BIOSPAIN 2025 returns to Barcelona with a firm commitment to internationalization: ‘Global crossroads, local vibes’

The Spanish Bioindustry Association (AseBio) and Biocat, in collaboration with the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Barcelona City Council, presented BIOSPAIN 2025 on Tuesday. BIOSPAIN is the largest biotechnology event in Spain and a leading European event in the sector. This year it is expected to match the record figures of 2023 when it welcomed over 2,200 professionals from more than 1,000 companies from 34 countries, along with more than 81 national and international investors.

BIOSPAIN 2025 will take place from October 7 to 9 in the Catalan capital, a biotechnology hub in Spain and one of Europe’s main innovation centers for health. Following the success of 2023, Barcelona is confirmed as the host for the upcoming editions in 2027 and 2029. According to AseBio’s annual study of the biotechnology sector, Catalonia led the sector in 2023, with over 24% of biotech companies and over 35% of total national revenue. The region’s companies have the highest average revenues in a sector that contributes 1.26% of the national GDP.

According to the 2024 Catalonia BioRegion Report, Catalonia houses nearly 50% of Spain’s pharmaceutical industry. It hosts innovation hubs, subsidiaries, R&D plants, production, and logistics centers for major global pharmaceutical and medical technology companies such as AstraZeneca, Amgen, Fresenius, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, and Sanofi. The region also exports over 40% and imports over 32% of Spain’s life sciences and health products, positioning it as the second-largest autonomous regions in foreign trade in this sector.

During the conference presentation, which included Javier Padilla, Secretary of State for Health, Robert Fabregat, Director General of Biocat, emphasized that the return of BIOSPAIN in 2025 and 2027 strengthens the strategy of attracting international sector conferences to Barcelona. Fabregat stated, “The Catalan ecosystem is an international leader in the business, scientific, and healthcare sectors. Biocat is working to foster growth, improve the healthcare system, and accelerate the introduction of new technologies to patients. This new edition will be crucial in creating business opportunities and facilitating collaboration across the sector’s value chain to bring new technologies to market and patients faster”.

Joan Romero, Executive Director of ACCIÓ, Generalitat de Catalunya, highlighted, “Catalonia is a global reference hub in health and biotechnology. Our top-tier ecosystem includes SMEs, startups, and multinationals that have chosen our region for their technological or R&D centers. This, combined with the presence of universities, research centers, and cutting-edge infrastructures, ensures knowledge transfer to the industry. BIOSPAIN’s annual celebration as the sector’s main meeting point places us at the heart of Europe’s biotech industry and showcases Catalonia’s talent and experience”.

Jordi Valls, Deputy Mayor of Economy, Finance, Economic Promotion, and Tourism for the Barcelona City Council, added, “It is no coincidence that Barcelona is a global biomedical reference city or that our city has been chosen to host one of Europe’s largest international biotechnology events. It is part of our city’s strategy for science, innovation, and technology, especially in health, as drivers of progress and well-being. As such, most of Spain’s pharmaceutical industry and leading biomedical research centers are concentrated in our metropolitan area. We lead in clinical trials and scientific production, a result of an excellent ecosystem of science, research, and education, supported by public institutions that promote and foster innovation”.

New developments in this edition

BIOSPAIN 2025 will address key biotechnology topics, including advances in gene therapies, RNA, CRISPR-Cas, and dark DNA exploration. Discussions will also cover cancer immunotherapies, developments in neurodegeneration, and antimicrobial resistance. Challenges in manufacturing and access to these therapies will be explored, including technologies such as PAT, micro-bioreactors, and AI in processing.

Synthetic biology, artificial intelligence, microfluidics, and multi-omics platforms will also be featured in BIOSPAIN 2025, showcasing new possibilities in research, clinical trials, and technology transfer. Applications in foodtech, sustainable agriculture, and food health will be highlighted. Additionally, regulatory aspects, including EU laws on new genomic techniques (NGT) and pharmaceuticals, will be discussed.

Expanded green biotechnology track and Switzerland as the guest country

BIOSPAIN will give greater prominence to green biotechnology, expanding and increasing the visibility of its specialized track. Startups, companies, and experts will showcase advances in regenerative agriculture, emissions reduction, and environmental preservation. Switzerland, a global biotechnology leader, will be the guest country.

BIOSPAIN as a catalyst for the biotechnology sector

Rocío Arroyo, President of AseBio, emphasized BIOSPAIN’s role as a catalyst for investment and innovation in the sector. In 2023, Spain had nearly 1,000 biotechnology companies and over 4,400 indirectly related companies. The sector generated €20 billion in revenue, added €6.8 billion in value, and attracted €228 million in investments. Arroyo stated, “Our ambition is to continue internationalizing BIOSPAIN, positioning it as a bridge between American, Spanish, and European ecosystems, with a geographical focus on Spain. We invite everyone to join us in this new edition to break records once again and consolidate BIOSPAIN as Europe’s leading biotechnology event”.

During the event, a roundtable moderated by Ion Arocena, AseBio’s General Director, featured Laporta, Ysios Capital Partner; Elena Erroba, Director of Business Development, Communication and Marketing at 3P Biovian; and Lucía Díaz, Drug Discovery Department Director at Nostrum Biodiscovery. Participants highlighted BIOSPAIN’s importance and expressed optimism for the 2023 edition.