Catalonia improves in technology transfer, but not enough

BarcelonaOne of the challenges facing an economy is technology transfer—translating knowledge derived from scientific and technological research into practical solutions or applications for the market. In 13 of the 23 indicators of the European Commission's Regional Innovation Scoreboard (RIS) for 2025, designed to identify strengths and weaknesses relative to Europe's leading innovation regions, Catalonia still lags behind the European Union (EU) average.

The fact is that Catalonia is improving in technology transfer, but not enough. And the gap is even greater when compared to the top 10 innovative regions, made up of Stockholm (Sweden), Hovedstaden (Denmark), London (United Kingdom), Zurich (Switzerland), Upper Bavaria (Germany), Ticino (Switzerland), southeast of England (United Kingdom) (Finland), western Sweden (Västsverige) and southern Sweden (Sydsverige). In any case, while in 2023 Catalonia was 43.6 points below the average of these reference regions, in 2025 it has dropped to 33.2 points.

The data show, in any case, a structural imbalance that needs to be addressed, according to the conclusions of the first of the studies of the Productivity and Innovation Initiative (IPI), promoted by the Economic Circle, the advisory board chaired by economics professor and Iese chair, Xavier Vives. This first work, which will frame an upcoming debate session, is titled From the lab to the market: How to ensure impactful technology transfer?

Marathon, not sprint

The initial conclusions resulting from data analysis and surveys of personalities from the Catalan, Basque, and Flemish technology transfer systems reflect a lack of funding and incentives, institutional coordination and governance, and a lack of specificity and continuity in innovation policies, excessive bureaucracy, and private research and development (R&D). Policies promoting productivity and innovation require consistency: "They are a marathon, not a sprint," which demands perseverance and not constant changes in approach and direction, says Vives. An example of this consistency are two success stories analyzed by the IPI: those of the Basque Country and the Belgian region of Flanders.

The IPI is supported by Banco Santander and the Foundation for Industry of the Sabadell Manufacturers' Guild. It was launched by the previous president of the Círculo, Jaume Guardiola, and maintained and promoted by his successor, Teresa Garcia-Milà, so that the Círculo combines the functions of think tank –generate opinion– with those of a action tank –influence public policies.

The report concludes that Catalonia "has an innovation ecosystem with a structure comparable to other leading European regions, as well as considerable scientific and institutional capital." The problem lies in the dynamics and incentives for moving from the laboratory to the market, "which are not fully aligned." "The distance between the laboratory and the market is not just a technical or funding issue; it's a question of vision, institutional architecture, and shared priorities," says Vives. In his opinion, "we are improving, but not enough according to European indicators." In fact, Catalonia has its own problems, such as the fragmentation of governance and the lack of consistency in policies, which are compounded by a European-wide one: "The loss of the digital train" and leadership in traditional industries, not in newer ones, such as Germany with the combustion-engine vehicle, but not the electric one.

In addition to the research power, Catalonia's innovation ecosystem stands out. start-ups, with more than 2,200 active ones, technology centers such as Leitat or Eurecat, universities such as the UB and the UPC with knowledge transfer offices, or large innovative companies such as Seat, Grifols, or Almirall. But there are barriers. The authors warn that "it is not enough to deploy plans, strategies, instruments, or funding lines if there is no coherent national strategy that defines priority areas, the type of innovation to be promoted, and the indicators with which progress will be evaluated, as well as, and no less important, a stable associated budget." In Catalonia, €1 billion of the 2024 budget was allocated to R&D&I, part of it for technology transfer, through various programs. Two additional elements are included: the Lidera plan, until 2030, and the National Pact for Industry 2022-2025.

Another shortcoming is the low capacity of SMEs to innovate in products and processes and to collaborate, with a higher proportion of microenterprises and a lower proportion of medium-sized enterprises than in Europe, which limits the impact of technology transfer. There is also a lack of incentives in the research sector. They highlight, for example, "bureaucratic obstacles that hinder the creation of spin-offs and start-ups "of a scientific basis." In fact, technology transfer activity "is often relegated to the voluntary efforts of researchers, with an unequal distribution between universities and research centers," the paper highlights.

From fragmentation to pact

The authors advocate overcoming institutional fragmentation and lack of coordination with "an integrated and stable governance structure," which "should be the result of an agreement between political parties, administrations, the research system, the business community, and intermediary entities."

The analysis finds that progress "points to a change in trend." However, support instruments and funding should be strengthened, especially in private R&D, experimental development, and public-private collaboration. The data indicate that "the consolidation of an ecosystem oriented toward the valorization of knowledge and applied innovation is becoming a strategic priority."

In any case, these conclusions are based on data from the RIS, a valuable instrument, but one with limitations that can hide significant imbalances. Studies such as Cotec, a private foundation dedicated to promoting innovation, propose alternative methodologies that would improve Catalonia's position. For this reason, the IPI advocates "moving toward a more robust evaluation model that considers both the quality and relevance of the results generated."

The report compares Catalonia with the Basque Country, which is oriented toward the productive fabric and based on stable collaboration between technology centers and companies; and the Belgian region of Flanders, which has a highly specialized ecosystem. In the Basque Country, the system is the result "of a continued institutional commitment since the 1980s and a strategic commitment to technology transfer as a tool to strengthen business competitiveness." The Flemish system, for its part, is characterized by a collaborative, non-competitive, and highly specialized structure, geared toward responding to the needs of companies and public administrations.