As part of the Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems initiative, Navarre co-organised a strategic meeting in Brussels alongside more than 40 European regions participating in the Regional Innovation Valleys (RIV) projects, as well as other interested regions. The goal of the meeting was to promote the five projects approved in this first call, among which is the European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV) initiative, led by the Autonomous Community of Navarre. According to Mikel Irujo, Regional Minister for Industry and for Business Ecological and Digital Transition, “this project will work with key stakeholders in the participating regions to identify the real needs and barriers to advancing greater circularity in companies.”
The European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV) project is a cornerstone of Navarre’s circular economy strategy. It is built on four key pillars:
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60% of the total budget will be allocated to calls for proposals that will support innovations addressing key challenges identified in each region, which are shared with participating European regions. These include the industrialisation of circular packaging, the revalorisation of plant by-products from the agri-food industry, water regeneration in industrial processes, and the remanufacturing of components in the renewable energy sector.
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It will promote efficient resource management through new and improved industrial processes.
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It aims to stimulate economic growth by strengthening collaboration between governments, businesses, and research institutions across Europe.
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The launch of the project will help build a strong interregional ecosystem that supports companies and startups in the circular economy field, with funding opportunities set to begin in 2025.
To achieve this, the ECIV project involves collaboration between key regional partners, including the Northern Netherlands Alliance, the Northern-Mid Sweden Regions, the Region of Normandy, the Public Service of Economy of Wallonia, the Regional Council of Helsinki-Uusimaa, Scottish Enterprise, the Lithuanian Innovation Centre, and the Association of Cities and Regions for Sustainable Resource Management (ACR+).
All participating regions plan to carry out their activities and meet the set objectives through to 2029.
At Invest in Navarra–Sodena, we encourage all foreign-owned companies committed to sustainability and environmental responsibility to explore the opportunities that Navarre offers. If you are considering setting up or investing in our region, we offer a wide range of services to support you at every step of the process. All information is available on our website.
Source: navarra.es