BioRegion of Catalonia 2024 Report: Innovation in Paediatric Health

The BioRegion of Catalonia 2024 Report, published by Biocat, provides a detailed analysis of the life sciences and healthcare ecosystem in the region. Catalonia maintains its position as one of Europe’s leading hubs for biomedical innovation, with over 1,500 companies and 93 research institutions driving research, development, and knowledge transfer in the healthcare sector.

Growth in Paediatric Health Innovation

In the field of paediatric health, the report highlights significant growth, with an increasing number of startups, research projects, and specialised centres dedicated to improving child healthcare through innovative technological and therapeutic solutions.

The report identifies 16 startups and scaleups in Catalonia focused on developing solutions for child health, particularly in the digital health sector. These companies operate in various fields, including diagnostics, advanced therapies, brain stimulation, gamification, telemedicine, and virtual reality therapy. Among the most prominent are:

• Minoryx Therapeutics, specialising in treatments for rare neurodegenerative diseases, with an investment of €80 million.
• Kriba, developing innovative solutions for screening, diagnosis, and non-invasive monitoring of childhood meningitis, with an investment of €7 million.
• Connecta Therapeutics, focused on neurodevelopmental disorders, with an investment of €5 million.

Key Areas of Research and Development in Paediatrics

Paediatric health companies and research centres are advancing in several key therapeutic areas, including:

• Paediatric oncology: Developing new personalised therapies for childhood cancer.
• Nervous system disorders: Advancements in therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Child mental health: Implementation of digital tools to improve psychological well-being and care for children and adolescents.
• Metabolic and endocrine disorders: Research into new therapies for conditions such as childhood diabetes.

Additionally, advanced therapies, such as cell-based treatments and gene therapy, are beginning to play an important role in improving treatment options for rare diseases in paediatric populations.

Leading Centres and Initiatives in Paediatric Health

The paediatric health innovation ecosystem in Catalonia is strengthened by the presence of leading institutions developing projects and infrastructures exclusively dedicated to child healthcare:

• SJD Pediatric Cancer Center: A specialised centre for paediatric oncology, equipped with advanced technology for the diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer.
• Xarxa Únicas: A Spanish network of 30 hospitals addressing the needs of patients with rare diseases, supported by the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases (FEDER) and other organisations.
  • In 2024, construction began on the Únicas SJD building, backed by the Amancio Ortega Foundation. This centre will be one of the three largest in the world dedicated to specialised care, research, and the development of new therapies for rare diseases.
  • Covering 13,877 m², the facility will have six floors and two underground levels, including specialised consultations in neuroscience and genetics, as well as diagnostic and research facilities for rare diseases of genetic and immunological origin.

Trends and Future Perspectives in Paediatric Health

The report highlights that investment in paediatric innovation continues on a positive trajectory in Catalonia. The combination of startups, research centres, and leading hospitals is driving the development of new solutions in child healthcare.

Public-private collaboration plays a key role in the sector’s evolution, enabling new technologies to be implemented in clinical practice more efficiently. Over the coming years, the advancement of artificial intelligence, advanced therapies, and digital tools is expected to continue transforming paediatric healthcare in the BioRegion.

With this growth and specialisation, Catalonia is further establishing itself as a leading hub for paediatric biomedical innovation in Europe, with an increasingly well-prepared ecosystem to address the challenges of child health.