International delegations bolster knowledge exchange with healthcare innovation ecosystem in Catalonia

May has been an intense month for internationalization. Biocat and other organizations in Catalonia’s healthcare innovation ecosystem have welcomed institutional and business delegations from Luxembourg, Germany, Latin America and Sweden. These missions strengthen Catalonia’s position as a benchmark European hub in digital health, biotechnology and healthcare innovation. This activity will continue in June with a visit from a French delegation.

Luxembourg: synergies in digital health and data

On May 6, Biocat took part in the Spain–Luxembourg Economic Forum at the Barcelona World Trade Center to strengthen the international position of Catalan healthcare innovation. Biocat Strategic Foresight and International Relations Director Montse Daban moderated a panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities of moving towards a healthcare innovation model based on data, artificial intelligence and translational research. The PRECISEU project was presented during the session as an example of interregional collaboration among European ecosystems. 

• Topics included the value of health data, interoperability, the role of investors and hurdles to AI adoption.
• The panel featured noteworthy representatives from Doctomatic, Luxembourg National Data Service, CRB Token Health, NTT DATA Luxembourg, MDsim and TIC Salut Social Foundation.
• Catalan Ministry of Health Director of the Digital Health Strategy for Catalonia Jordi Piera Jiménez presented Catalonia’s roadmap for implementing the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
• On May 7, the delegation from Luxembourg visited the Barcelona Science Park to learn more about the local ecosystem of startups and initiatives like PASS and ATMPCatalyst.

Germany: ties with the leading hub in Berlin-Brandenburg

Under the framework of the 2025 Health Revolution Congress, the BioRegion hosted a German business delegation from the digital health, medtech and biotech sectors organized by Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) and CONOSCOPE GmbH.

• The main goal was to encourage knowledge exchange and explore technological collaboration opportunities among German and Catalan companies and organizations.
• They identified synergies in advanced therapies and personalized medicine (Advanced Therapies Network and PRECISEU), artificial intelligence applied to healthcare, technology transfer and talent mobility.
• Participants included VHIR Institutional Relations Director Laia Arnal and Leitat Executive Medical Director Esteve Trias, as well as representatives from several organizations, including Brandenburg Medical School, Healthcare Industries Cluster Berlin-Brandenburg, IMMUNEO Therapeutics, LINDERA, Potsdam Science Park and Remi Health.

Latin America: bridges with Latin American leadership in digital health

Also under the framework of the Health Revolution Congress, Biocat welcomed a delegation of healthcare leaders from several countries in Latin America on May 13, organized by TISAC and led by Andrea Barbiero.

• The Digital Health Learning Expedition brought together representatives from health ministries, hospitals and benchmark startups.
• Robert Fabregat (CEO), Sílvia Labé (Director of Marketing, Communications and Competitive Intelligence) and Adrià Gómez (Project Manager for Innovation and Business Development) shared Biocat’s strategy for the ecosystem and the core knowledge, acceleration, projection, investment and internationalization programs Biocat has led since 2006.
• They explored new collaborations and technology transfer opportunities between Catalonia and Latin America.

Sweden: exchange of experiences and synergies in advanced therapies

On May 26 and 27, a delegation from the Gothenburg ecosystem visited Barcelona to share experiences and explore collaborations with key stakeholders from the BioRegion. The main goal was to learn first-hand about the Catalonia’s model for developing advanced therapies and to identify best practices and future synergies.

• The Swedish delegation visited Sant Joan de Déu Hospital to learn about the hospital’s strategy and its advanced therapies platform.
• Afterwards, at Biocat, they met with representatives from the Department of Health, ACCIÓ, Hospital Clínic, Leitat, and Vall d’Hebron to gain deeper insight into Catalonia’s health innovation ecosystem.
• They also held meetings with the Blood and Tissue Bank (BST), ACCIÓ, and representatives from Catalonia Health.

France: next international delegation

In June, Biocat will welcome a French delegation, continuing this push for internationalization and knowledge exchange, further consolidating the BioRegion of Catalonia as a global meeting point for healthcare innovation.