Indicators of high-technology sectors and products. 2023

Companies in the high-tech and medium high-tech sectors recorded a turnover of 87,607.9 million euros in Catalonia in 2023, 5.7% higher than the previous year. This turnover represented 16.2% of the total turnover of all industrial and service companies with activity in Catalonia.

Within these sectors, the growth in turnover of hight-tech manufacturers (10.2%) stood out, particularly those engaged in the manufacture of pharmaceutical products (10.1%). Companies providing high-tech services also recorded significant turnover growth (9.3%), especially those engaged in cinema, radio, television, telecommunications and ICT services (9.8%). Finally, the turnover of medium-high tech manufacturers increased more modestly (3.7%).

Internal R&D expenditure in Catalonia by the high-tech and medium-high tech sectors amounted to 2,540.3 million euros in 2023, 18.5% higher than a year earlier and accounted for 73.4% of total expenditure on R&D activities performed in Catalonia by the business sector as a whole.

Productivity in the high-tech and medium-high tech sectors was 87,930 euros per employee, 5.1% higher than in 2022, and 63.9% above that of industrial and service companies as a whole. The share of sales abroad was 45.1%, more than twice the turnover exported by all industrial and service companies (20.4%).

By contrast, the female participation rate (34.4%) was 13.7 points lower than that of industrial and service companies as a whole (48.1%). The research and development branch was the only one with a higher share of women than men (61.1%).