BIOSPAIN 2027 begins to define the key elements for its upcoming edition in Barcelona
Following the conclusion of its latest edition in Bilbao, BIOSPAIN is already preparing for its next event, which will take place in Barcelona (Fira de Barcelona – Montjuïc) from September 28 to 30, 2027. The Spanish Bioindustry Association (AseBio) and Biocat, the organization that drives and supports Catalonia's life sciences and healthcare innovation ecosystem —known as the BioRegion of Catalonia—, will organize this new edition in collaboration with the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council.
BIOSPAIN 2027 will once again bring together companies, institutions, research centers, investors, and other stakeholders from the Spanish and international biotechnology ecosystems to generate new opportunities for collaboration, investment, and business, as well as to address the key challenges shaping the sector's future. Internationalization and talent will once again be two of the main priorities of an edition that will begin taking shape this November with the launch of exhibition booth sales.
The upcoming edition will build on BIOSPAIN 2026, held in Bilbao from September 29 to October 1, which brought together more than 1,900 attendees from nearly 900 organizations across 32 countries, welcomed 95 investors representing 50 Spanish and international investment firms, and generated more than 4,000 one-on-one meetings over the three-day event.
Strengthening BIOSPAIN's international reach
Internationalization will once again be a central focus of BIOSPAIN 2027. English will remain the official language of the conference, and Mexico will be the Guest Nation for this edition, creating further opportunities to establish new connections and partnerships between the biotechnology ecosystems of Mexico, Spain, and Europe.
The organizers will also expand the Connecting Global Partners program, an initiative designed to connect international delegations with representatives of Spain's biotechnology ecosystem to exchange perspectives, identify new areas for collaboration, and strengthen international relationships.
This commitment will help further expand BIOSPAIN's international presence and reinforce its role as a gateway to Spain's biotechnology ecosystem and a connection point to other international markets.
Barcelona and Catalonia: A strategic ecosystem for European biotechnology
BIOSPAIN's return to Barcelona following the 2025 edition will bring the event back to one of Europe's most dynamic life sciences and healthcare ecosystems.
According to the BioRegion of Catalonia Report 2025, the ecosystem currently comprises 1,650 companies and 94 research institutions, generates more than 306,000 jobs, and accounts for 7.6% of Catalonia's GDP. Its ability to attract investment is also one of its greatest strengths: in 2025, the ecosystem's startups and scaleups achieved a record year, raising €517 million.
The report also highlights Catalonia's industrial strength: the region accounts for nearly 50% of Spain's pharmaceutical industry revenue and is home to 79 manufacturing plants, representing 44% of the national total.
This concentration of scientific, business, clinical, and investment capabilities provides a particularly favorable environment for one of BIOSPAIN's main objectives: connecting science, business, and investment and helping turn these connections into new opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Robert Fabregat, CEO of Biocat, stated: “The next edition of BIOSPAIN will be a great opportunity to showcase the scientific, business, and clinical strengths of the BioRegion of Catalonia and to strengthen the ties between research, industry, and investment. We are approaching this edition with great enthusiasm and the goal of making Barcelona and Catalonia a meeting point for Spanish and international biotechnology once again.”
A forum for major debates on European biotechnology
The BIOSPAIN 2026 program brought together prominent Spanish and European institutional representatives, alongside leaders from industry and research, in Bilbao to address some of the key challenges shaping the future of biotechnology. Participants included Juan Cruz Cigudosa, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Universities; Javier Padilla, Secretary of State for Health; Raquel Yotti, Commissioner for the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) for Vanguard Health; Teresa Riesgo, Secretary General for Innovation; and Kristin Schreiber, Director for Chemicals, Bioeconomy, and Retail at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs (DG GROW).
The event also featured Juan Bueren, Director of the Biomedical Innovation Unit at CIEMAT and a leading expert in gene therapy and advanced therapies, as its keynote speaker.
Other representatives from the European Commission and Spain's Ministries of Health, Science, and Industry also took part, joining biotechnology stakeholders in discussions on strategic issues such as the Biotech Act, European competitiveness and strategic autonomy, innovation funding, biomanufacturing, market access, and Europe's ability to turn its scientific strengths into business and industrial growth.
BIOSPAIN 2027 will continue this institutional and strategic focus, incorporating into its program the major debates that will shape the development of biotechnology in Spain and Europe over the coming years.
Talent will once again have a dedicated space
Alongside internationalization and the creation of business opportunities, BIOSPAIN 2027 will once again make talent a priority with a new edition of Talent Day, taking place on the final day of the conference.
This dedicated event will aim to showcase career opportunities in biotechnology to students, researchers, and professionals, while helping companies and organizations in the sector connect with the specialized talent they need to grow.
The initiative will build on the Talent Day held in Bilbao, which addressed topics such as professional development, the transition from academia to industry, talent attraction and retention, and the diverse professional profiles needed across the biotechnology value chain.
Exhibition booth sales will open in November
The first steps toward BIOSPAIN 2027 will begin in the coming weeks. AseBio will open exhibition booth sales in November, marking the start of the participation process for companies and organizations interested in exhibiting at the next edition.
Over the coming months, additional content, initiatives, and details of the BIOSPAIN 2027 program will be announced progressively. The event will once again bring together Spanish and international experts to discuss industry trends and challenges, featuring partnering activities, investor participation, a trade exhibition, and dedicated spaces to encourage networking and the creation of new collaboration opportunities.
