Chair: Bhavna Malkani
Session overview
Barcelona has emerged as one of Europe’s leading innovation and startup hubs, offering strong support for entrepreneurs, international talent, digital health innovators, and growing companies. This session will provide practical guidance on intellectual property (IP) protection, company formation, funding and ecosystem opportunities, and navigating the local innovation landscape.
Participants will gain first-hand insights from ecosystem representatives, entrepreneurs and innovation leaders on how to establish and grow innovative ventures in Barcelona and Catalonia.
The session will also explore how international startups, researchers, and digital health innovators can leverage the region’s collaborative ecosystem, access talent and investment opportunities, and successfully navigate regulatory and business frameworks
Intended Audience
This session is designed for:
- Startup founders and entrepreneurs
- Researchers and innovators
- Digital health professionals
- SMEs and scale-ups
- International companies exploring expansion opportunities
- Investors and ecosystem stakeholders
- Anyone interested in innovation and entrepreneurship in Barcelona
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the session, participants will:
- Gain practical knowledge on setting up a company in Barcelona/Catalonia
- Learn about the local startup and innovation ecosystem
- Identify available support structures, accelerators, and funding opportunities
- Better understand legal, administrative, and business considerations for international founders
- Build connections with ecosystem representatives and fellow innovators
Speakers
University College London
David Combes
Barker Brettel
Montserrat Sitjà Gibert
Generalitat de Catalunya (GenCat)