Barcelona has been recognised as one of the world’s top destinations for Artificial Intelligence (AI) investment. According to IBM’s Global Location Trends 2025 report, produced with Moody’s, the city ranks 3rd worldwide for foreign investment projects in AI, behind only London and Singapore. This makes Barcelona the leading city in the European Union in this category.
Strong performance in job creation
The report also highlights Catalonia’s contribution to employment linked to foreign investment. In 2024, the region accounted for 20% of all FDI jobs created in Spain, placing it ahead of Madrid. At a European level, Barcelona stands out as the third city in EMEA for job creation, following London and Dubai.
A growing tech ecosystem
Catalonia is home to 160 international technology hubs, employing nearly 35,000 professionals—an increase of 9% from the previous year. In 2024 alone, more than 6,000 new jobs were created in these hubs, reflecting the region’s pull for high-value projects.
Artificial Intelligence is central to this momentum. Close to 500 Catalan companies specialise in AI, generating over €2.1 billion in turnover and employing almost 14,500 people. Adoption is rising quickly: in 2024, 24% of companies with more than nine employees invested in AI technologies, nearly double the figure from 2023.
Barcelona to host one of Europe’s seven AI Innovation Factories
Further strengthening its global standing in the field, Barcelona will host one of the seven “AI Innovation Factories” to be established across Europe. This initiative is part of a European programme designed to foster cutting-edge research and development in AI, accelerating the transfer of knowledge and the creation of applied solutions across strategic sectors.
The new innovation factory will further consolidate Barcelona and Catalonia’s position as key hubs of technological excellence, connecting companies, research centres, and international talent around the responsible and competitive development of Artificial Intelligence.
What this means for Barcelona
Together, these indicators confirm that Barcelona and Catalonia are steadily building a strong reputation as reliable destinations for technology-driven investment. With a highly skilled talent pool and a vibrant innovation ecosystem, the region is well-positioned to continue attracting international projects in AI and beyond.
