The ecosystem of Robotics and automation in Catalonia It is experiencing a period of clear expansion and is beginning to consolidate itself as one of the technological engines of the Catalan economy. In recent years, the business network linked to this activity has grown in size, diversity, and international ambition, underpinning a new era for the region's industry.
According to the latest report from Acció and the data presented by the Generalitat, the sector has doubled its size in the last five years reaching nearly €1.000 billion in revenue. This leap is complemented by more specialized companies, more skilled jobs, and an increasing presence of robotic solutions in both factories and services.
A robotics sector that is doubling and approaching 1.000 billion
The most recent data places the turnover of the Robotics in Catalonia worth 974 million euros In 2024, this figure will be double what it was five years ago. This growth reflects the progressive incorporation of automation and robotics technologies in Catalan industry and the response of local companies to the demand for advanced solutions.
In terms of employment, the report identifies 4.634 people working in robotics companies of the territory, a figure that has been increasing as industrial projects, engineering services, and new technology-based initiatives take hold. The sector combines highly qualified technical profiles with positions related to the operation and maintenance of automated systems.
One of the most prominent elements is the business structure: 87% of companies are SMEsWhile around 14,5% are specialized startups. This configuration reinforces the idea of ​​an agile ecosystem, capable of rapid innovation, adapting to specific niches, and collaborating with large industries and technology corporations.
In addition to economic growth, the study underlines that nearly 44% of companies in the sector are exporters and that 30% have a turnover of more than 10 million euros annually. This data points to increasing maturity and a significant presence in international markets, especially within Europe.
Diverse value chain: manufacturers, integrators and auxiliary industry
The Acció X-ray details the composition of the robotics value chain in CataloniaApproximately 18% of companies are engaged in the manufacture of robots, from industrial arms to mobile platforms or collaborative solutions designed to interact with people.
The largest segment consists of systems integrators, who represent 38% of the total. These are the companies that design, plan and implement complete automated installations, combining robots, sensors, control software and other industrial equipment to meet the specific needs of each client.
The remaining 44% corresponds to what is called auxiliary industry, which includes suppliers of mechanical, electronic and machine vision components, industrial software developers, specialized consultancies and companies that supply enabling technologies linked to industry 4.0.
This distribution shows a reasonably balanced ecosystem, where manufacturers of proprietary technology coexist with integrators capable of adapting solutions to specific processes and a network of support companies that provide key services to the entire production chain.
Main applications: from automotive to the service sector
By areas of use, the report confirms that 72% of companies in the sector offer robotics solutions applied to industryA large part of the projects are concentrated in the automotive, food and packaging sectors, three sectors where automation allows for increased productivity, improved product quality and increased plant safety.
In the automotive industry, robotic cells are used for welding, assembly, component handling, and quality controlAmong other tasks. In the food sector, the focus is on packaging, palletizing, product sorting, and handling of delicate goods, always with strict hygiene and traceability requirements.
Within the field of packaging, solutions are geared towards labeling, boxing, flexible packaging and inbound logisticsLeveraging machine vision systems and control algorithms that enable rapid format changes and high precision, this versatility is key to adapting to the proliferation of product references and the demand for smaller, customized batches.
Beyond the manufacturing industry, the study highlights a notable increase in the use of robots in the service sectorSectors such as health, audiovisual or logistics have been incorporating automated systems for years for support tasks, internal transport, inspection or carrying out repetitive operations that free up staff time.
There is also an increase in robotic solutions designed for safety, inspection and maintenance in critical facilities, such as industrial plants, transport infrastructure, or hard-to-reach environments. In these cases, robots allow operation in conditions that would be difficult or dangerous for workers.
Foreign investment and international positioning
The sector's dynamism cannot be explained solely by domestic demand. During the period 2021-2025, Catalonia has achieved attract 14 foreign investment projects in robotics, with an outlay of close to 58 million euros and the creation of more than 600 associated jobs.
This investment flow has positioned Catalonia as the sixth region in the world in terms of number of projects of foreign investment in robotics, the second in the European sphere and the first within the Spanish State, where it concentrates more than half of the registered initiatives (around 52% of the state projects).
