23 new 'hubs', more research and more investment: Greater Barcelona enters the map of world leaders in health
Between 2020 and 2024, up to 23 new digital and excellence hubs have been established in the Catalan capital, according to the Chamber.
BarcelonaAstraZeneca, Hipra, and Sanofi are some of the names of the laboratories that the citizens of Catalonia began to learn about as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Since then, in just four years (between 2020 and 2024), up to 23 hubs Digital and healthcare excellence companies have established themselves in Barcelona and its metropolitan area, solidifying the Catalan capital's position as a leading hub for healthcare investment. The arrival of these companies has generated up to 5,000 new jobs and positioned Barcelona as the only Spanish city to appear in the EMEA ranking—which encompasses Europe, the Middle East, and Africa—for attracting global healthcare investment. This is one of the main conclusions drawn from the report. The Barcelona metropolis. Investing, working and living in 2025The study, presented this Tuesday by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, compiles data from over 80 different indicators. According to the study, which shows that the greater Barcelona area has climbed to 12th position among the capital cities attracting the most investment in healthcare, at a level very similar to Zurich, Munich, and Dublin, but still far behind London, Paris, and Cambridge, which lead the rankings. Barcelona's position improves even further, to 9th, when we look at the health technology companies subsector. More companies and a stronger position also translate into greater talent attraction, more research, and more publications. The Barcelona metropolis has established itself as the ninth European region in scientific output and the 50th in the world. In 2023 alone, more than 1,500 articles were registered, representing 25% of the total published throughout Spain. The life sciences and health sector also attracted more than 25,500 graduates (with bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees) in scientific fields that year. And overall, Catalonia maintains its 3rd position in Europe in the number of "highly cited" publications per million inhabitants regarding advanced therapies, only behind Switzerland and the Netherlands. During the presentation, the president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Josep Santacreu, argued that to maintain this level, Barcelona must further strengthen its overall vision. "Our future involves presenting ourselves to the world as a metropolis that is larger than just the city of Barcelona," he said. From the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (AMB), the vice president for social and economic development, Jordi Valls, emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration and asserted that the success of the health sector also brings "direct benefits" to citizens: strengthening the public health system and improving the salary structure.
Digital and business attraction is consolidated
As for the other sectors, Barcelona not only maintains its position but also grows in the number of emerging companies or startupsIn 2024, the Catalan government registered 2,285 new businesses, 183 more than the previous year (a 9% increase). These companies employ nearly 23,000 people and have a turnover of €2.336 billion (an 11% increase over 2023). The majority are located in municipalities in the Barcelonès region (65%), followed by Vallès Occidental (9.5%) and Baix Llobregat (6%). In total, the Barcelona metropolitan area is home to 111,641 businesses, representing 45% of all Catalan businesses. This economic dynamism, according to the Chamber of Commerce, "plays a key role": more than half of Catalonia's GDP is concentrated in the metropolitan area. GDP per capita in this area reached almost €45,000 in 2023, according to the report. The figure exceeds the Catalan average and approaches that of the European Union.
Business tourism
Another key driver of this economic growth is business tourism. It's the reason for one in five tourists visiting the city, and in this respect, Barcelona ranks fourth in the world in the number of meetings held and second in the number of participants per event. The trade fairs hosted by the Catalan capital play a significant role: Alimentaria, Hostelco, and Mobile World Congress, for example, attract over 100,000 participants.
