Meet the 10 most disruptive companies in Catalonia in 2025

Catalan Economy

16 Jul 2025

The companies awarded were all recognized for their ability to generate a positive impact on society beyond their core business, their differentiated value propositions, corporate culture, and potential for exponential growth.

During Exponential Day, an annual event organized by Catalonia Trade & Investment to promote business innovation, Jaume Baró, Secretary and CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment, presented the 10 most disruptive companies in Catalonia for 2025. In his remarks, Baró announced that 24% of Catalan companies integrated artificial intelligence into their businesses during 2024, double the figure from the previous year.

During his address at the event, held this year at the WTC in Barcelona and attended by over 300 business leaders, Jaume Baró emphasized that companies must face “a fundamental challenge” and “step through the gateway of change to harness the power of data and artificial intelligence to transform their business models.”

“In Catalonia, artificial intelligence is already a strong business and economic reality”

Jaume Baró, Secretary and CEO of Catalonia Trade & Investment

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Baró also highlighted that “in Catalonia, AI is already a strong business and economic reality,” with an ecosystem of nearly 500 companies generating over €2.155 billion in revenue and employing 14,500 people, figures that have steadily grown in recent years.

According to data from Catalonia Trade & Investment, nearly 41% of Catalan companies invested in digital transformation in 2024 (up from 38.6% in the previous year), largely due to the adoption of artificial intelligence, which was the most widely implemented technology that year. In total, 24% of Catalan companies (with more than 9 employees) invested in AI-related technologies—including generative AI—in 2024. This figure nearly doubles the percentage of companies that adopted AI in 2023 (12.6%).

In addition, companies also invested in areas such as cybersecurity, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Disruptive innovation with a positive impact

The 10 most disruptive companies in Catalonia in 2025 are: 4BlueTech, Admit Therapeutics, Casa Batlló, Grup Estabanell (Energy in the Cloud – ERIA), MatHolding – VEGGA, Protofy.xyz, Sequentia Biotech, Sycai Medical, UniSCool, and Yplasma.

All were awarded the ‘Catalonia Exponential Leaders’ distinction, recognizing them as leaders in the field of disruptive innovation.

The startups and established companies awarded were all recognized for their ability to generate a positive impact on society beyond their core business, their differentiated value propositions, corporate culture, and potential for exponential growth. Also considered was their capacity to adopt disruptive technologies such as AI, big data, or advanced biotechnology. These companies specialize in sectors and areas such as health and life sciences, energy, agriculture, and culture.

The potential of AI and data for businesses

The seventh edition of Catalonia Trade & Investment’s Exponential Day focused on artificial intelligence and how businesses can leverage this technology and the power of data.

The event featured a keynote by Vanessa Cann, Managing Director and Head of Data and AI Innovation at Accenture, and a leading voice in Europe’s AI ecosystem. It also included a conversation between experts Genis Roca (President of Accent Obert) and Ignasi Costas (Managing Partner and Co-founder of RCD).

Participating companies were able to join sessions on applying AI to business and take part in networking opportunities.

Meet Catalonia's
10 most disruptive companies of 2025

4BlueTech

4BlueTech is a science-based startup that has developed modular microalgae bioreactors capable of absorbing up to 99.98% of CO₂ and other pollutants. This scalable, adaptable technology is designed for cities, industries, and hospitals, converting captured CO₂ into new materials and fuels to support a circular economy.

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Admit Therapeutics

Admit Therapeutics is a spin-off from IDIBELL specializing in early Alzheimer’s diagnosis. It developed the MAP-AD Test, the first based on a mitochondrial DNA epigenetic biomarker. It offers a pioneering tool for personalized medicine with a clear social focus.

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Casa Batlló

Casa Batlló has transformed the museum experience through immersive spaces, such as the Gaudí Cube and Gaudí Dome. By utilizing artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and big data, it personalizes visits and optimizes visitor flow, setting a model that can be replicated.

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Estabanell (Energy in the Cloud and ERIA)

With 125 years of history, the Estabanell Group is driving the energy transition in Catalonia through its spinoff startup Energy in the Cloud, which uses proprietary technology to stabilize the electrical grid. It also created ERIA, its open innovation vehicle, to connect with the entrepreneurial ecosystem and deliver new solutions to customers quickly.

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VEGGA - MatHolding

VEGGA, a joint venture by MatHolding and Sistemes Electrònics Progrés, is leading the digitalization of the agricultural sector. Its platform combines IoT and AI to manage crops more efficiently, optimizing irrigation, fertilization, and plant protection. Focused on profitability and sustainability, it partners with entities such as IRTA and BASF, and operates in over 25 countries, including Spain, Portugal, Chile, and Italy.

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Protofy.xyz

Protofy.xyz is a 10-year-old SME that democratizes industrial automation through Vento, an open-source platform that allows complex process programming using natural language and integrates existing code. It’s an affordable solution helping SMEs transition to Industry 4.0.

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Sequentia Biotech

Sequencia Biotech is a scale-up that has developed a cloud-based ecosystem capable of transforming genetic and microbiome data into actionable clinical information. Its tools, MICK and GAIA, are already used in hospitals and labs without requiring specialized hardware.

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Sycai Medical

Sycai Medical is a startup founded in 2020 that offers AI-based software for the early detection of pancreatic lesions, improving cancer diagnosis and follow-up. Its technology automates image analysis and report generation, making the process faster and more accessible.

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UniSCool

UniSCool is a spin-off from the University of Lleida that patented a direct-to-chip liquid cooling system capable of reducing server and equipment energy consumption by up to 70%. They are already working on next-generation chips with integrated internal cooling channels for greater performance and lower energy use.

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Yplasma

Yplasma is a spin-off from INTA using plasma technology to develop actuators without moving parts—enhancing aerodynamics, cooling, and surface disinfection. It provides a more efficient alternative to traditional mechanical systems, with clients in the consumer electronics, aerospace, and wind energy sectors.

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More information

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