The government of Catalonia has unveiled an ambitious strategy to invest €1 billion into its artificial intelligence (AI) sector by 2030. The comprehensive plan aims to establish the region as a leading European hub for AI development, focusing on infrastructure, talent, and public services.
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President of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Salvador Illa, announced the initiative on Monday during the ‘Smart Catalonia: AI to Transform the Future’ conference held at Barcelona’s Torre Glòries. He framed the investment as a crucial move to “transform AI as an important strategic tool” with the goal of “gaining in competitiveness and improving well-being and guaranteeing prosperity.”
A Strategic Push for Competitiveness
The strategy places Catalonia in a race with other European regions to harness the economic and social potential of AI. It builds on Barcelona’s growing reputation as a major technology centre, which has recently emerged as a global top-three hub for AI investment. The government’s plan, detailed in its official AI strategy document, seeks to consolidate this position through targeted public funding, with a smaller fraction expected from private sources.
The proposal, debated at Tuesday’s weekly cabinet meeting, outlines a multi-pronged approach to creating a robust AI ecosystem. Key priority sectors for AI application include agriculture, transport, renewable energies, health and biomedicine, and tourism.
Breaking Down the Billion-Euro Plan
Of the funds, €120 million will create a public-owned cloud service. According to government sources, Catalonia will launch a public tender for a ‘made in Catalonia’ cloud service in 2026. This aims to keep all regional data, especially ‘the most sensitive information,’ stored within the territory, enhancing digital sovereignty.
Investment in digital infrastructure forms another core pillar of the plan. Specifically, approximately €200 million will guarantee comprehensive optical fibre and 5G connectivity across Catalonia. Furthermore, an additional €60 million upgrades digital infrastructure to provide “more capacity, intelligence, and increase operation by 20%.”
The strategy also addresses the critical need for human capital. Consequently, around €40 million will promote university degrees in AI, with a short-term goal of accommodating 250 students per degree. This complements a wider ambition to train 30,000 public workers and 90,000 civilians, ensuring broad digital literacy. This focus on local talent and integration mirrors other regional initiatives, such as the plan for AI models to sit Catalan language and culture exams to prove their local fluency.
Widespread Impact and Streamlined Innovation
The government estimates that around 5,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and freelancers will directly benefit from the schemes. Beyond direct funding, the strategy aims to cut bureaucratic hurdles, reducing the time required to receive authorities’ approval for AI projects by 40%. It also includes provisions for building the necessary infrastructure to develop high-end semiconductor chips, a critical component in advanced AI systems.
This large-scale investment arrives amid political negotiation. Catalan News reports that the AI strategy’s funding is already secured, even as the 2025 Catalan budget remains stalled over political disagreements. This commitment signals the Illa administration’s high priority on technological transformation as a driver for Catalonia’s future economy, which has recently seen exports hit a record €100.7 billion.
Ultimately, by positioning AI as a cornerstone of its economic and social policy, the Catalan government aims to create a more resilient, innovative, and prosperous region over the next decade.
