The city of Barcelona increases, year after year, its investment figures, production and attraction of new projects in the life sciences and health. There are currently 1.523 companies based in Catalonia, divided into the fields of biotechnology, medical technology (Tecmed), digital health (Digital Health) and pharmacy. And a total of 93 institutions such as universities, different research centers, hospitals, or technological science parks. Of this large conglomerate, the majority (94%) is located within the Barcelona area, and more specifically it is distributed especially throughout the capital itself (53.4%) and the municipalities of Sant Cugat del Vallès (5.3%), Cerdanyola del Vallès (3.7%), l’Hospitalet de Llobregat (2.6%) and Terrassa. All of this generates in economic terms 7,6% of the total Catalan GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and as a sector it ranks third, only behind commerce and the entire real estate field0.

Growing figures in research

These are the data that emerge from the BIOCAT 2024 Report (or the BioRegion), the document that reviews the major figures in the life sciences and health of Catalonia and which has reached, with this publication, its tenth edition. It refers in general to health but focuses on the broad emerging framework of biomedicine, the field that works on structural solutions to diseases while relying on microbiology. The importance of advances such as more direct therapies, new diagnostic tools, or research within immunotherapy or applied genetics, represent a huge step towards a framework of precision in more direct, much more personalized medicine. Specifically, the entire sector had a turnover of 44.8 billion euros in 2023 (the report’s reference year), 6% more than in 2022. And, based on these latest figures, it employs 75,379 people, 7.3% of all jobs in Catalonia. It is an exporting power, with sales abroad of 41% of the state’s entire set of healthcare products, second only to Madrid (48%). And investments from foreign companies and funds have increased by nearly 25% in the last five years, which have resulted in new headquarters and new research centers, which include 1,700 new employees.

 All this in a context that is led by small and medium-sized companies, which account for 89% (1.357) of this entire large network of production and research in the life sciences. The most prominent areas of these new companies are biotechnology and the design of new devices and focus on more specific therapies for the nervous system (14%), the circulatory system (13%), against cancer (13%), or also in mental health (11%).

The context of growth

Within Europe, research combined with ethics to leave animal testing behind is making this entire field based on various techniques grow exponentially. Biotechnology and biomedicine generate a whole new field for investment and optimism regarding the much more precise, less expensive and effective application of therapies, diagnostics and the most cutting-edge systems in the entire field of health.

 Barcelona is considering its growth in the Strategic Plan for Science and Innovation (2024-2027), which defines the scientific policies of the current mandate. Until the end of the period, the City Council will invest around 130 million euros, with prominent projects such as the new Hub around the Ciutadella (Ciutadella del Coneixement), or the future Health Campuses located at the Hospital Clínic or the VHIR (the Vall d’Hebron Research Institute).  Among the preeminent centers that have been operating for some time and contribute to healthcare advances, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, the UB Science Park, the Biomedical Research Park and the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (which includes 7 centers of excellence) stand out.