The Minister for Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition, Mikel Irujo, announced the aerospace strategy designed by the Government of Navarra. Comprising twelve initial measures to be completed next year, this initiative aims to ‘consolidate the exponential growth’ of a sector that already has a turnover of €300 million and employs more than 1,000 people in the region.
According to Irujo, this is a project in which the Administration ‘will complete the work it has been carrying out over the last four years together with industry, technology, training and the entire industrial ecosystem of Navarra’. In addition, the minister praised the ‘clear response’ of the private sector in Navarra in support of this strategy, ‘as there are leading companies willing to promote the creation of a genuine aerospace sector fabric,’ he said.
In this regard, the new impetus stems from the strategic reflection with which Navarra seeks to diversify its economy and strengthen the sectors that are set to become the drivers of its development in the coming years. In fact, in the coming months, this line of work will form part of the new approach of Navarra’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S4), which is currently under review.
Meanwhile, the Action Plan to Promote the Aerospace Industry in Navarra (whose specific measures are expected to be developed starting next year) already includes twelve lines of action.
1. Establish a space for collaboration between companies and the Administration to facilitate the exchange of knowledge in order to address opportunities and define common objectives.
2. Develop a strategic plan to promote growth in the number, size and business of companies, as well as strategic alliances, through the creation of an ‘aerospace industry round table’.
3. Preparation of a new sector report in 2026 to define lines of work throughout 2026 and budgets for 2027, with the aim of providing a programme to boost investment in SMEs and competitiveness, with an allocation of €15 million per year.
4. Continued support for R&D&I for the inclusion of the aerospace sector in R&D lines, both for collaborative and strategic projects, with an annual budget of €35 million in collaboration with the NAITEC technology centre.
5. Promotion of technological entrepreneurship, specialised training and talent recruitment through the public company CEIN.
6. Lines of financing from Sodena and provision of financing channels of up to €40 million within the framework of the Fondos Arraigo (Rooting Funds), already available.
7. Give local and external visibility to the sector to expand its projects to other industries with complementary capabilities.
8. Create a one-stop shop for companies through the public company Sodena.
9. Analyse training and skills development needs with the sector.
10. Promote improved market access through individual and collaborative actions ranging from diagnosis to commercial acceleration, with the aim of potentially integrating companies in the sector into the services and initiatives of the Navarra International Plan, such as support for SMEs attending international trade fairs, mentoring, strategic consulting and commercial promotion.
11. Alignment with state and European programmes
12. Support for SMEs in obtaining specific certifications such as EN 9100 and others related to customers and processes.
Based on this analysis, the Government of Navarra has identified opportunities in companies that manufacture products and components for the automotive and energy sectors, whose industrial capabilities could evolve to serve the aeronautical field.
However, as this is a highly demanding sector, it is not enough to simply identify opportunities in products and parts. It is also necessary to have in-depth knowledge of the specific requirements of the aeronautical industry, especially in terms of quality, safety, materials and market knowledge.
Finally, to advance this diversification, Navarra has not only a consolidated business ecosystem, but also significant capabilities in knowledge and research centres, such as the Public University of Navarra and NAITEC, as well as entities such as the Navarra Industry Association (AIN), with extensive experience in the aerospace sector and in key areas such as industrialisation and digitalisation.
Source: navarra.es