Catalan Smart
Cities Market
Report

In 2019, we produced the Catalan Government annual report on the Smart Cities market, analyzing the sector comprehensively, including global supply chains and company profiles, and identifying replicable international best practices for local industry growth.

The challenge

In the digital and technological landscape, Catalonia stands as a dynamically thriving region, boasting a well-established, high-value ecosystem capable of designing and globally exporting urban-oriented solutions. Moreover, it hosts numerous leading international congresses in the field, such as the Smart City Expo World Congress, solidifying Catalonia’s position as a global powerhouse in the realm of smart cities.

To gain an accurate understanding of the state of the Smart Cities sector in Catalonia, its economic impact, and the global opportunities emerging for companies in this sector within the region, the government of Catalonia periodically commissions a comprehensive market report. In 2019, they entrusted this task to Anteverti.

Our approach

Within this framework, we collaborated with ACCIÓ, the Agency for Business Competitiveness of the Government of Catalonia, to update their Smart Cities Market Overview Report. This update included an analysis of the relationship between Sustainable Development Goals and the smart city model, as well as an exploration of best practices from similar regions or countries that could be adapted to benefit Catalonia.

The updated report was based on a thorough quantitative and qualitative analysis of the sector, building upon the foundation of the previous 2016 study. It encompassed the definition of the smart city industry value chain, outlining the roles of companies, key stakeholders, and applied technologies. Additionally, it provided a comprehensive mapping of newly established companies in the field.

The impact

The findings of the Catalonia Smart Cities Market Overview Report 2019 yielded several key insights:

• The sector comprises 438 companies with a combined turnover of 9,717 million euros, equivalent to 4% of Catalonia’s GDP, and it employs 45,046 individuals.
• More than 52% of these companies have been in operation for over a decade, with over 90% classified as SMEs. Notably, 89% of these companies are concentrated in the Barcelona area.
• Nearly half (46%) of these companies engage in international export, and 31% have established subsidiaries abroad.

Among other aspects, the report highlighted the global opportunities that the sector offers for both existing companies and those considering establishing a presence in Catalonia. It conducted a comparative analysis of the region’s advantages and benefits over neighboring competitors. Furthermore, the report identified successful experiences from six leading territories and countries in the industry, including the Netherlands, Lombardy, Singapore, Estonia, and South Korea, which could be replicated in Catalonia in alignment with governmental priorities. The overarching goal is to further solidify Catalonia’s position as a prominent global hub in the Smart Cities industry.