The Catalonia Trade & Investment Office in Austin is headed by Marc Bonavia, a global entrepreneur, who founded SITmobile and worked as an innovation coach. He has a degree in Pharmacy and a master's degree in Experimental Pharmaceutical Sciences from the UB as well as in High-Performance Leadership from EADA Business School.
The International Office of Catalonia in Austin, which was opened in 2020, is the newest venue in the entire network. Its aim is to offer Catalan companies and startups a direct connection to one of the most innovative and growing ecosystems. The capital of Texas has been growing at an annual rate 2-3% for a decade, and an average of 152 people live there every day, finding Austin the closest thing to California in a location halfway between both coasts.
Austin is an enabling environment to do business in Texas for those who innovate in foodtech, biotechnology or pharmacy; but the Catalonia Trade & Investment Office in Austin also allows Catalan companies and startups to access major technology hubs throughout the state of Texas, such as Houston's chemical, energy and aerospace industries.