Biocat 2024 Report of Activities published
2024 was a key year for connecting stakeholders, attracting talent and fostering knowledge transfer in healthcare.
The Biocat 2024 Report of Activities, published this September, showcases the organization’s intense, diverse activity during a year marked by the launch of strategic projects, international projection and the consolidation of the BioRegion of Catalonia as a European benchmark in healthcare innovation. The document highlights both the range of programs led by Biocat and the projects and activities that have had a significant impact, all aligned with the organization’s strategic priorities.
2024: A year of driving and consolidating
2024 was a pivotal year for the BioRegion of Catalonia, with the presentation of the 2023 BioRegion Report, which highlighted the sector’s resilience and maturity: more than 1,400 companies, 91 research organizations and roughly 264,000 jobs, representing 7.9% of Catalonia’s GDP.
Plus, the new Biocat Board of Trustees, chaired by Salvador Illa, has reinforced the vision of putting Catalonia at the peak of scientific and technological innovation. Biocat was also awarded the bronze label for “Cluster Management Excellence,” consolidating its role as a connector of the BioRegion and a creator of strategic alliances within the ecosystem and with other international clusters.
Boosting technology transfer, talent and innovation
Throughout 2024, Biocat strengthened its activity by promoting programs in innovation, training, project acceleration and access to capital for startups in the healthcare sector. The seventh edition of CRAASH Barcelona selected six teams to help bring their innovations to clinical practice and the market. At the same time, the second edition of the d·HEALTH Barcelona Part Time program engaged six multidisciplinary teams in developing technology based solutions to address real needs identified at leading hospitals. The third Tech Transfer Day was also held, bringing together more than 120 professionals from the healthcare technology transfer sector. Finally, the Startup Support Program gave three emerging companies personalized support to facilitate their access to investors and strategic partners.
New projects to foster innovation and transfer within the healthcare system
At the same time, key strategic projects were launched to accelerate healthcare innovation in Catalonia. In May, the Healthcare System Access Program (PASS) was launched to streamline the incorporation of innovative solutions into the healthcare system through a new innovation platform and a support unit for high impact projects. In June, there was the presentation of the Advanced Therapies Hub of Catalonia (ATMP Catalonia), which already has 45 member companies and organizations with eight working groups focused on training, technology transfer, scaling, production and connection with the healthcare system. On a European level, Biocat is leading the PRECISEU project, an initiative on personalized medicine and advanced therapies with 25 partners from 12 regions and a total budget of €23 million.
International positioning and influence
En l’àmbit internacional, Biocat ha intensificat l’impuls internacional de la BioRegió amb una participació activa en les principals conferències globals del sector salut i innovació. La segona edició de la Barcelona Health Innovation Week ha duplicat la participació i s’ha consolidat com una cita de referència europea. També ha tingut presència destacada en esdeveniments com la BIO International Convention (San Diego), BIO-Europe Spring (Barcelona), RESI Europe (Barcelona), Advanced Therapies Europe (Lisboa), BioJapan (Yokohama) i HealthTech Forward (Barcelona), afavorint aliances estratègiques, inversió i projecció exterior. A més, les missions institucionals a Boston i el Japó han permès establir noves col·laboracions en recerca clínica, transferència de coneixement i obertura als mercats asiàtics i americans.
Internationally, Biocat has strengthened the global positioning of the BioRegion through active participation in major international conferences on healthcare and innovation. The second Barcelona Health Innovation Week doubled turnout and consolidated its status as a benchmark European event. Biocat also had a strong presence at events like the BIO International Convention (San Diego), BIO-Europe Spring (Barcelona), RESI Europe (Barcelona), Advanced Therapies Europe (Lisbon), BioJapan (Yokohama) and HealthTech Forward (Barcelona), fostering strategic alliances, investment and international visibility. Moreover, institutional missions to Boston and Japan enabled new collaborations in clinical research and knowledge transfer, as well as access to Asian and American markets.
Communication, visibility and impact
Throughout 2024, Biocat enhanced its presence and influence in the sector through multiple communication and dissemination channels. The redesigned website, updated daily, now gets more than 130,000 annual visits and includes information on more than 1,600 companies and organizations. In 2024, Biocat published 74 original news articles, interviews and reports. Its electronic communications reached more than 12,658 subscribers with an open rate of 32%, while its social media channels surpassed 58,000 followers, with LinkedIn as the main channel. In terms of media presence, Biocat and its activities had 48 mentions in the written press and over 400 in digital media, up 3% from the previous year.
Strategic alliances and institutional recognitions
This year, Biocat further reinforced its positioning through new alliances and institutional recognitions. It signed a strategic agreement with Farmaindustria to promote healthcare innovation in Catalonia and forged an alliance with Fenin to support the development and digitalization of healthcare technologies. Additionally, Biocat joined the Barcelona International Welcome Desk initiative to facilitate the integration and attraction of international talent.
Looking ahead, the organization will continue working to anticipate the sector’s major challenges, aligning its activity with sustainability, digitalization, technological sovereignty and the resilience of the healthcare system. The Biocat 2024 Report of Activities reflects the organization’s commitment to promoting public-private partnership, innovation and the international projection of the BioRegion of Catalonia.