- An international and financial endorsement of its commitment to the circular economy through a project led by the Departments of Industry and External Action
Navarre has been chosen to coordinate the consortium of the European project ECIV (European Circular Innovation Valley), an ambitious initiative aimed at creating a truly interconnected interregional ecosystem in the European Union, with funding exceeding €27 million. For Navarre specifically, the allocated budget is €6,428,500, with 50% co-financed by the European Commission.
“This project aims to transform EU value chains by combining the capacities and challenges of participating regions to develop and deliver new circular solutions for the market,” stated Minister Mikel Irujo, who expressed his “great satisfaction” with a project that “represents a milestone and a major boost for our Circular Economy strategy in Navarre.”
In this regard, Minister Irujo recalled that “the transition to a circular economy is essential to achieving the EU’s climate neutrality goals and improving industrial autonomy, while also addressing ecological transformation. The consortium is made up of nine territories across nine countries, bringing together 17 regions selected for their innovation capacity and strong interest in the circular economy. It is undoubtedly a great source of pride for Navarre to lead this project.”
“ECIV represents a significant step forward for the circular economy in Europe, offering innovative solutions and fostering collaboration among regions to address common challenges related to industrial circularity. Navarre is proud to have been selected and looks forward to actively contributing to the achievement of its objectives,” Minister Irujo added.
The main goal of ECIV is to promote projects and innovations applied across different sectors, aligned with the Smart Specialization Strategies of the participating regions. This includes energy, agri-food, automotive, construction, machinery, and others—connecting different value chains, processes, and materials to make substantial progress in the transition toward a circular economy. The project aims to mobilize €16.3 million in public funding and €7 million in private investments for innovation in circularity through open calls for innovation projects.
Ana Ollo, Vice President and Minister for Memory, Coexistence, External Action, and Basque Language, also expressed her satisfaction with the recognition received from the European Commission, noting that it “reaffirms the Government’s long-standing commitment to ensuring that Navarre has its own voice and presence as a regional ecosystem in Europe.” “Even more so,” she added, “because the project addresses such an important, timely, and strategic area for both the European Union and Navarre as the circular economy and the commitment to sustainable development and the environment—an objective fully compatible with economic and social development by creating value chains and always to the benefit of citizens.”
She emphasized the importance of continuing with “this institutional, economic, social, and political auzolan (collaborative effort) involving cooperation among various institutions, sectors, and entities such as the Government, businesses, universities, and other knowledge centers, and doing so also at a European level.” Her department, through its leadership and External Action Plan, will continue to provide support.
About the European Circular Innovation Valley (ECIV)
The specific objectives of the project include mobilizing, activating, and connecting nine regional European circular economy innovation ecosystems, increasing innovation and experimentation in circular industrial value chains, expanding knowledge, mobilizing public funding and private investments for circularity innovation, and generating shared knowledge assets and regional policies and strategies related to circularity.
The ECIV is expected to generate up to 35 collaborative innovation projects and up to 30 smaller-scale collaborative experimentation projects across up to ten industrial sectors.
This project will mobilize a wide network of innovation actors, including:
- 9 regions and over 25 regional or national authorities
- Over 1,200 companies (including SMEs)
- More than 100 universities and research centers
- Over 50 clusters and associations
The nine regions and their leading entities are:
- Chartered Community of Navarre: Department of Industry and Ecological & Digital Business Transition, as coordinator alongside Sodena
- Northern Netherlands: Alliance of the provinces of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe
- Norra Mellansverige Region – Central North Sweden: Alliance of Dalarna, Värmland, and Gävleborg
- Normandy Region (France)
- Bulgaria: Ministry of Innovation and Growth
- Wallonia Region (Belgium): Walloon Public Service for Economy
- Lithuania: Innovation Agency of Lithuania
- Helsinki-Uusimaa (Finland): Regional Council
- Scotland: Scottish Economic Development Agency
