Navarra hosted the Bioecomp 2026 conference on 17 and 18 June at the Baluarte congress centre in Pamplona — a European-scale event organised by the Government of Navarra, Sodena and ACR+ that placed the region at the heart of the debate on sustainable industrial transformation.
The event brought together representatives from European regions, businesses, technology centres, clusters, R&D agencies and investment bodies to explore the strategic role of bioeconomy in continental competitiveness. Navarra not only served as host, but also presented its own model as a reference case: an industrial ecosystem capable of turning biological resources — plants, animals, microorganisms and organic waste — into high-value goods and services.
An industrial showroom featuring 14 Navarrese companies
One of the centrepieces of Bioecomp 2026 was the business showroom, in which fourteen companies from the region showcased their most advanced solutions in decarbonisation and biomaterials to a European audience. The initiative provided an international platform to demonstrate the depth and maturity of Navarra’s bioindustrial fabric, showing that bioeconomy already has concrete, scalable applications here.
The Minister for Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition, Mikel Irujo, stressed during the event that bioeconomy has moved beyond being a theoretical concept to become a genuine industrial strength — a model that, in his view, will allow Navarra to move towards greater economic sovereignty and reduced dependence on fossil resources.
European partnerships and international reach
The conference formed part of the ECIV European project, co-led by the Government of Navarra and Sodena, which promotes circular solutions across different industrial value chains at a continental scale. For the public company Sodena, Bioecomp also served as a lever to attract knowledge, build alliances and position Navarra within the broader European conversations on industrial transformation.
The programme included panel discussions on Navarra’s bioeconomy ecosystem, the role of regions in driving it forward, and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector across Europe. Pitch sessions rounded off an agenda focused equally on collaboration and on attracting projects and investment.
Bioeconomy: a strategic commitment with solid industrial foundations
This initiative adds to Navarra’s well-established track record in sectors linked to sustainability and the circular economy. The region already hosts landmark industrial projects in biomethane, biomass, biofuels and advanced recycling, backed by a smart specialisation strategy (S4) that places ecological transition as one of its core cross-cutting priorities.
Companies and investors interested in Navarra’s bioeconomy and bioindustry ecosystem are welcome to contact Invest in Navarra for tailored information on investment opportunities, available talent, fiscal incentives and matchmaking with local partners.
Source: navarra.es