The Navarra Health Cluster was one of the protagonists, along with 12 other entities from Navarra in the mission EUROPE + CLOSE, which took place from 29 May to 1 June 2023 in Brussels. The programme is promoted by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) in collaboration with the Directorate General for External Action and the Delegation of the Government of Navarre in Brussels, and consists of on-site training in Navarre and a trip to Brussels. The aim of this mission is to bring companies closer to Brussels, where most of the international organisations, embassies and associations are located, and to help them draw up successful proposals to improve the return of Navarrese entities in obtaining EU funds. The mission is being carried out jointly with the regions of La Rioja, Aragon, Extremadura and Navarre.
During the day of Tuesday 30 May, a series of activities and presentations were held to present first-hand the activity of the Navarra Health Cluster, as well as to introduce the companies from the health sector that participated in the mission: ALDAKIN SL, GENBIOMA APLICACIONES SL, ISANATUR SPAIN, NAVARRABIOMED and NUCAPS NANOTECHNOLOGY.
The day began with a warm welcome, where the Europe+Fence 2023 initiative and the organising entities were presented, setting the tone of collaboration and cooperation that characterised the entire mission Next, Andrés Martínez from SOST-CDTI gave a valuable presentation on lump-sum funded projects, providing attendees with key information on the funding opportunities available.
The presentation of SOST and Horizon Europe by Marina Martínez, also from SOST-CDTI, was another highlight of the day. Her in-depth knowledge of the programme and her experience in the field of research and innovation was a source of inspiration for all participants. In addition, a meeting of cooperation opportunities between the companies present at the mission was held, providing a space for the exchange of ideas and the search for possible synergies.
In the afternoon, several meetings were held with Belgian entities, while in parallel key aspects related to intellectual property, programmes such as LIFE, Eureka-Eurostars and Digital Europe, as well as cascade funding were presented. These interactions allowed to strengthen connections and establish new collaborations with important actors at the European level.
The agenda of Wednesday 31 May included a visit to the Berlaymont building of the European Commission, where relevant topics such as the EIC Accelerator Programme, the Partnerships in Horizon Europe and the contribution of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) to the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan were presented In addition, a meeting was held at the European Parliament with the Visitors Unit.
The mission culminated with a reception at the Delegation of Navarra in Belgium and a distinguished reception at the Official Residence of the Spanish Embassy in Belgium, chaired by Mr. Alberto Antón Cortés. These meetings allowed to strengthen institutional ties and to show the commitment of the Navarra Health Cluster in the promotion of innovation and internationalisation.
The participation of Navarra Health Cluster in the EUROPA + CERCA mission reflects its leadership and commitment to the promotion of research, innovation and cooperation in the health sector.