The combination of a consolidated industrial base, specialized talent, leading research centers, and a network of technology fairs and congresses makes Catalonia is an attractive hub for international companies who are looking for competitive locations in Europe to develop advanced automation solutions.
From the Generalitat, the Minister of Business and Labor, Miquel SÃ mper, has stressed that these figures demonstrate the strength of the network of industrial SMEs of the territory and the role of robotics and industry 4.0 in strengthening the competitiveness of the productive fabric in the European context.
Advanced Factories: a showcase of Catalan robotics
One of the major platforms for showcasing the sector is Advanced FactoriesThe international trade fair dedicated to automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 is held at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona. This year marks the tenth edition of the event, which has established itself as a leading event in Southern Europe.
In this edition, Advanced Factories brings together More than 750 exhibitors and 420 international expertsWith an expected attendance of over 33.000 trade visitors, the estimated economic impact is around €91 million, including both direct and indirect spending, reinforcing the fair's role as a driver of business and innovation.
The trade show serves as a meeting point for robot manufacturers, systems integrators, industrial software providers, technology SMEs, and large industrial companies seeking new solutions to modernize their plants. It also hosts conferences, live demonstrations, and networking spaces where collaborative projects are developed.
For the Government, Events like Advanced Factories are a key lever to accelerate the digital transformation of Catalan industry. The fair facilitates access for companies, especially smaller ones, to automation, artificial intelligence, and collaborative robotics technologies that are still uncommon in many processes.
Furthermore, the presence of technology centers, universities and innovation hubs makes it possible to showcase real-world application cases, share experiences and bring the latest international trends in advanced manufacturing, smart maintenance and industrial data management closer to the productive sector.
Eurecat: cognitive robotics, cobots and multi-technological solutions
Within this ecosystem, the technology center Eurecat plays a leading role in promoting advanced robotics and Industry 4.0 in Catalonia. From its various locations, it develops multi-technology solutions aimed at a more autonomous, competitive and sustainable industry, with a clear commitment to strengthening European technological sovereignty.
Eurecat's approach is to combine cognitive and collaborative robotics, advanced manufacturing, industrial digitization, and printed electronicsThis integration allows for the design of customized projects that not only automate specific tasks, but also transform entire processes, optimize resources, and improve decision-making through intensive data analysis.
One of the most representative developments is a adaptable collaborative robotics system designed for sectors such as food, logistics, manufacturing or recyclingThese are the well-known cobots, robots designed to share space with human operators and work safely and flexibly in real production environments.
The proposed solution is based on a Flexible and modular architecture, with computer vision and artificial intelligence integrated. It incorporates adaptable gripping clamps to handle delicate objects, perform pick and place operations, and follow optimized paths with very precise motion control, reducing errors and cycle times.
This system is being presented at Advanced Factories through a demonstrator developed in collaboration with companies such as CodornÃu, Gimatic, Omron and Universal Robotswho have contributed key components, technology, and materials. The assembly allows visitors to observe how advanced automation and human labor coexist in a realistic industrial environment.
Cognitive robotics, drones and mobile robots for inspection and logistics
Eurecat also promotes solutions for cognitive robotics capable of automating complex processes which until now required intensive personnel intervention. Among these technologies, drones with high payload capacity, up to 35 kilos, stand out, designed for logistics operations, maintenance tasks and industrial assembly processes.
These systems can move objects autonomously in controlled environmentsThis translates into improved safety, by preventing people from having to perform the heaviest or most repetitive tasks, and increased operational efficiency. Coordination between drones, control systems, and data management platforms is key to their deployment.
Another of the center's lines of work focuses on intelligent mobile robots These systems are used in manufacturing, inspection, quality control, maintenance, and internal logistics. Within this family, quadruped systems equipped with advanced sensors for industrial inspections in complex environments and hard-to-reach spaces stand out.
In parallel, the following are being developed unmanned aerial platforms Capable of operating in critical infrastructure and environments with high security and reliability requirements, these solutions are geared towards both industry and utilities, providing valuable information on the status of facilities and equipment.
