University of Barcelona Science Park consolidates growth with €124 million in investment in 2024

The University of Barcelona Science Park (PCB) continues to reinforce its position as a key hub within Catalonia's life sciences and health ecosystem. In 2024, the 86 spin-offs, start-ups, and scale-ups based at the park attracted a total of €124.7 million in investment, marking a significant increase from the €85.4 million secured the previous year. This figure represents the second-highest annual investment in the PCB's history, just behind the record €142 million reached in 2022.

With all its laboratory and office space, totaling over 22,000 m², fully occupied, the PCB is now operating at full capacity. This milestone highlights the growing demand for innovation infrastructure and underlines the park's strategic role in fostering biomedical R&D and entrepreneurial activity in Catalonia.

“These figures not only position us as a driving force in biomedical innovation in Catalonia but also highlight the success of a public-private collaboration model that we champion”

Maria Terrades, Director of the PCB

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In 2024, companies at the PCB showed clear signs of recovery and stabilization, particularly in terms of access to private capital. Private funding accounted for €97.5 million, consolidating its role as the primary investment channel in the health innovation space.

Public funding also gained momentum, reaching €27.2 million, a 53.6% increase over 2023. This growth reflects stronger support from competitive national and European programmes, including the Ministry of Science and Innovation, CDTI, the State Research Agency (AEI), Catalonia Trade & Investment, and AGAUR, as well as EU-backed initiatives such as Horizon Europe, the EIC Fund, NextGenerationEU, EIT Health, Eurostars, and InnoBuyer. These mechanisms are becoming increasingly influential in scaling R&D-driven projects and strengthening the public-private innovation model.

Reflecting on the year, Maria Terrades, Director of the PCB, emphasized the ecosystem's resilience and momentum: "2024 was a year of consolidation and stability for our ecosystem. The full occupancy of the PCB's facilities and the steady increase in investment reflect the trust placed in the science, talent, and innovation nurtured at the PCB." She also added: "These figures not only position us as a driving force in biomedical innovation in Catalonia but also highlight the success of a public-private collaboration model that we champion – one that continues, year after year, to demonstrate its ability to generate impact and shared value."

A key contributor to Catalonia's BioRegion

According to the latest Biocat report, the PCB maintained its role as a key driver of investment within Catalonia's BioRegion. The park accounted for 36% of all capital raised in the sector in 2024, equivalent to €347 million. This concentration of funding reinforces the PCB's position as a strategic asset within the region's innovation infrastructure.

Investment by subsector at the PCB followed previous trends, with medtech companies attracting €85.5 million, followed by biotech with €37 million. These two areas remain the main pillars of research and innovation at the park. Meanwhile, emerging fields such as deeptech and femtech are gaining visibility, with several success stories highlighting the evolving diversity and dynamism of the ecosystem.

With current facilities operating at full capacity, the PCB is already looking to the future. Plans are underway for the construction of the Cub building, a four-story facility designed to accommodate dry labs and research offices. Scheduled for completion in 2028, this expansion will enable the park to continue attracting and supporting high-growth companies in strategic areas of health innovation.

Source: University of Barcelona Science Park