Tech Hubs in Spain

Spain has emerged as one of Europe's most exciting tech destinations, combining a growing startup ecosystem with an unbeatable quality of life. The country hosts 10,000+ tech companies, from homegrown unicorns to European HQs of global firms.

Barcelona and Madrid dominate, but València, Malaga, and other cities are growing fast — fuelled by remote work, government incentives, and a strong pool of engineering talent. Spain's tech sector grew 8% in 2025, outpacing the EU average.

Spain's startup capital and the undisputed tech hub for international talent. The 22@ District in Poblenou is the innovation district — home to hundreds of tech companies, coworking spaces, and incubators.

Key companies: Glovo, Typeform, Factorial, Travelperk, Wallapop, Preply, King (Activision), Amazon, N26.

Major events: Mobile World Congress (MWC), 4YFN, Smart City Expo.

Coworking: MOB, Aticco, OneCoWork, Spaces, WeWork.

Strengths: International community, English-friendly, beach lifestyle, direct flights everywhere.

Considerations: Highest rents in Spain, competitive job market, tourist crowds.

Spain's capital and financial center, with a massive enterprise tech scene. Key areas include Salamanca, Chamartín, and the growing tech corridor along the A2.

Key companies: Cabify, Jobandtalent, Spotahome, Banco Santander tech, BBVA (AI/data), Telefónica Tech, Amadeus, Indra.

Strong in: Fintech, enterprise software, consulting, cloud infrastructure.

Coworking: Google for Startups Campus Madrid, Impact Hub, Spaces, WeWork.

Strengths: Largest talent pool in Spain, lower rents than Barcelona, government and institutional proximity.

Considerations: Less international feel than Barcelona, hot summers, more corporate culture.

The fastest-growing tech hub in Spain, fuelled by affordability and quality of life. Marina de Empresas is Spain's largest private startup campus, home to Lanzadera (Juan Roig's accelerator), Angels, and EDEM business school.

Key companies: Flywire, Jeff, Sesame, Blinker, Power Electronics, and many remote-first teams.

Lanzadera has incubated 100+ startups and is the largest startup accelerator in Spain.

Strengths: 30-40% cheaper than Barcelona, excellent weather, beach, growing digital nomad community, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

Coworking: Wayco, Vortex, Lanzadera campus, Spaces.

Considerations: Smaller job market, Spanish more necessary than in Barcelona, fewer international flights.

The Mediterranean tech surprise — rapidly transforming into a serious tech destination. Malaga TechPark (PTA) is one of Spain's largest tech parks with 600+ companies and 20,000+ workers.

Google's cybersecurity center opened in Malaga, signaling major investment in the city's tech future.

Key companies: Accenture, Ericsson, Oracle, Vodafone, TDK, and a growing startup scene.

Strengths: Sunny weather year-round, affordable (cheaper than Barcelona/Madrid), international airport, digital nomad-friendly. The city government actively courts tech companies with incentives and fast-track permitting.

Coworking: La Térmica, The Living Room, Workiñ, Regus.

Considerations: Smaller ecosystem, less public transport, very hot summers.

Beyond the big four, several Spanish cities are building exciting tech ecosystems:

How Spain's tech hubs compare on salary, rent, and vibe:

For a full breakdown of living expenses, see our cost of living guide.