Barcelona Strengthens Its Position as a Knowledge Economy Powerhouse
Barcelona's knowledge economy nearly reaches half of its economic output in 2023, spurred by strong growth in high-intensity sectors and strategic innovation policies.
- • Barcelona's knowledge economy grew to 49.9% of Gross Value Added in 2023, up from 45.5% in 2018.
- • High-intensity sectors increased their value added by 47% since 2018, now representing 16.8% of the city's VAB.
- • Public administration, education, healthcare, and social services form 34.2% of knowledge-intensive sectors.
- • Barcelona's 2024-2027 science and innovation plan aims to further strengthen economic resilience.
Key details
Barcelona's knowledge economy has seen marked growth, reaching 49.9% of the city's Gross Value Added (VAB) in 2023, up from 45.5% in 2018, according to the Municipal Data Office of Barcelona. This surge reflects the city's growing emphasis on technology and knowledge-intensive sectors, which have expanded nearly three times faster than the broader economy over the past five years.
High-intensity sectors—encompassing fields such as science, pharmaceuticals, automotive manufacturing, telecommunications, and research and development—now constitute 16.8% of Barcelona's VAB. These sectors have increased their value added by 47% since 2018. Meanwhile, other knowledge-intensive sectors represent 33.1% of the VAB, with public administration, education, healthcare, and social services comprising the largest share at 34.2%. High-intensity services and financial activities have also gained ground, accounting for 29.5% and 16.6% of knowledge-intensive sectors, respectively, with financial activities increasing their share by 3.7 percentage points since 2018.
The city's strategic plan for science and innovation, set for 2024 to 2027, aims to build on these advances and further enhance Barcelona's economic resilience through continued investment in research, innovation, and the expansion of knowledge-intensive industries.
This development signals Barcelona's successful economic diversification and consolidates its status as a leader in knowledge-based economic activities within Spain.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
