers and facilities for integrating and verifying the correct operation of space systems; launchers and propulsion systems, covering the rockets, engines and control systems that make it possible to launch and place satellites in space; and operations and ground stations that monitor them. It also includes Earth observation activities based on space data; telecommunications, cybersecurity and navigation services that ensure communications, positioning and geospatial analysis; as well as support, consultancy and engineering services.

“Catalonia has the ambition and the assets to lead the future of space, a highly strategic sector”

Miquel Sàmper, Minister for Business and Labour

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Catalonia’s space technologies sector is largely made up of SMEs, which account for 88% of all companies, and has a significant entrepreneurial base, with startups representing 29% of the total. It is also a growing sector: over half of companies (51%) are less than ten years old, while 21% report revenues of more than €10 million. The report also highlights the sector’s international outlook, with 33% of companies exporting and 13% subsidiaries of foreign companies.

In terms of the value chain, 40% of companies operate in Earth observation-related activities. They are followed by technology and consultancy providers (29%), companies specializing in telecommunications and cybersecurity (21%), and component suppliers (17%).

As regards funding raised by startups in the sector, the report highlights that Barcelona has become the fourth-ranked city in the European Union for private investment raised over the last five years (2021–2025), behind Toulouse, Berlin and Munich. Specifically, Catalan startups such as Sateliot⁠, Pangea Propulsion⁠, Kreios Space⁠, Aistech Space,⁠ Fregata Space⁠ and EarthPulse⁠ have raised a combined total of $113 million across 13 funding rounds.

An ecosystem supporting the growth of the space sector

The report also highlights the role of the territory’s leading technology and research centers and universities in developing Catalonia’s space ecosystem. In particular, it underscores the role of the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) as a backbone for research, development and innovation in the sector.

Other key organizations include the Barcelona Supercomputing Center⁠, the School of Industrial, Aerospace and Audiovisual Engineering of Terrassa (ESEIAAT–UPC), the Castelldefels School of Telecommunications and Aerospace Engineering (EETAC–UPC), NanoSat Lab–UPC, the Computer Vision Center (CVC), the Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB),  Eurecat⁠,  IRTA⁠, i2CAT⁠ and the Institute of Photonic Sciences⁠, among others.

The report also highlights the work of the sector’s various clusters and associations, including the MAV Cluster, Cosmic Research, Secpho, AeroS, UPC Space Program, GoSTEM Space and the URE Catalonia Territorial Council.

With regard to leading initiatives and institutions, the study points to the Digital Catalonia Alliance⁠, an alliance promoted by the Government of Catalonia and i2CAT with more than 700 members, which includes space as one of its key technology communities.

The report also emphasizes the work of the Lleida-Alguaire Airport space hub, which brings together infrastructure and strategic space-related projects, and ESA BIC Barcelona⁠, the first European Space Agency incubator in Spain, which supports the creation of companies focused on applying space systems and technologies to terrestrial uses.

Trends, opportunities and challenges

The ACCIÓ-Catalonia Trade & Investment study also identifies the main opportunities and challenges in the field of space technologies. Opportunities include:

• Developing the sector through an ecosystem built on synergies between companies, technology centers and universities, moving towards an innovative economic model that generates high-value-added services
• The potential of Earth observation and the use of space data for environmental sustainability
• The development of new business models linked to the data economy
• Technology transfer and cross-sector innovation in strategic sectors such as energy, mobility and health
• Strengthening the region’s ability to attract international talent and investment.

At the same time, the report identifies significant challenges, including the need to consolidate and scale the business base; push forward with a clear regulatory framework for managing space data; strengthen the attraction of specialized talent; develop domestic launch infrastructure; and ensure the sector develops sustainably in the face of the growing challenge of space debris.

A global-scale landscape

Finally, the document also analyzes the international space context. It concludes that the global space technologies market will exceed $550 billion in 2026 and is expected to grow by 7.9% year on year through 2030.

In terms of foreign investment, the report notes that foreign investment in the aerospace sector exceeded €37.5 billion over the last five years (2021–2025), across more than 1,200 projects worldwide. The United States is the leading country of origin by capital invested in projects, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

Catalonia Space Strategy 2030

The study highlights the Catalonia Space Strategy 2030, which sets out the Government’s roadmap to strengthen the space industry in the coming years and contribute to European technological sovereignty. The plan aims to mobilize the entire ecosystem, from large corporations to startups, SMEs and research organizations, and to consolidate a diverse, competitive and productivity-oriented sector, with companies as the main drivers of growth and value creation.

As part of this strategy, Catalonia has established a public capital fund to boost the space industry, with an initial investment of €40 million. The strategy is structured around five major missions: positioning Catalonia as a hub of origin and connection for the space economy; strengthening technological capabilities at the European level; attracting and developing talent; consolidating a robust system for the sector based on a transparent, efficient and sustainable governance model; and positioning Catalonia as an international benchmark.