Interview with Robert Fabregat, CEO, Biocat

01 Apr Interview with Robert Fabregat, CEO, Biocat

What key factors have driven Catalonia’s impressive growth of its life sciences ecosystem?

Catalonia’s main strength is its robust value chain. We have large research centers and significant hospitals and universities conducting a great deal of research in healthcare. There is also a significant presence of entrepreneurs creating startups and spin-offs alongside many local investors. These investors provide funding and attract international investors. This combination of elements creates a unique ecosystem that is hard to replicate. A recent report comparing the metropolitan areas of Barcelona with Madrid attributed Barcelona’s key differentiator as its focus on innovation. The municipality leads not only in Spain but in all of Europe.

The regional life sciences and healthcare sector represents 7.9% of Catalonia’s gross domestic product, comprising 1,400 companies and 91 entities. The sector employs around 264,000 people, which is around 6.5% of Catalonia’s working population. It generates nearly $25 billion in revenue and exports more than 30% of Spain’s life sciences and healthcare products. Regarding clinical trials, Catalonia is a world leader, ranking 8th internationally in main therapeutic areas. The concept of the BioRegion of Catalonia was created 20 years ago. This initiative is highly connected and is unlike any network of its kind in Europe. The level of collaboration among partners is very strong. This combination has enhanced and positioned Catalonia as one of the leading health innovation ecosystems in Europe. The local life sciences and health sector has experienced rapid growth, particularly in Barcelona ​​where we are hosting important international sectoral conferences such the Redefining Every Stage Investments or RESI conferences and BIOSPAIN event in 2025.

Can you provide an overview of Biocat’s mission and core responsibilities in 2025?

Biocat will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026. Biocat was created as a public-private entity to connect sectors, promote innovation and identify the needs of the population. We work in collaboration with the Barcelona City Council, the government of Catalonia, the government of Spain and main European institutions. Our neutral and independent role allows us to create connections throughout the entire life sciences value chain. We have a clear understanding of the population’s needs and possible innovative solutions to address them. Our goal is to ensure that this innovation reaches the system, which is not an easy task. Biocat assists in the transfer of technology from research centers so that projects can become small companies that attract investment, scale and reach the market and healthcare system. We close the cycle by supporting all stakeholders through our neutral position. Our ultimate goal is to improve people’s health through innovation. As a collateral benefit, we also generate wealth, create jobs and strengthen the local industrial fabric. We empower Catalonia with a global vision and connect it with the rest of Europe.

What initiatives is Biocat implementing to support entrepreneurs in 2025?

The Catalan Health System innovation Access Program (PASS) is a specific initiative coordinated by Biocat to identify innovations created and developed in Catalonia, ensure the suitability of proposals prioritized by the healthcare system and guide them through the process of incorporation, entry and implementation. We also offer programs to support businesses from a training perspective. Our flagship program is CRAASH Barcelona — run in collaboration with the Cimit center in Boston — focuses on digital health and deep tech. We have held seven editions so far, with nearly 50 projects participating. Of these, seven have brought products to market. We also take part in other acceleration programs. In 2025, we will launch another program dedicated to advanced therapies where we will work with six companies annually. We will help them validate their business models, attract more investment and scale up their operations.

How important is addressing talent development in building up a world-class life sciences sector?

Talent development is one of our main priorities. Without talent, we would not have been able to reach the heights that we have today. Talent is an ongoing challenge because the need for new talent is constantly growing as ecosystems develop. Our program d·HEALTH Barcelona has been running for nearly 10 editions. It brings together professionals from different sectors through a clinical immersion process that follows a bio-design methodology from Stanford University. We also collaborate with universities and government departments to address medium- and long-term needs. We work with the European Commission’s Path for Skills initiative to identify what we need and involve various stakeholders to train future professionals. We create our own programs and participate in different spaces to identify new needs and tackle ongoing challenges.

What efforts is Biocat making to enhance international collaboration in its life sciences sector?

Biocat publishes the BioRegion Report, which identifies indicators and sets objectives to position Catalonia as an international leader in attracting investments, companies and professionals. One of our main focuses is to foster partnerships worldwide. Biocat currently chairs the European Council of BioRegions in Europe and coordinates the PRECISEU macro project, a groundbreaking initiative in personalized medicine that involves 25 partners from 12 European regions including 10 European Union member states and Ukraine. The ambitious project has a budget of nearly $24 million over five years and is one of five approved Regional Innovation Valleys. It aims to accelerate the adoption of personalized medicine across Europe, focusing on innovative advanced therapies and health data interoperability. Biocat also has strong connections with companies and institutions in the United States. We strive to be present in all relevant spaces through strategic alliances. An American investment congress has been coming to Barcelona since last year. We also organize various missions where we accompany our companies to other countries, such as recent ones to Massachusetts and California in the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Japan. Our goal is to provide support and collaboration.

What actions has Biocat taken to promote the adoption of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals?

Last year we approved our strategic plan for the BioRegion of Catalonia from 2024 to 2027. A key and transversal focus of the plan is aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. We are keen to reduce social inequalities. We advocate for a public health system and aim to ensure that public health systems remain sustainable. We have two initiatives across three specific areas. The first is the Catalan Health System innovation Access Program that works to make the health system more sustainable by incorporating required innovation. The Advanced Therapies Network of Catalonia seeks to ensure that novel therapies and personalized medicine become accessible and sustainable for the public health system. Currently, these treatments are very expensive and public systems cannot afford them. We are working with the public and private sectors to reduce inequalities and ensure these innovations reach citizens.

The second area focuses on sustainability from a global perspective. Through the One Health approach, we recognize that human health is intrinsically linked to animal and environmental health. We collaborate with various departments to understand climate change and its effects on human health. Our actions align with a global commitment to planetary health. We are also tackling gender inequalities. We identified areas that work and those that need improvement through a comprehensive report that has become a reference for the European Commission on combating gender inequality.

What are your top priorities as CEO of Biocat in 2025?

This year, we aim to consolidate the two previously mentioned initiatives, the Catalan Health System innovation Access Program and the Advanced Therapies Network of Catalonia. These frameworks are crucial to supporting and transforming advanced public health systems. The network of advanced therapies has the potential to save many lives. Another priority is establishing ourselves as a reference ecosystem at the European and international levels. To achieve this, we are strengthening international connections and positioning ourselves strategically in the global landscape. Our goal is to position Catalonia and its 8 million inhabitants as a gateway to the European Union’s population of 450 million. We strive to contribute to global health. We believe we can make a difference, and we have the determination to do so. Through our projects and strategic initiatives, Biocat aims to address global challenges.