The Circular Bioeconomy promotes productive models that aim to synchronize economic development with the sustainable production of renewable biological resources and their conversion into value-added goods.
The agreement aligns with the impact investment criteria of both organizations and with the Government of Navarre’s commitment to integrating sustainability as a cornerstone of its Smart Specialization Strategy.
The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) finances growth-stage companies in the bioeconomy sector and is committed to exploring opportunities in Spain and other EU countries.
Sodena (Navarre’s Development Agency) and the ECBF (European Circular Bioeconomy Fund) have agreed to promote the development of the Circular Bioeconomy. To this end, both organizations commit to identifying business opportunities and providing financial support to growth-stage companies in order to foster sustainable innovations and stimulate business growth and competitiveness.
Sodena, the financial support instrument of the Government of Navarre for attracting and developing value-added business projects in the region, is partnering with ECBF, a leading venture capital fund specializing in growth-stage investments in the bioeconomy sector.
This collaboration agreement fits within the impact investment criteria of both entities and aims to promote sustainable development and innovation in the Circular Bioeconomy, a new sustainable economic model that seeks to align economic growth with the sustainable production of renewable biological resources and their conversion (and that of their by-products) into value-added goods. Additionally, both organizations view environmental care and progress in social development as essential conditions for responsible and sustainable investments.
María Eugenia Lecumberri, Investment Director at Sodena, stated that “this alliance with ECBF is an additional tool for identifying projects that require financial support in their transition toward the circular economy in order to improve their competitiveness and profitability.” Meanwhile, Guillermo Alonso, Head of Foreign Investment Attraction at Sodena, positively valued ECBF’s willingness to act as a spokesperson for the opportunities Navarre offers for the establishment of new companies.
“Our visit to Navarre, facilitated by the Association of Industrialists of Navarre (AIN), revealed that the region is creating a unique circular bioeconomy ecosystem. The robust agri-food sector and competitive advantages in biomass processing and new ingredients are evident, as is the coordinated support from both public and private local actors. This collaboration with Sodena aims to enhance our capacity to identify, attract, develop, and support high-potential businesses in Spain,” said Michael Brandkamp, Managing Director of ECBF.
Likewise, this alliance is aligned with the objective and commitment of the Government of Navarre, through its Smart Specialization Strategy, to become a European benchmark for sustainable growth—not only in response to the major challenges of climate change, but also because it possesses the key business and technological strengths and capabilities in fundamental areas of the sustainable transition.
By combining their expertise, Sodena and ECBF aim to leverage Navarre’s solid ecosystem and foster and accelerate the growth of emerging companies through strategic venture capital investments from both ECBF and Sodena. Both organizations believe that sustainable development becomes more achievable when investments generate attractive returns while also delivering positive impact within the bioeconomy.
