Catalonia Tops National Ranking

Catalonia remains the leading region in Spain for incubating deep technology spin-off companies, according to a 2026 report by Mobile World Capital and the State Secretariat for Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence. The region hosts 28.6% of Spain’s active deep tech spin-offs, up 0.4 percentage points from the previous year, outpacing Madrid (20.2%), the Valencian Community (10.3%), the Basque Country (10%), and Andalusia (9.8%). The study identifies 1,014 active deep tech spin-offs across Spain, a 4.6% increase from the prior year, collectively generating around 11,500 high-value jobs and €1.132 billion in revenue.

Sector Breakdown and AI Growth

By sector, health, biotechnology, and medical innovation dominate the national ecosystem (42.3%), followed by chips, computing, and artificial intelligence (31.7%). Other areas include advanced materials and manufacturing (9.3%), energy, climate, and resources (8.8%), robotics and autonomous systems (4.3%), and space, connectivity, and security (3.7%). The report highlights that 42.6% of deep tech spin-offs founded in 2025 were AI-focused. Albert Mascarell, head of technology transfer at Mobile World Capital Barcelona, said AI-driven company formation is expected to continue growing as the technology advances.

"It is reasonable to think Catalonia will maintain its leadership in the coming years,"

said Mascarell, citing the region’s strong research infrastructure and innovation assets.

Public Funding Drives Early-Stage Growth

Public funding plays a crucial role in the early stages of these companies. The report states that 45% of spin-offs received public funds as their first source of financing, while 35% secured private capital and 10% used a combination of both. For the remaining 10%, funding sources could not be determined. Total identified funding across Spain’s deep tech spin-offs amounts to €2.887 billion, with intangible assets valued at €1.34 billion.

Signs of Ecosystem Maturity

Around 40% of Spain’s deep tech spin-offs were created within the past five years, indicating the sector is entering a phase of maturation. The report underscores the ecosystem’s high economic impact, its role in creating high-value employment, and its significance for the country’s technological future. Catalonia’s share stands at 236 spin-off companies, employing 2,855 people. The region’s sustained leadership is attributed to its robust research base and innovation ecosystem, anchored in universities and public research centres.

Sources: betevé.