Deeptech startups ---specialized in developing pioneering knowledge and technology and requiring talent with knowledge in technology, science, engineering, and mathematics--- grew by 10% in 2022 in Catalonia. According to a study by the Generalitat, promoted through ACCIÓ, the Generalitat's business competitiveness agency, last year 320 startups of this type were registered and generated 2,340 jobs, 35% more than in the previous year. Turnover rose to 161 million euros, 30% more than in 2021.
According to the Secretary of Business and Competitiveness and CEO of ACCIÓ, Albert Castellanos, "55% of deeptech startups have been created in the last five years." The study places Barcelona as the leading hub in Southern Europe in funding raised by this type of technologies, with 480 million euros between 2018 and 2023. In 2022, 183 million euros were registered, being the year of the historical series with the highest volume of investment. 78.4% of companies obtain resources from venture capital funds and, of these, 36% have raised investment rounds exceeding one million euros.
The report indicates that this type of companies represents 15.8% of the Catalan startup ecosystem and are mainly focused on biotechnology (40%) and artificial intelligence (25%), but also on sustainable materials, robotics, photonics, batteries, and supercomputing, among others, reports ACN.
43% of deeptech startups originated from the university or research sector and 46% of the companies have a patent or system for protecting their knowledge. Castellanos states that "without deeptech companies, it is not possible to fully address the challenges posed by the climate emergency, such as water scarcity." For this reason, the Secretary of Business and Competitiveness emphasizes that "this ecosystem is highly strategic."
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