CataloniaBio & HealthTech, aiming to promote the interests of the business network of the sector, has joined Barcelona Global in the initiative to review and  provide feedback on the Spanish draft law that will affect and regulate start-ups. The document was submitted within the public participation period, which closed at the end of July.

The draft law presented by the Spanish government is welcomed as a first step towards the creation of a legal and fiscal framework to promote entrepreneurship in Spain. The document lists some measures that the sector has long been calling for, but much remains to meet the standards of European countries. "It lays the foundation  for reaching the regulatory framework needed by the sector," said Judit Anido, CEO of CataloniaBio & HealthTech, in  a recent interview. Thus, Barcelona Global counted on CataloniaBio & HealthTech as an organisation that represents companies in the biomedicine and health sector in Catalonia to contribute to the review and comments; and the organisation has adhered to the document.

The review document highlights some key points that have not been sufficiently covered and that are essential to achieve taxation that allows competitiveness and place the Spanish and Catalan ecosystem in the first division of entrepreneurship. The comments include the revision of the definition of emerging company, and details three  proposals that are considered essential and not included in the draft: the taxation applicable to the expatriation system, the transfer of R&D incentives to the investor and the fiscal treatment of remuneration based on equity instruments.

Finally, the document includes up to 9 new proposals to be considered that should contribute to placing us in equal competitiveness with the surrounding countries, which suggest revisions in taxes and other fiscal improvements.