The latest episode of the In Conversation podcast explores what makes Spain’s Biocat health innovation foundation tick.
Established as a networking organisation spanning public and private organisations in Catalonia, Biocat “acts as an umbrella for the entire ecosystem”, according to its chief executive Robert Fabregat.
Speaking to Professor Jenny Shand for the In Conversation series, Mr Fabregat said the idea behind Biocat was to establish a “public-private foundation”, allowing it to work across government, hospitals, academia, startups, and industry without having a bias towards any particular interest group.
A record €517m (£449m) was invested in health startups and scaleups in Catalonia in 2025, according to a Biocat report, which also found the ecosystem has 1,650 companies (up 8.3 per cent on the previous year) and 94 research institutions.
Meanwhile it is estimated the sector accounts for 7.6 per cent of Catalan GDP, a figure that was significantly boosted when Pharma giant AstraZeneca opted to move its European headquarters to the region last year. Discussing its growth, Mr Fabregat said the foundation’s equal approach to public and private sector organisations drove its decision not to become a membership body, so the foundation could “represent the whole bioregion of Catalonia and …try to help all of them at the same level”.
“We always try to be very honest, very transparent and the most neutral that we can.”
Founded in 2006 by the Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council, the organisation runs flagship programmes designed to accelerate research and innovation into clinical and commercial use. These include the Catalan Health System innovation Access Program (PASS), which supports entry into the healthcare system based on agreed health priorities, and an initiative connecting all public and private stakeholders working in advanced therapies (ATMPs) in the region.
Biocat also provides sector intelligence, supports technology transfer and connects startups, hospitals, investors and research centres to strengthen Catalonia’s position as a leading European health innovation hub.
Listen to the In Conversation podcast on Spotify here:
