Young talent continues to pour in
Is Barcelona still one of Europe's leading cities?
Nasser el Mamoune - Barcelona continues to attract not only because of its relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle, but also because of its high level of connectivity and European spirit. Young talent continues to flock here, especially as the Catalan capital is now, along with Madrid, one of Spain's two cities with the highest concentration of start-ups, accounting for 34 % of the country's total.
Apart from new technologies, what other trends are defining Barcelona's economy?
Nasser el Mamoune - Historically, Barcelona has been a centre for science and health. Today, this trend is becoming more pronounced, with a number of university sites devoted to the life sciences, biotechnologies and the pharmaceutical industry, such as the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park and the Parc Cientific of the University of Barcelona. There is not just one major player, but a whole ecosystem built around labs and accelerators. Catalonia is home to 22 % of Spain's biotech companies.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs looking to set up in Barcelona?
Nasser el Mamoune - As with everything, you need to have a well-defined project. But I would also recommend... speaking perfect English. Today, the city is so European that some positions of responsibility are held by talented people who speak neither Catalan nor Castilian... but all the language of Shakespeare!
