CEIN's open innovation and leadership programs will have a cross-border component thanks to the Recre-ad project, which hosted the Euro AgroTech event in Jaca
Twelve agri-food startups from Navarre are participating in this event, which has brought together representatives from Navarre, La Rioja, and Aragon, as well as from the French regions of Haute-Garonne and Hautes-Pyrénées.
The public entity European Center for Business and Innovation of Navarra (CEIN)—which reports to the Government of Navarra’s Department of Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition—participated, along with 12 agri-food companies from Navarra, in the Euro AgroTech 2026 event, held yesterday in Jaca as part of the European Recre-ad project. In addition to this event, Recre-ad includes other initiatives, such as the implementation of two cross-border programs that will focus on open innovation and the development of leadership skills for startup CEOs.
Euro AgroTech brought together 100 representatives from agri-food SMEs and startups in Navarre, Aragon, La Rioja, Haute-Garonne, and Hautes-Pyrénées, as well as commercial distribution executives and investors from those regions, with the aim of fostering collaboration between the agri-food ecosystems on both sides of the Pyrenees.
The companies from the Autonomous Community of Navarre that attended were Agronex Precisión, Espiga I+D, Frugitiva, Ingredalia, Insecma, Kuuk, Licores Demoda, Navarre Spirits, Nucaps, Nulab, Pentabiol, and TreeTears. The Navarre Development Corporation (Sodena) and Eroski (as a distributor) were also part of the Navarre delegation.
During the event, a networking session was held among the attendees to facilitate interaction and the creation of contacts, the identification of business opportunities, and the establishment of commercial relationships. Five examples of best practices from startups in the participating regions were also presented (in the case of Navarre, Nucaps).
In addition, the specific initiatives in the agri-food sector planned as part of the Recre-ad project have been announced. This project is 65% co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-France-Andorra Program (POCTEFA 2021-2027). The goal of POCTEFA is to strengthen economic and social integration in the Spain-France-Andorra border region. CEIN leads the consortium, which includes the Economic Development Agency of La Rioja (Ader), the Aragonese Institute for Development (IAF), the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Neste Barousse Community of Municipalities.
It is worth noting that Recre-ad aims to establish a cross-border network that fosters collaboration, mutual understanding, and joint initiatives among agri-food and digital SMEs and startups in the participating regions, with the goal of accelerating the transfer of R&D results to the market in these key sectors.
Cross-Border Entrepreneurship
Recre-ad, which will run through June 2028, includes, among other initiatives, the organization of cross-border meetings focused on the agri-food and digital sectors, as well as a hybrid program aimed at people from all regions who want to acquire the skills to lead startups. It will also promote the creation of a cross-border community of companies and startups to collaborate on open innovation, particularly in the agri-food and digital sectors, through challenges that address sustainability.
Similarly, the program will mark a significant step forward for CEIN’s “Open Innovation” and “ Startup leaders ” programs, as they will expand from regional to cross-border initiatives. The first program seeks to foster open innovation by creating connections between established companies and startups that offer solutions to their challenges. The second program aims to develop the leadership and management skills of entrepreneurs.
