Barcelona & Partners will sponsor and participate in the AI Summit Barcelona 2026 · Startup Pitch, an exclusive session taking place on September 22 as part of the broader summit.
This gathering will bring together leading venture capital funds, international investors and a curated selection of AI startups from across Europe and beyond. The session aims to showcase high-potential ventures while enabling meaningful connections between entrepreneurs and investors, supporting collaboration, growth and access to funding.
Our participation reflects Barcelona & Partners’ ongoing commitment to strengthening the city’s innovation ecosystem — connecting talent, investment and business opportunities, and supporting companies looking to establish and scale in Barcelona.
Barcelona: Europe’s rising AI hub
Barcelona is consolidating its position as one of Europe’s most dynamic artificial intelligence hubs, combining a strong research base, a growing community of startups and scaleups, and increasing investor interest. The city benefits from an international talent pool, competitive operating costs, and a dense network of universities, research centres and innovation infrastructures that support the development and application of AI across industries.
This momentum is reflected in global rankings and investment flows: Barcelona ranked third worldwide for foreign AI investment projects in 2025, drawing an estimated €2.5 billion in annual venture capital funding, while AI has become Spain’s most-funded sector, attracting €717 million in investment.
Key institutions such as the Barcelona Supercomputing Center — home to the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer — play a central role in advancing AI research and enabling its transfer to industry, complemented by one of the EU’s AI Factories, a roughly €200 million initiative giving startups and researchers access to computing power that would otherwise cost millions. This is reinforced by a vibrant business ecosystem, where global companies and emerging startups are developing AI-driven solutions across sectors including health, mobility, finance, climate and advanced manufacturing. Much of this activity is concentrated in the 22@ district, one of Europe’s most established tech clusters, home to more than 2,500 startups alongside multinationals such as Amazon Web Services, Bayer and Hewlett-Packard.
Against this backdrop, AI Summit Barcelona continues to grow as a key meeting point for founders, investors and researchers, with more than 10,000 participants expected in this year’s edition. Barcelona & Partners is proud to support and take part in this ecosystem as it continues to scale.
Have an AI startup ready to pitch?
The Startup Pitch will feature a curated group of high-potential AI startups alongside leading investors, offering a unique platform to gain visibility and connect with capital.
Applications are open now: Apply here
Date: September 22, 2026
Time: 14:00–17:00
Location: World Trade Center Barcelona
We look forward to seeing you in Barcelona.