new office will be led by Cristina Pitarch, who has been appointed the company’s head of Spain following more than 15 years of experience at technology companies including Google and Salesforce.
The expansion comes amid growing demand for artificial intelligence in the Spanish market. According to Anthropic’s Economic Index, Claude adoption in Spain is 2.7 times higher than would be expected based on the country’s population. The company already works with major corporations including Santander, Telefónica, Amadeus, BBVA, CaixaBank, Ferrovial, Indra, and Konecta, several of which have significant operations and decision-making centers in Madrid. Anthropic has also begun expanding its local team, with positions including an Applied AI Architect based in Madrid.
The company is entering a market where Madrid accounts for a significant share of Spain’s technology activity. The region is home to more than 345,000 information and communications technology professionals and over 2,600 technology companies. It also accounts for 63% of Spanish corporate spending on artificial intelligence adoption, representing more than $408 million. For U.S. technology companies such as Anthropic, this ecosystem provides access to both specialized talent and a substantial base of potential enterprise customers.
Anthropic’s arrival follows OpenAI’s decision to establish its first Spanish office in Madrid. The U.S. company behind ChatGPT announced the Madrid expansion in June, citing the rapid growth of AI adoption in Spain, where its weekly active user base had increased by more than 40% year over year. OpenAI has continued recruiting technical professionals in Madrid, including positions focused on deploying AI systems for enterprise customers.
The arrival of two of the leading U.S. artificial intelligence companies within a matter of months further strengthens Madrid’s links with the U.S. technology industry. Its combination of corporate customers, specialized professionals, AI investment, and a growing technology ecosystem provides a strong base for U.S. companies seeking to develop their operations in Spain and expand their presence in the European market.