Sodena has completed the technical advisory and capacity-building 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 activity, consolidating its position as a pioneering organisation and a European benchmark in the integration of sustainability.
In 2025, Sodena was the first regional development entity selected to receive technical support and local training from the international consultancies Ricardo-WSP and Competitiveness under the Green Assist programme. The initiative, promoted and funded by the European Commission through CINEA, aims to support public entities in incorporating environmental sustainability as a lever for regional competitiveness.
Within this context, through the Green Assist programme, Sodena takes a further step by embedding environmental criteria across all its areas of activity: financial support for local companies, initiated in 2022 and formalised through its Responsible Investment Policy; the attraction of investment from outside the Foral Community through Invest in Navarra; and the coordination of Navarre’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S4) and cluster support from the Regional Strategy area. The project has also included a review of the organisation’s own internal environmental practices.
Over the course of one year, external consultancies and a Sodena team reviewed working processes across all departments and benchmarked Sodena’s activity against other leading European regions and public entities in order to identify best practices and EU environmental standards. The joint work was structured around monthly follow-up meetings, participatory workshops, and internal training sessions for staff on the new tools and processes made available to the organisation.
The programme also included two in-person technical sessions held in Pamplona on 15 January and 20 May 2026, attended by the entire Sodena team, where the work carried out was presented and discussed. The closing session in May addressed a key question: what does it mean today to be a leading region for business development in Europe?
On the one hand, it means competing globally by attracting investment in strategic sectors, creating quality employment and added value to foster an innovative and competitive business ecosystem. On the other, it involves laying the foundations for a sustainable reindustrialisation, aligned with demanding environmental standards that ensure the protection of natural resources.
In this regard, Sodena states that “sustainability is no longer merely a reputational issue, but a key factor in business competitiveness and in generating economic value, innovation and future prospects for the territory. Companies that integrate environmental criteria are more resilient, innovate more, access financing more easily, and are better prepared to respond to regulatory and market requirements”.
As a result of this initiative, the public entity will have an enhanced and updated Environmental Strategy for Sodena, a dashboard to monitor progress across each area of activity, a set of tools and practical guides to support Navarrese companies in the environmental transition, and a shared vision: that Sodena continues to strengthen its pioneering role as a European benchmark in financial support, in attracting responsible investment, and in supporting regional economic activities that are competitive thanks to their sustainability.
ABOUT SODENA
Sodena is the financial instrument of the Government of Navarre for attracting and developing value-added business projects that contribute to local roots, economic growth, and the creation of high-quality employment in the Autonomous Community. Its work focuses on financially supporting companies, accompanying them in their establishment and expansion, facilitating their integration into the Navarrese ecosystem, and providing them with access to a broad network of contacts.
In addition, this public company coordinates the design and implementation of Navarre’s Smart Specialisation Strategy S4, aligning economic activity with the region’s priority sectors. It integrates sustainability across all its activities, promoting the transition towards a circular and responsible economy.
Currently, Sodena participates in around 90 companies that generate more than 4,500 jobs in Navarre, supported by a total investment of €160 million. The entity applies responsible investment and sustainability criteria across all its operations, is a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), and is a member of the UN Global Compact.
cloud technology axon
Located in Rhineland-Palatinate and Lower Saxony, the three projects c...
