Barcelona consolidates itself as a benchmark in the biotechnology sector. More and more international startups and biotech companies choose the Catalan capital and its metropolitan area to develop their activity, which has allowed Barcelona to position itself as the second best European location for investment in this sector, according to CPHI Annual Report, a report published on the occasion of CPHI Barcelona, the world's leading pharmaceutical fair, which will take place from October 24 to 26 at Fira de Barcelona's Gran Via venue.
The study states that Barcelona is the second best European location for investment in biotechnology, only behind the metropolitan region of London and well ahead of Swiss, Berlin, or Paris hubs. "This ranking scores the most productive investment opportunities for biotech and startup companies," notes the report, which is based on a macro-survey of executives from pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
In this regard, the international pharmaceutical executives surveyed indicate that Barcelona only needs to "increase manufacturing resources" and/or offer "potential opportunities for inbound investment such as tax exemptions or investment programs" to see a considerable change in prospects. Significantly, 53% of the surveyed executives predict that the implementation of such measures will make Catalunya a more attractive alternative than the United Kingdom and Switzerland as a European base for US pharmaceutical companies, adds the study released by Fira de Barcelona.
The study also places Spain as the sixth country in the world and the third in Europe with the highest growth potential for 2024 as a drug producer. Specifically, Spain achieves its best score (6.6) in the history of this ranking, with an increase of 17.8% compared to last year, moving up 7 places to sixth worldwide, behind India, the United States, China, Germany, and Switzerland. In Europe, Spain ranks third, surpassing the scores of countries such as the United Kingdom (6.3), Italy (6), and France (5.9) and placing itself practically at the same level as Switzerland (6.7).
"It is very timely that in a year in which our event will attract more than 40,000 executives to Barcelona, Spain has advanced so many positions in our ranking of drug-producing countries and the Catalan capital achieves second place in the European Biotechnology Index. These rapid increases point to excellent growth prospects for the pharmaceutical industry in Spain in 2024 and for Barcelona to continue its ascent as a world-leading biotechnology and biosciences hub", highlighted Sherma Ellis-Daal, Brand Director of CPHI Barcelona.
CPHI Barcelona, considered the leading meeting for the pharmaceutical industry worldwide, will take place at the Gran Via venue of Fira de Barcelona from October 24 to 26. It will bring together more than 1,800 exhibitors and professionals from 171 countries, representing the entire pharmaceutical supply chain, including ingredient manufacturers, finished dose and generics suppliers, innovative global pharmaceutical groups, logistics and supply chain providers, as well as machinery.
"Some of the reasons why we have decided to bring CPHI back to Barcelona are the strength of the pharmaceutical sector in the region, its competitive manufacturing plants, and emerging biotechnologies," adds Sherma Ellis-Daal.