Approaching Barcelona by plane over the azure Mediterranean Sea offers breathtaking views. The city's beachfront and landmark skyscrapers reveal why the proud capital of Catalonia has become a major tourist destination. And in the midst of that vista, the omega-shaped complex of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (BBRP) not only complements the city's architectural style, but signifies the city's growing ambitions in science.

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Catalonia Powerhouse, Nature 10. July 2008.

Another source of funding in Spain is regional governments."Several of the regional governments, like Catalonia, really have emerged as new and important means of support," says Cami, which was not the case 10 years ago.

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Focus on Europe: Research by the numbers? Catalonia Powerhouse, Nature 10. July 2008.

Barcelona is identified as the flagship city of the region: more than half (52%) of those surveyed cite it among their top three most attractive cities within the region. Survey respondents indicate a clear preference for cities in the northern half of the zone. Of the five top flagship towns identified, four are located in the Northern Rim. However, Casablanca, (11%) Cairo (15%) and more particularly Istanbul (25%) appear increasingly likely to reinforce their role as hubs in the Euro-Mediterranean area.

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BaroMed 2008 "The next European frontier". An Ernst & Young report on the attractiveness of the Euro-Mediterranean area. June 2008.