The BioRegion of Catalonia celebrates 20 years with 1,650 companies and €2,723 million in cumulative investment

Barcelona, November 2, 2026. The BioRegion of Catalonia has expanded its business base and capacity to attract investment, and now has a much higher level of scientific and clinical activity than two decades ago. The number of companies has increased from 856 in 2006 to 1,650 in 2026, while the number of research institutions has risen from 67 to 94. Between 2006 and 2025, 1,234 companies were created, more than 60 per year. This growth is also reflected in the sector's economic contribution in Catalonia. The life sciences and healthcare sector now accounts for 7.6% of Catalonia's GDP —0.8 percentage points more than in 2006— and 7.3% of total employment. Business data available through 2024 show that turnover has increased from €11,912 million to €29,229 million, while employment has risen from 36,686 to 84,781 people.

Investment and new research-based companies

Between 2006 and January 1, 2026, healthcare startups and scaleups raised €2,723 million. Investment has accelerated particularly in recent years: between 2021 and 2025, these companies raised €1,845 million, and in 2025 alone they secured €517 million, a record annual figure.

Funding rounds have also grown in size, with deals now exceeding €100 million. At the same time, cumulative capital contributed by international investors has surpassed that of domestic investors. Europe is the main source of international investment, while US investment firms account for nearly a quarter of it.

The connection between research and business has also strengthened. The number of spinoffs has increased from 30 to 302, while the number of originating institutions has risen from 20 to 102. Together, these companies have raised €1,327 million, nearly half of the total investment secured by startups and scaleups.

More research and clinical activity

Annual scientific output in the life sciences and healthcare sector has nearly tripled, rising from 3,547 publications in 2005 to 10,359 in 2024. More than 152,000 scientific articles were published during this period. Furthermore, between 2015 and 2024, more than 3,000 Catalan publications ranked among the world's top 1% most cited publications.

Catalonia has also secured more than €532 million in European projects and received 156 European Research Council grants, 41 of which were Proof of Concept grants. In clinical research, the number of active trials has increased from 781 in 2006 to 4,438 in 2025. Data for the period include 13,216 active clinical trials and 9,478 completed trials.

Some of the scientific, medical and healthcare milestones that stand out in this evolution include the following: in 2010, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital performed the world's first full face transplant. Hospital Clínic de Barcelona-IDIBAPS developed ARI-0001, the first CAR-T therapy developed entirely in Europe to receive authorization from a regulatory agency. The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices (AEMPS) authorized its use in 2021 to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In 2024, a study by Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau published in Nature Medicine suggested that people carrying two copies of the APOE4 variant could represent a distinct genetic form of Alzheimer's disease, a pioneering finding with implications for early detection.

Twenty years of Biocat: from building the cluster to leading strategic projects for Catalonia

Twenty years ago, Catalonia already had world-class universities and research centers, hospitals with extensive clinical capabilities, an established pharmaceutical industry and a new generation of biotechnology projects. The challenge was to connect these assets and develop a shared strategy to unlock their potential. In 2006, Biocat was founded at the initiative of the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council to bring together the health innovation ecosystem, known as the BioRegion of Catalonia, foster growth in the sector, encourage collaboration among its stakeholders and raise its international profile.

Over these two decades, Biocat has adapted its role to the needs and challenges of an evolving BioRegion. Between 2006 and 2010, it helped build the cluster and create spaces, tools and infrastructure to connect its stakeholders. Between 2011 and 2015, it strengthened connections between research, hospitals, entrepreneurial talent and businesses through programs such as d·HEALTH Barcelona. Between 2016 and 2021, it expanded its tools to accelerate projects, bring research closer to the market and increase international visibility, including CRAASH Barcelona. Since 2022, it has been driving strategic projects for Catalonia in advanced therapies, personalized medicine and innovation adoption, such as ATMP Catalonia, PRECISEU and INNOPASS.

A celebration focused on the future

The event celebrating the 20th anniversary of Biocat and the BioRegion of Catalonia brought together more than 1,000 professionals from research, healthcare, business, investment and institutions. The event was also attended by the President of the Government of Catalonia, Salvador Illa, and the President of the Parliament of Catalonia, Josep Rull. It provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made over the past two decades and address the ecosystem's future challenges.

“The BioRegion has grown in scale, strengthened its ability to attract investment, and consolidated its scientific and clinical activity. Over the past 20 years, at Biocat we have helped connect stakeholders, accelerate projects and companies, and raise the sector’s international profile. Today, we also drive highly strategic projects and position Catalonia in key European decision-making forums, where we help shape health innovation policies in response to Europe’s major challenges. Looking ahead, we must continue to move forward: accelerate the transfer and adoption of innovation, help companies grow, and ensure that new therapies and technologies reach people and improve their health and well-being, while safeguarding the sustainability of the system itself,” said Robert Fabregat, Biocat’s director general.

The event was supported by Amgen, AseBio, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Catalonia.health, Esteve, the "la Caixa" Foundation, GP Pharm, HIPRA, Johnson & Johnson, Menarini, Novartis, Oryzon, Palex, Pfizer, Reig Jofre, Roche and Ysios Capital.