The Barcelona Innovation Coast doubles its investment in Innovation and Knowledge Transfer
The initiative announced a new Action Plan for 2025–2027, aimed at cementing Barcelona's position as the scientific and technological capital of Southern Europe, including ICFO as one of the renowned cutting-edge research centers of the region.
On July 11th, 2025, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni chaired the fourth Barcelona Innovation Coast (BIC) Council Meeting. The initiative presented its Action Plan for 2025–2027 with the ambition of propelling Barcelona into the ranks of global science hubs such as Boston, Zurich, Copenhagen, and Berlin.
The Barcelona Innovation Coast was launched in 2021 by the City Council in collaboration with Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the Government of Catalonia. Its aim is to strengthen Barcelona’s role as an innovation capital, foster knowledge transfer among academia, science, industry, and society, diversify its economy, and create high-quality jobs through projects in sustainable mobility, health, technology, and renewable energy.
This new phase of the BIC includes initiatives like the Barcelona Investment Fund—with up to €30 million in funding—the establishment of the Fraunhofer Centre, and increased grants for research and the hiring of scientific personnel. Additionally, training programs in semiconductor design and the development of a quantum communications network in collaboration with the Government of Catalonia will be launched.
During the event, the initiative reviewed its achievements since its inception and announced a new Action Plan for 2025–2027, aimed at cementing Barcelona's position as the scientific and technological capital of Southern Europe and raising its profile to match top global cities. To that end, investment in innovation and knowledge transfer will be doubled to €46.4 million for 2025–2027, compared to the €22.25 million allocated between 2021 and 2024.
Driving Barcelona’s Scientific Leadership
A core objective of the BIC is to support innovative projects in disruptive and frontier research fields like quantum technology, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence, with broad applications and future competitiveness in mind. As part of this strategy, the mayor of Barcelona commented on initiatives such as the launch of training programs in semiconductor design, or the develop a quantum communications network with the Catalan Government—a secure network shielded by quantum encryption that will roll out in the metropolitan area using existing fiber infrastructure and paving the way for a pan-European quantum internet.
To date, Barcelona boasts a world-class scientific ecosystem, with around 70 research centers and advanced scientific and technological infrastructure. Its metropolitan area leads in attracting competitive research funding in Spain, supported by five internationally recognized universities and premier institutions such as ICFO , the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), the ALBA Synchrotron, and the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB).
Mayor Collboni emphasized that the Barcelona Innovation Coast proves that, “Even without formal authority over science and innovation, the City Council recognizes its responsibility and therefore provides financial support to projects with social impact.” He added, “The public sector has a duty to promote research that can positively influence people’s daily lives.”