New study puts Barcelona among world's top tech cities

Barcelona is for the first time among the world's top technological cities in a study identifying the world's 25 most innovative urban centers by real estate firm, Savills.

The Catalan capital comes 21st in the ranking topped by New York, San Francisco, London, Amsterdam and Boston. 

The study looks at the parameters for attracting investment in technology, such as infrastructure, the business environment, lifestyle, coworking, living expenses and mobility.

Moreover, Savills considers Barcelona the third best city for dynamism and wellbeing, and fifth in terms of transport infrastructure, with an emphasis on its Bicing bike sharing service.  

According to the report, the Bicing service provides a structure for "moving around easily" and is praised for its introduction of technology, which includes the adoption of electric bikes.

"Barcelona reinvented itself in the past few years, positioning itself as a center of reference for the technology sector in the south of Europe," Savills said in a statement.

Growth in technology and investment

Barcelona's profile as a center of technology has been steadily growing. This week, for example, the Clínic hospital became the first in Spain to adopt 5G technology to carry out surgery at a distance.

Meanwhile, last month, the Catalan government said it is readying a strategic plan to attract funding and investment so that "Catalonia becomes a hub for artificial intelligence in Europe."

Also, the Financial Times recently recognized Catalonia's strategy for attracting foreign investment with an award from its 'fDi Magazine,' which named the Catalonia Trade & Investment (CT&I) public body, Promotion Agency of the Year.