Twenty years on, Catalonia competes globally in health and life sciences. On 2 November, the Auditori de Barcelona hosted the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Biocat, BioRegion of Catalonia, bringing together the whole ecosystem and the country’s highest authorities. Catalonia.health collaborated in and actively supported the event, and was present with its entire board, led by its president, Eva García Ramos, together with its second vice-president, Jordi Martorell, and its managing director, Laura Iglesias.

The figures presented by Fabregat confirm it: from 856 companies in 2006 to 1,650, from 36,686 to 84,781 people employed, and €29,229 million in turnover, representing 7.6% of Catalonia’s GDP. Today, our talent and infrastructure are more than consolidated.

Along this journey, Catalonia.health has been a key player. Fabregat acknowledged the association’s role as an engine of the BioRegion over these twenty years, recognition that fills us with pride and reaffirms our commitment. Catalonia.health joins Biocat in driving the ecosystem forward, is fully involved, and is here to help each and every one of the agents that form part of it, starting with our members.

The president, Eva García Ramos, moderated the round table “Where we are” (“On som”), with Fina Lladós (Amgen), Manel del Castillo (CAIROS), Carles Fàbrega (HIPRA) and Carolina Aguilar (INBRAIN Neuroelectronics). The discussion covered the challenges that will define the new stage: managing talent, being competitive in Europe, growing while keeping innovation here, and accelerating its adoption. The event also included two further round tables, reviewing the past and the future of the BioRegion: “Where we come from” (“D’on venim”), with Montserrat Vendrell (Asabys), Ignasi Biosca (Reig Jofre), Joël Jean-Mairet (Ysios Capital) and Josep Tabernero (VHIO), and “Where we are heading” (“Cap a on anem”), with Josep M. Campistol (Hospital Clínic de Barcelona), Àngel Font (CaixaResearch Institute), Lluís Pareras (Invivo) and Laia de Nadal (Universitat Pompeu Fabra).

At Catalonia.health, we will continue working together with Biocat towards an ecosystem with the talent, companies, research and ambition to lead. Thank you to Biocat for the space, and congratulations to everyone who has made these twenty years possible.

Happy anniversary to the BioRegion. And here’s to many more years of joint work.