AseBio and Biocat present BIOSPAIN 2025 in Barcelona with a strong commitment to the Catalan capital
During the official presentation of the event, it was announced that the Catalan capital, which successfully hosted BIOSPAIN 2023 and will hold the next two editions in Barcelona (2025 and 2027), will also be the venue for the 2029 edition, further strengthening its strategic position in the sector.
The Spanish Bioindustry Association (AseBio) and Biocat presented today in Barcelona BIOSPAIN 2025, the twelfth edition of Spain’s largest biotechnology congress and one of the leading events in Europe. The event will return to Barcelona from October 7 to 9 under the theme "Global crossroads, local vibes."
During the official presentation of the event, held at the Parc Científic de Barcelona (PCB), it was announced that the Catalan capital, which successfully hosted BIOSPAIN 2023 and will organize the next two editions in Barcelona (2025 and 2027), will also be the venue for the 2029 edition, reinforcing its strategic position in the sector. In this regard, institutions have highlighted Barcelona's importance as a European hub for health innovation.
Robert Fabregat, general director of Biocat, emphasized that the return of BIOSPAIN strengthens the strategy of attracting international sector-specific conferences to Barcelona. According to Fabregat, “Catalonia's ecosystem is an international leader in the business, scientific, and healthcare fields. At Biocat, we work to foster its growth, improve the healthcare system, and accelerate the arrival of new technologies to patients. This new edition will be key to generating business opportunities and fostering collaboration among all players in the sector's value chain, and therefore, accelerating the arrival of new technologies to the market and patients,” he stated.
According to Joan Romero, executive director of ACCIÓ of the Generalitat de Catalunya, “Catalonia is one of the leading global hubs in health and biotechnology. We have a top-tier ecosystem that includes SMEs, startups, and large multinationals that have chosen our country to establish their technology or R&D centers. Alongside universities, research centers, and cutting-edge infrastructure, these entities ensure the transfer of knowledge to the industry. That is why the BIOSPAIN event, once again, positions us at the epicenter of this sector in Europe and showcases to the world the talent and expertise of this industry, which is one of the top contributors to Catalonia’s economy.”
Jordi Valls, Deputy Mayor for Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion, and Tourism of the Barcelona City Council, stated that “it is no coincidence that Barcelona is a global reference city in the biomedical sector or that it has been chosen to host one of Europe’s largest international biotechnology events. This is part of the city’s strategy for science, innovation, and technology, including health, as a driver of progress and well-being. That is why our city and metropolitan area concentrate most of Spain’s pharmaceutical industry, as well as leading biomedical research centers; we are leaders in clinical trials and scientific production. This is the result of an excellent ecosystem of science, research, and training, along with public institutions that promote, support, and drive this innovative momentum.”
The event, organized by the Spanish Bioindustry Association (AseBio), in collaboration with Biocat, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Barcelona City Council, aims to match the record-breaking figures of 2023, when Barcelona hosted more than 2,200 professionals from 34 countries, held over 5,000 one-to-one meetings, and welcomed 81 national and international investors.
News from BIOSPAIN 2025
The 2025 edition will address various key topics, including major technological advances such as gene therapies, RNA, CRISPR-Cas, oncology immunotherapies, and new developments in neurodegeneration and antimicrobial resistance. It will also cover manufacturing and access challenges for these therapies, including emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence applied to biomedical processes.
This edition will also place a stronger focus on green biotechnology, with an expanded space for projects in regenerative agriculture, emissions reduction, and environmental preservation. Additionally, Switzerland will be the guest country, highlighting its leadership in the global biotechnology sector.
According to Rocío Arroyo, president of AseBio, “our ambition is to continue internationalizing BIOSPAIN and position it as a bridge between the American, Spanish, and European ecosystems, with Spain as the geographical focus. We encourage everyone to join us in this new edition so that, once again, BIOSPAIN can break records and establish itself as the leading biotechnology event in Europe,” she affirmed.
Barcelona and Catalonia, epicenter of health innovation
According to the 2024 BioRegion Report, the region is home to nearly 50% of Spain’s pharmaceutical industry and serves as a hub for innovation, subsidiaries, R&D plants, production, and logistics for many of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical and medical technology companies, including AstraZeneca, Amgen, Fresenius, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi. The region also exports over 40% and imports more than 32% of Spain’s life sciences and healthcare products, consolidating its position as the second-largest autonomous community in terms of foreign trade volume in this sector.
During the presentation, a roundtable discussion was also organized, moderated by Ion Arocena, general director of AseBio, with the participation of Guillem Laporta, partner at Ysios Capital; Elena Erroba, Business, Communication, and Marketing Director at 3P Biovian; and Lucía Díaz, Director of the Drug Discovery Department at Nostrum Biodiscovery. The panelists analyzed biotechnology trends and expectations for the upcoming BIOSPAIN 2025 edition.