The digital sector already generates 40 billion euros a year in Catalonia, 14% of GDP

The Catalan digital and technology sector is experiencing a good moment. In 2023, it generated a turnover of 39,646 million euros, 14% more than in 2022, which is equivalent to 14% of Catalan GDP. This is revealed in an Action report presented this Tuesday at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) by the Minister of Business and Employment, Miquel Sàmper.

Among the main data of the study, it is worth highlighting the fact that Catalonia has around 25,000 companies in the technology sector that employ more than 200,000 people, and is the first region in southern Europe that has attracted the most technological investment projects between 2020 and 2024, with 5% of the total.

According to Sámper, there are several key factors. "On the one hand, we have a huge ecosystem, with 2,285 start-ups." In addition, the Government hopes that there will be 3,000 by 2030, and that of these, "25% will be deep tech, which are the most advanced, the most disruptive," said the councillor. On the other hand, he highlighted talent: "We have a lot of it, and we want to have more, and we are making a very big commitment to training, to education in the digital and technological field."

He also mentioned the international projection and the digital and technological infrastructures that make Catalonia currently "above the European average."

Investment

According to the study, technological investments represent 43% of foreign investment projects carried out in 2024 in Catalonia, which, in the last five years, has positioned itself as the first area in southern Europe with the most projects attracted, with 5% of the total.

Thus, Catalonia closed 2024 with 160 hubs international technology companies, 9% more than the previous year, according to the report Tech Hubs Overview, prepared by MWCapital Barcelona in collaboration with Acció and Barcelona City Council.

Within the framework of this report, the technological and digital sector is understood to be all economic activity that has a digital component or relevant technology, with the ICT sector being the most relevant, although it also includes video games, the audiovisual industry or companies that develop solutions for industry 4.0 or to provide services to smart cities.

The document also highlights that Catalonia is the best start-up ecosystem in Southern Europe, and Barcelona is the second preferred location for founders to establish their start-ups. The Government highlights that the presence in the country of renowned fairs such as the MWC or the ISE also help to consolidate and grow this ecosystem.