Spain is perhaps best known as a popular holiday destination for its sand and sunshine, but it is also one of the fastest growing regions for biotechnology in Europe.

Thanks to an invitation from Bioga, a trade group supporting growth of biotechnology in Galicia in the Northeastern Atlantic board of Spain, a Scottish delegation visited several sites in the region and attended the Galicia BioDays conference in Vigo from June 12 – 13.

The biotech sector in Galicia has a cutting end biotechnology industry, exciting start ups and spin outs, and several world class research institutes. They have 160 biotechnology companies, which an annual turnover of more than €1.4 bn and, like Scotland, has ambition plans to fast track this by 2030. The biotech sector generates 5,600 direct jobs in Galicia and is growing at around 10% per year.

Galicia Biodays is held every two years, attended this year by ~1,000 delegates, and provided an excellent view of what is happening in Spain and European biotechnology.

Staff from IBioIC, Scottish Development International, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, SRUC, Scotland’s Rural College, Scottish Association of Marine Science, Oceanium and FlexSea attended the event in Vigo, and toured both Santiaga de Compestelo and Vigo, including visits to local businesses in the Biotechnology Park of Galicia and a speed networking event with local Galician companies. The group also enjoyed a tour of the vaccine production facility of Zendal, the seaweed and fruit peel processing facility of CEAMSA, and biotech businesses space to rent. The grand finale of the two days was a boat trip to a mussel farm with underwater drone footage.

During the event, IBioIC had an opportunity to provide an overview of the biotech ecosystem in Scotland in a session of global bioregions such as Canada, Portugal, France, Italy, Japan, India and Morocco. 

Scotland and Galicia have much in common, with strong Celtic connections, a supportive innovation ecosystem, and a similar geography and natural feedstocks – from fish and aquaculture through to agriculture. With excellent regional and national support, and ambitions for growing the biotech sector, both offer a great base from which to do international business.

Thanks, in particular, to Daniel Alvarez, Project Manager at Bioga for the invite and being a spectacular host, and for on-the-ground support from Raquel Largo Martinez, Science and Technology Manager for Iberia, Scottish Development International.