Barcelona, on the global podium for attracting foreign investment in AI
Only London and Singapore surpass the country's capital in attracting funding for technology
BarcelonaBarcelona continues to consolidate its position as one of the European and global benchmarks in new technologies. According to a report prepared by IBM Consulting and collected by the Department of Business and Labor of the Generalitat, the country's capital remained in 2025 as the third city in the world in attracting foreign investment projects dedicated to artificial intelligence. According to the study, only London and Singapore, two of the most advanced technological ecosystems on a global scale, surpass Barcelona.
The Global Location Trends report, prepared by the technological consulting branch of the North American giant, places Barcelona as the first city in the European Union in the mobilization of projects to finance AI. A positioning that, according to the Secretary of Business and Innovation of the Generalitat, Jaume Baró, "confirms that Catalonia is perfectly prepared to compete in the most advanced technological sectors".
In a statement published this Friday, Baró, who also serves as the CEO of the Government's agency for business growth, Acció, claims "the combination of talent, scientific capabilities, infrastructure, and a clear country strategy" that Barcelona shows to the technological world. Thanks to this combination of ingredients, the executive maintains, the Principality "continues to gain strength in the main international rankings" dedicated to the digital and technological economy.
A 2 billion sector
According to the latest sectoral study by Acció, AI already generates an aggregate business volume in Catalonia of 2.155 billion euros. The nearly 500 companies carrying out this type of initiative in the country employ about 14,500 professionals specialized in artificial intelligence. Furthermore, nearly a third of Catalan companies with more than nine employees have incorporated AI into their procedures in some capacity throughout 2025, according to the same agency.
The dynamism of Catalan demand for AI has contributed to activating multiple relevant investments in this technological segment in recent months. Among others, Acció has highlighted the hub of global innovation in AI and data science promoted by the French company Sanofi in Barcelona's 22@ district, as well as the establishment of the global innovation center in AI by the technology firm HP at its facilities in Sant Cugat del Vallès, among others.