The seminar “Japan: Catalonia's Strategic Partner in Innovation”, held on March 10, 2026 at the Casa de la Seda, brought together institutional representatives, research centers, technology companies and organizations from the innovation ecosystem to analyze new opportunities for cooperation between Japan and Catalonia in strategic sectors of the knowledge economy.
The meeting, organized by the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Consulate of Japan in Barcelona and Casa AsiaIt was part of the Catalonia-Japan Year, an initiative aimed at strengthening economic, technological and scientific ties between the two territories.
Catalonia has consolidated an advanced research and innovation ecosystem, while Japan maintains a strong business presence in the region, contributing to its integration into global value chains. The seminar program was structured around three key technological areas: advanced computing, semiconductors and micro-nanotechnology, and biotechnology and health.
The session was opened by José Pintor, CEO Casa Asiaand Akiko Shikata, Consul General of Japan in Barcelona, who highlighted the importance of creating meeting spaces that promote collaboration in innovation in an increasingly competitive international environment.
Advanced Computing
The first roundtable, moderated by Núria Benítez Monforte (CERCA), featured representatives from FSAS Technologies Spain (Fujitsu), the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), and NTT Data. The panelists analyzed advancements in high-performance computing infrastructure and its impact on areas such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and the development of digital services.
It was noted that AI is already transforming multiple sectors, while quantum computing, still emerging, will have disruptive effects in the next decade. The value of innovative projects such as those jointly developed by the BSC and Fujitsu was also highlighted, as well as the need to strengthen international collaboration to guarantee European technological sovereignty and retain highly skilled talent.
Following the round table discussion, the Minister of Research and Universities, Núria MontserratHe emphasized Catalonia's role as a scientific and technological hub in Southern Europe and the importance of international cooperation in addressing major global challenges. He identified Japan as a strategic partner and highlighted existing areas of collaboration, such as supercomputing—especially the cooperation between the BSC and the RIKEN Center for Computational Science—quantum computing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and projects in energy and sustainability.
Semiconductors and micro-nanotechnology
The second roundtable, moderated by Roger Costa (Catalonia Semiconductors Alliance), addressed the challenges of a sector considered essential for global industrial competitiveness. Shunsuke Goto (VLC Photonics / Hitachi High-Tech) and Luis Fonseca (IMB CNM, CSIC) analyzed challenges such as manufacturing capacity, process industrialization, technological scalability, and the need to maintain an integrated ecosystem that connects research, industry, and government.
The cross-cutting nature of semiconductors was highlighted, as they are fundamental to technologies such as photonics, AI, biotechnology, space, and smart sensors, as well as the complementarity between Japanese industrial capacity and the Catalan research ecosystem.
Biotechnology and health
The third round table, moderated by Amadeo Jensana (Casa AsiaThe event featured representatives from AGC Chemicals, Spinreact, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, and BioCat. The speakers highlighted the dynamism of the BioRegion of Catalonia, which brings together more than 1.600 companies and is one of Europe's leading hubs for life sciences.
The debate addressed issues such as the production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, healthcare digitalization, personalized therapies, and the use of artificial intelligence in clinical management. Shared challenges were also highlighted: European regulatory complexity, technology transfer, and cultural and linguistic barriers to business cooperation with Japan.
In conclusion, the seminar "Japan: Catalonia's Strategic Partner in Innovation" highlighted the potential for collaboration between Japan and Catalonia in strategic innovation sectors, as well as their clear complementarity: Catalonia contributes a dynamic ecosystem and qualified talent, while Japan offers industrial experience and advanced technology.
The discussions highlighted the importance of international cooperation, continued relationships between institutions and businesses, and the need to make progress in overcoming common challenges.
The day concluded with a networking session, where participants explored new opportunities for collaboration and strengthened strategic ties between both territories in the field of technological and scientific innovation.
