The BioRegion of Catalonia is a major life sciences research and innovation hub in Southern Europe, home to 560 companies, 56 research centers, 17 university hospitals, and 11 universities. Biocat coordinates and promotes the life sciences sector, supporting over 3,500 companies that employ over 90,000 workers and contribute 6% to Catalonia's GDP. Catalonia has a strong R&D ecosystem and is highly internationalized, with 65% of life sciences companies trading abroad and ranking 2nd in the EU for European Research Council grants per capita.
2. THEBIOREGIONOFCATALONIA
ARESEARCHANDINNOVATIONHUBINSOUTHERNEUROPECatalonia is the most dynamic bioregion in Spain. The BioRegion of Catalonia brings together 560 companies as
well as 56 research centers, 17 university hospitals and 11 universities offering studies in the life sciences. 16
science and technology parks with activity in the life sciences, more than 100 scientific platforms and large
research facilities like the Alba-Cells Synchrotron, the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) and the
National Center for Genomic Analysis (CNAG) make Catalonia and its capital, Barcelona, an outstanding
research and innovation hub in southern Europe.
BIOCAT,DRIVINGTHEBIOCLUSTERBiocat is the organization that coordinates and promotes the life sciences sector in Catalonia. Biocat’s mission is
to support and dynamize all the stakeholders in this area to boost research, innovation and companies’ growth in
order to make the life sciences a driving force for the country’s economy and contribute to the wellbeing of society
as a whole. Created in 2006 at the behest of the Government of Catalonia and the Barcelona City Council, Biocat
is a foundation that brings together representatives from all areas of the biotechnology, biomedicine and medical
technology sector: administrations, universities, research centers, companies and support bodies.
7. ANINTERNATIONALCOMPETITIVER&DSYSTEM
Source: Government of Catalonia
1 2 3
2 UNIVERSITIES
AMONG THE 200
BEST IN
THE WORLD
3 UNIVERSITIES
AMONG
THE 50 BEST
UNDER
50 YEARS
19TH
BEST STUDENT
CITY OF THE WORLD
BARCELONA1 UNIVERSITY AMONG
THE 60 TOP
UNIVERSITIES
IN THE WORLD IN
SCIENTIFIC
PRODUCTION
CRG
9TH
IN THE TOP 100 BEST
BIOMEDICAL CENTERS
IN THE WORLD
Scimago Report (SIR 2013)
ICIQ
1ST
WORLD INSTITUTION
IN CHEMISTRY
Max Plank Institute (2014)
ICFO
1ST
WORLD INSTITUTION
IN PHYSICS
Max Plank Institute (2013)
URAP (2014) ARWU AND QS (2014)
QS TOP-50 UNIVERSITIES
UNDER 50 YEARS (2014) QS BEST STUDENTS CITIES 2015
8. EUROPEANRESEARCHCOUNCILGRANTS(ERC)
PERMILLIONINHABITANTS(2007-2014)
Source: Government of Catalonia
SWITZERLAND*
ISRAEL*
NETHERLANDS
CATALONIA
SWEDEN
DENMARK
UNITED KINGDOM
FINLAND
BELGIUM
CYPRUS
AUSTRIA
IRELAND
FRANCE
NORWAY
GERMANY
EUROPEAN UNION
EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA
SPAIN
ITALY
HUNGARY
PORTUGAL
SPAIN EXCLUDING CATALONIA
GREECE
COUNTRY ERCGRANTS
39.3
34.1
25.1
20.4
5.9
7.4
7.9
3.2
CATALONIASTANDS
IN2ND
POSITIONIN
THEEUROPEAN
UNIONINTERMSOF
ERCGRANTS
17.3
16.8
15.7
14.0
13.5
12.8
12.7
10.7
9.1
8.5
7.9
4.5
4.0
3.7
3.1
*NON-EU COUNTRIES
10. SUBSECTOROFACTIVITYOFMEDTECHCOMPANIES
Source: Biocat Directory (December 2014)
EACH COMPANY MAY BE INCLUDED INTO MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY
REUSABLE INSTRUMENTS
NON-ACTIVE IMPLANTABLE DEVICES
ELECTRO MECHANICAL MEDICAL DEVICES
DENTAL DEVICES
SINGLE USE DEVICES
OPHTHALMIC AND OPTICAL DEVICES
IMAGING
ANESTHETIC AND RESPIRATORY DEVICES
HOSPITAL HARDWARE
BIOMATERIALS
IN VITRO DIAGNOSTICS DEVICES
DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC RADIATION DEVICES
TECHNICAL AIDS FOR DISABLED PERSONS
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
WOUND CARE
DELIVERY DEVICES
OTHER
THERAPEUTICAREAS NUMBEROFCOMPANIES
23
16
16
13
11
11
11
9
6
6
5
5
3
3
2
2
COMPANIESWORKINGINMEDTECH:
16
64
45
DEVELOP R&D
FOR NEW MEDICAL
AND DIAGNOSTIC
DEVICES
WORK IN RELATED
AREAS LIKE
SOFTWARE,
ELECTRONICS,
INSTRUMENTATION
OR DISTRIBUTION
109
11. MAINTHERAPEUTICAREAS(BIOTECH&PHARMA)
Source: Biocat Directory (December 2014)
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
ONCOLOGY
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
DERMATOLOGY
IMMUNOLOGY AND HEMATOLOGY
RESPIRATORY
INFLAMMATORY DISEASES
ENDOCRINOLOGY
MENTAL DISORDERS
GENITOURINARY SYSTEM
OPHTHALMOLOGY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY
OTOLOGY
THERAPEUTICAREAS NUMBEROFCOMPANIES
27
22
19
18
17
14
14
14
13
11
9
7
7
2
1
EACH COMPANY MAY BE INCLUDED INTO MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY
12. BIOTECHCOMPANIESACTIVITIES
Source: Biocat Directory (December 2014)
THERAPIES & DIAGNOSTICS
R&D SERVICES
BIOTECH-OTHER*
ACTIVITIES NUMBEROFCOMPANIES
49
72
76
*EACH COMPANY MAY BE INCLUDED INTO MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY
BIOTECH-OTHER*
45%
35%
11%
11%
14%
8%
VETERINARY
FOOD & NUTRACEUTICALS
AGROBIO
COSMETICS
INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL