The Government of Navarra guarantees the continuity of this public-private collaboration space and strengthens its role as a tool to capture innovation opportunities
The First Vice President and Minister of the Presidency and Equality, Javier Remírez, stated that this new agreement guarantees the continuity of this initiative and “strengthens its role as a fundamental tool to capture opportunities, for example, at a European level in the field of innovation.”
It should be recalled that IRIS Navarra is a public-private collaboration space where companies, technology centers, universities, and administrations come together with the aim of supporting the digital transformation of the economic fabric as well as public services.
The agreement under which the IRIS Hub operates has been in place since 2020. Once its validity ended, it has been updated to adapt it to the evolution that this innovation ecosystem has experienced in recent years, incorporating new partners and representatives, a new coordinator, and a physical headquarters on the fourth floor of the El Sario Building in Pamplona / Iruña. The agreement will last five years and will be automatically extended year by year if none of the parties requests its termination.
Vice President Remírez recalled that the Foral Community leads investment in R&D in Spain, with 2.34% of GDP, and is recognized by the European Commission as one of the major centers of excellence in innovation on the continent. Likewise, he highlighted that Navarra remains at the forefront in the country in terms of the share of technological employment, with 10% of workers in these sectors.
“All this is thanks to a Government that not only believes in innovation and digital transformation but also is committed to it. And it does so with cutting-edge tools and instruments such as this Digital Innovation Hub,” emphasized the Vice President.
‘One-stop shop’ for digital transformation in Navarra
The IRIS Hub is conceived as the ‘one-stop shop’ for digital transformation in Navarra. It is made up of the 40 most relevant public-private entities in the innovation ecosystem of the Foral Community. Its governing board includes the Government of Navarra, Pamplona City Council, Public University of Navarra (UPNA), University of Navarra, NAITEC, AIN, Navarra Chamber of Commerce, NASERTIC, Animsa, ADItech, SODENA, CEIN, and Tracasa Global.
The associated entities offer, on a non-profit basis, a set of infrastructures, capabilities, advisory services, talent attraction, training, space, and services to facilitate innovation and digitalization for companies, the Administration, and society, with the ultimate goal of improving the competitiveness of SMEs, industry, public services, and social wellbeing.
In 2022, the proposal submitted by the IRIS Hub to become part of the European Digital Innovation Hubs network, promoted by the European Commission’s Digital Europe programme (2021–2027), was approved.
Source: navarra.es
