- Twelve European regions consolidate their regional collaboration in the Netherlands, within the framework of the ECIV European Circular Innovation Valley project
- Sodena was represented at the session by the Deputy Director General for Sustainability and Circular Economy, Montse Guerrero, and the Project Technicians, Legarda Campos and María Pedrosa
Around 40 representatives from twelve European regions met last week in the Dutch region of Groningen to hold the third technical working session of the European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV) consortium, a five-year project co-financed by the EU and co-led by the Government of Navarra and its public company Sodena, which mobilises agents from across Europe to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
The meeting was an important step in creating ongoing collaborations between regions in the field of innovation and circularity. Previously identified priority issues were addressed, such as the valorisation of by-products, circular packaging, construction using biomaterials and circularity in the textile sector.
In addition, the experience provided an opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the Groningen region’s approach to sustainability and circularity thanks to direct learning in the field by the participants in the meeting (regional authorities, researchers, industrial agents and partners). Technical visits to the Vepa furniture factory, the Groningen textile centre (Textilhub Groningen) and the bio-based company Biosintrum in Oosterwolde highlighted how to involve ecosystems on the ground and how circular innovation is already taking shape when different actors and skills come together.
The agenda was rounded off with a visit to the Greenwise Campus: an initiative of NHL Stenden, Drenthe College, the University of Groningen, the province of Drenthe and the municipality of Emmen, whose philosophy is to make the region more sustainable.
Over the three days, attendees had the opportunity to advance the implementation of the project’s own working methodology by designing and building circular value chains. In this context, workshops were held with the participation of different agents within the circular value chain to explore activities and next steps for achieving.
Delia Sola, director of the European Initiatives Support Service of the Department of Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition, emphasised “the importance of continuing to work on an interregional basis to resolve the European challenges of the circular economy. The joint creation of regions as facilitators of the transition.” Representing Sodena, which is collaborating with the department on this project, were Montse Guerrero, Deputy Director General of Sustainability and Circular Economy, and Legarda Campos and María Pedrosa, project technicians in the area.
In short, thanks to the involvement of stakeholders from different European regions, ECIV is laying the foundations for interregional collaboration that will deliver short-term results through circular innovation projects and, in the medium and long term, achieve more circular regions.
Next call for grants
In December 2025, ECIV will launch its first call for cascade funding for collaborative projects between agents from the participating regions.
In December 2025, ECIV will launch its first call for cascade funding for collaborative projects between agents from the participating regions.
Two calls will be offered over the five years of the project. The Government of Navarra has allocated a budget of €2,522,500 for this call.
In terms of grant amounts, the maximum amounts per beneficiary are €600,000 and €3,000,000 per project.
This call represents a key opportunity to strengthen interregional collaboration and accelerate the development of circular solutions with a European impact.
