- The advisory service financed by the European Commission, through the Executive Agency CINEA, concludes within the framework of the European Green Assist programme, delivering new tools and a comprehensive environmental strategy.
Sodena has completed the technical advisory and training service received under the European Green Assist programme, promoted by the European Commission and funded through the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Over twelve months of work, between June 2025 and June 2026, Sodena has strengthened the integration of the environmental dimension across its three lines of action, consolidating its position as a pioneering entity and a European benchmark in the integration of sustainability.
In 2025, Sodena became the first regional development entity selected to receive technical support and local training from the international consultancies Ricardo-WSP and Competitiveness within the Green Assist programme. The programme, promoted and funded by the European Commission through CINEA, aims to support public entities in incorporating environmental sustainability as a driver of regional competitiveness.
In this context, through the Green Assist programme, Sodena takes a further step by incorporating environmental criteria into all its lines of action: financial support to local companies, already initiated in 2022 and formalised through the Responsible Investment Policy; the attraction of investment from outside the Autonomous Community through Invest in Navarra; and the coordination of the Smart Specialisation Strategy of Navarra (S4) and support for clusters from the Regional Strategy area. The project has also included a review of the organisation’s own internal environmental practices.
Over the course of a year, external consultants and a Sodena team reviewed the working processes of all areas and compared Sodena’s activities with those of other leading European regions and public entities in order to identify best practices and EU standards with an environmental focus. The joint work was structured around monthly follow-up meetings, participatory workshops, and internal training for staff on the new tools and processes made available to the organisation.
The programme included two in-person technical sessions held in Pamplona on 15 January and 20 May 2026, in which the entire Sodena team participated and where the aforementioned work was shared. During the May session, which marked the conclusion of the joint work between Sodena and the consultancies, a key question was addressed: what does it mean today to be a benchmark region for business development in Europe?
On the one hand, it means competing globally by attracting investment in strategic sectors, creating quality jobs and added value to foster an innovative and competitive business fabric. On the other hand, it involves laying the foundations for sustainable reindustrialisation, aligned with stringent environmental standards that ensure the protection of natural resources.
In this regard, Sodena states that “sustainability is no longer solely a reputational issue, but a key factor for business competitiveness and for generating economic value, innovation, and a future for the territory. Companies that integrate environmental criteria are more resilient, more innovative, have better access to financing, and are better prepared to meet regulatory and market demands.”
As a result of this initiative, the public company will be equipped with a strengthened and updated Environmental Strategy for Sodena, a dashboard to monitor progress in each area of action, a set of tools and practical guidelines to support Navarrese companies in the environmental transition, and a shared vision: that Sodena continues to strengthen its pioneering role and European benchmark status in financial support, in attracting responsible investment, and in supporting regional economic activities that are competitive due to their sustainability.
