International connections
All the stakeholders in the BioRegion have international connections as a key element of their research and business growth strategies. Direct foreign investment is growing, while companies are looking to international markets, with acquisitions, mergers and commercial subsidiaries. The number of foreign investors is growing along with local and international venture capital, and the EU Horizon programs have facilitated cross-border collaboration on R&D.
Foreign direct investment and attracting innovation hubs
Foreign companies made a direct investment of €2.106 billion in the BioRegion between 2020 and 2024, which has generated more than 5,100 jobs. Leading companies in the European and American pharmaceutical industry have subsidiaries and production centers in Catalonia and, in recent years, there has been a growth in the expansion or installation of research, innovation and technology hubs. This is the case of Alexion, Amgen, AstraZeneca Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, Medtronic, Merck, Sanofi and Teladoc, among others.
The life sciences and health sector in Catalonia has aroused great interest among national and international investors, achieving an investment of €347 million in 2024 by startups and scaleups in the BioRegion. Venture capital (VC) remains the main source of financing, representing 80% of the total raised through 38 operations.
Landmarks in exports
Catalonia continues to be the 2nd exporting region of life sciences and health products in Spain, with 31% of international sales, worth €9,409 million (2023). There are 862 regular exporting companies in the sector (41% of the State), among which pharmaceuticals stand out (their products account for nearly 92% of exports).
Companies in the BioRegion have 863 subsidiaries abroad. Pharmaceuticals (Grifols, Almirall, Esteve, Ferrer, Kern Pharma, Reig Jofré, Salvat, etc.) are the companies with the greatest presence abroad.
Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, which recorded 13 operations in 2023, has been driven by the increase in acquisitions of international companies by companies headquartered in the BioRegion.
International network, key to growth in investment
The numerous and extensive international connections of venture capital firms in the BioRegion are key to the growth in investment (x4 in 5 years, to €445 million in 2022).
R&D partners in 88 countries
Between 2014 and 2023, over 200 organizations and companies in the BioRegion took part in 1198 collaborative research and innovation projects in health and biotechnology under the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe programs. That meant collaborations with organizations in 88 countries, led by Germany, United Kingdom, Italy and France , as well as many partners at research organizations in the rest of Spain. These projects mobilized resources valued at €3.77 billion, of which EU contributions to Catalan organizations totaled €423 million (18% of all funds received by Catalonia through the two Horizon programs through February 2023, €2.27 billion).
Attracting international research personnel
On top of these figures, there are the research grants and researcher training programs under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (174 directly related to health and biosciences, total of €279.4 million) that have attracted numerous international PhD candidates and postdoc researchers.