The biotechnology in Madrid region

Located in the centre of the Iberian peninsula and with a population of near 6 million inhabitants, the Region of Madrid has one of the highest rates of economic growth in Europe. The GDP has experienced a steady growth between 1995 and 2004, with an annual average increase of 3.7%, surpassing the European Union and the United States. Madrid is the main financial and service centre of Spain, the second industrial region and rich in human, economic and industrial resources. Madrid also has an extensive infrastructure and communication network, and an important concentration of higher education and research institutes. The region offers competitive advantages in cultural, tourist and leisure activities.

Science, business and welfare form a virtuous circle that makes Madrid one of the European Union’s most attractive regions, both for students and researchers, for businessmen and investors. Its 230,000 college students, 20% of them outside the Madrid area, and around 40,000 persons dedicated to research and development, represent the strength of its human capital. An important investment in research and development and in secondary education, have given Madrid a solid infrastructure totally integrated in the European Research Area.

The fact that the Community of Madrid is an urban metropolis situated on a reduced territory determines an economic structure that, in its more typical features, is defined by:

• Capital region of the nation and largest concentration of decision-
  making centres.
• An industrial sector whose importance in the national context makes Madrid the second industrial centre of Spain.
• Highly skilled labor at competitive cost.
• Highest academic reseach centers concentration in Spain.
  
  

Key figures of Madrid region

• 288.800 workers in High Technology Sectors (10.7% of the working population).
• Madrid region R&D expenditure: 1.76% of GDP (2.4 billion €).
• 39.537 R&D workers (1.5% of the working population).
• 14 Universities and more than 50 academic research centres.
• 230,000 college students and around 2,000 new PhDs every year.
• 27.3% of all the scientists in Spain and produces more than 31 % of the international scientific publications in Spain.
• More than 20 technology transfer organizations.
• 3 scientific/research parks in operation and 3 under construction.