Industrial digitization completes this approach: Eurecat is working on technologies for collecting and analyzing real-time data that allow monitoring of industrial plants, production equipment and machinery parks, with the aim of improving operational performance and detecting incidents before they become serious problems.
Projects with industrial companies: from CodornÃu to Metalogenia and Carpel
Much of this technological capability is embodied in collaborative projects with industrial companies seeking to improve their competitiveness. In the field of inspection and maintenance, Eurecat has worked with companies such as CodornÃu, Metalogenia, Carpel, Rotimpress, and Pröll, among others.
At the Eurecat stand at Advanced Factories, for example, a production system that handles CodornÃu cava bottlesThis demonstrator serves to illustrate the center's ability to design flexible and modular architectures to handle all kinds of industrial components and delicate objects while maintaining high levels of precision.
The solution incorporates advanced machine vision and intelligent algorithms These features allow the robot to adapt to multiple types of objects and materials—from plastics and metals to food products and soft materials—without requiring complex reconfigurations. This facilitates changing references and reduces downtime.
In the field of digitization, the project developed with MetallogenyDesigned to optimize the operations of excavating machines working in mining operations and construction sites, the system captures real-time data on loading cycles, processes it, and generates key performance indicators visible in the cloud.
This information helps to improve decision-making and machinery efficiencyIdentifying usage patterns, potential inefficiencies, and cost-saving opportunities. This is a clear example of how the combination of sensor technology, data analysis, and connectivity can transform the daily operations of sectors considered traditional.
In the field of advanced materials and embedded electronics, Eurecat collaborates with companies such as Pröll and Carpel in the development of plastronic solutions for automotive and aeronautical applications, which opens the door to new designs of lighter, more functional and sustainable components.
Plastronics and printed electronics: new opportunities for robotics
La plastronicThis combination of electronics and plastic materials is positioning itself as one of the technologies with the greatest potential to transform various industrial sectors. It allows for the integration of electronic functionalities directly into structural parts, reducing the number of components and providing new features.
In the automotive sector, Eurecat has developed with the German company Pröll a monolithic structural piece It integrates smart lighting, capacitive sensors, a display, haptic elements, and microelectronics into a single plastic component. This solution improves user interaction and facilitates lighter and more versatile interior designs.
In the aeronautical sector, alongside CarpelThe center has created a prototype cabin interior panel that is lighter and more sustainable than current models. The device integrates touch zones and interactive features, such as contact with the crew or access to passenger information and entertainment systems.
Printed electronics, closely linked to these developments, is emerging as a Key technology for reducing weight, energy consumption and emissionswhile improving the user experience and maintaining high security standards. All these factors are especially relevant in highly regulated sectors.
For robotics, these innovations represent the possibility of design lighter, more efficient and adaptable robots and automated systemswith sensors and circuits integrated directly into the structures, opening the door to new architectures and applications.
Artificial intelligence and advanced industrial planning
Another pillar of industrial transformation in Catalonia is the Integration of artificial intelligence in resource planning and managementEurecat develops intelligent platforms that analyze large volumes of data to optimize production, adjust internal logistics and ensure the traceability of processes.
These multi-criteria platforms are particularly useful in sectors such as food, where requirements of cost, quality, deadlines, food safety and sustainability coexistAI allows processing all these variables at once and proposing decision scenarios that help companies become more agile and competitive.
Robotics, connected to data-driven decision systems, ceases to be merely an element of mechanical automation and becomes a component of a cyber-physical system broader. In it, machines, sensors, and digital applications share information and coordinate in real time.
According to the center itself, all these capabilities are part of a commitment to building a more resilient, sustainable and prepared industry for current and future challenges. Continued participation in Advanced Factories and other European forums reinforces this technology transfer strategy to the productive sector.
Overall, the panorama of Robotics in Catalonia shows an ecosystem in full maturityThis sector has doubled its economic weight in five years, with 311 active companies, a strong presence of SMEs and startups, increasing foreign investment, and integration into the industry thanks to the work of technology centers and spaces like Advanced Factories and DFactory. All of this places the region in a prominent position on the European map of automation and Industry 4.0, with room for further growth if the commitment to innovation, talent, and public-private collaboration is maintained.
