The pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry represents a strategic economic pillar for the Madrid region. It brings together more than 400 companies, 24,000 direct jobs and 39 production sites – representing nearly half of the national sector turnover – and 63% of Spanish exports by value. The presence of several global leaders – Pfizer, Roche, Lilly, GSK, Merck, Bayer… – which have established R&D centers, production units and technology hubs there, with a strong local anchorage, confirms and illustrates the region’s growing power.
A structured and collaborative research environment
The Madrid region hosts several leading scientific institutions: CNIO (National Cancer Research Center), Carlos III Institute, CSIC, Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center, National Biotechnology Center, not to mention the upcoming National Centre for Neurotechnology. These institutions actively collaborate with locally established companies and hospitals through public-private programs. This ecosystem is completed by eight science and technology parks, numerous biomedical research foundations and bio-incubators that foster the emergence of research-born startups.
Optimal conditions for experimentation
The Madrid region benefits from a vast public and private hospital network, including several institutions ranked among the best in Europe (HM, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Gregorio Marañón…). This network is a key asset for clinical development. Spain is now the leading European country in number of clinical trials, and Madrid is among the most active zones, both for early-stage and advanced-phase trials. Companies find on-site the medical, regulatory and scientific environment necessary for therapeutic innovation.
A pool of competitive and available talent
The Madrid region has the highest density of researchers in Spain, with a clear specialization in health and biotechnologies. Each year, its universities (Complutense, Autónoma, CEU San Pablo…) train thousands of engineers, biologists, doctors and pharmacists, through programs closely aligned with the sector’s needs. The region’s attractiveness also enables recruitment of international profiles. It is one of the rare European metropolises that combines a reasonable cost of living, a high quality of life, and global connectivity (via Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, Southern Europe’s logistics hub).
An open door to new markets
The Madrid region is a true export and outreach platform towards Latin America, a continent where the German pharmaceutical industry is looking to strengthen its presence. The presence of German companies already well established in the region such as Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim or Merck KGaA demonstrates its commercial and strategic potential.