IRIS Navarra and ANEL join forces to bring digitalisation services to Social Economy companies in Navarra
The IRIS Navarra Digital Innovation Hub and ANEL (the business association that brings together Social Economy companies of Navarra) held a workshop aimed at fostering synergies between the two organisations and facilitating access to the solutions and infrastructure available at the IRIS Navarra Hub, with a view to enhancing digital transformation processes within the social economy sector.
The Minister of University, Innovation and Digital Transformation and President of IRIS Navarra, Juan Luis García, opened the event together with Ignacio Ugalde, President of CEPES Navarra and ANEL, and HR and Legal Affairs Director at Tafalla Iron Foundry S.Coop.
García highlighted the importance of creating synergies between the technological ecosystem and the social economy. “We have a clear and shared purpose: to establish real and strategic connections between the social economy and the scientific‑technological ecosystem that we are driving from Navarra. A connection that is not only possible, but absolutely necessary to achieve more balanced, sustainable and human development in our territory,” he said. He also underlined the role of ANEL, whose incorporation into the IRIS Hub “strengthens an ecosystem that understands innovation not only from a technological perspective, but also from the social one.” The Minister recalled that “technology cannot be an end in itself, but a tool at the service of people,” and reaffirmed the Government of Navarra In Navarra, this model is committed to sustainable development rooted in the territory that fosters quality employment and represents 12% of GDP’s commitment to “a human‑centred digital transformation, in which talent and cooperation remain essential.”
Meanwhile, Ignacio Ugalde also underscored the significance of this moment. “Today we open a new door to the future of Navarra’s social economy. Thanks to the IRIS Hub, our cooperatives and social economy companies have a strategic ally that enables them to turn their challenges into real opportunities. This space for innovation and collaboration shows that technology and knowledge can be placed at the service of more human, fair and sustainable development,” he noted. At the same time, for Ugalde, “more than digitalisation, we are talking about collective empowerment: strengthening our shared capacities, advancing in competitiveness without giving up the values that define us as a sector—solidarity, participation and equity.” “The IRIS Hub offers us the possibility to connect experiences, generate synergies and build together a Navarra that leads change through cooperation and social commitment,” he concluded.
The closing remarks were delivered by the Minister of Industry and Ecological and Business Digital Transition and Vice President of IRIS Navarra, Mikel Irujo Amezaga, who stressed that “we believe in the social economy because it is anchored in values that represent us as a community: social commitment, inclusion and equity, territorial sustainability and innovation in business models.
“In Navarra, this model promotes sustainable, territorially rooted development that fosters quality employment and accounts for 12% of GDP. To give an idea, in the last period a total of 3,672 jobs were created in cooperatives and worker‑owned companies, a 25.8% increase, reaching 16,160 people employed. And here the IRIS Hub has much to contribute through its commitment to new capabilities, developments and synergies from innovative projects that help our business fabric grow and, therefore, the Comunidad Foral.”
Attendees were able to learn about different digital solutions and relevant infrastructure aimed at small, medium and large companies, presented by the IRIS Navarra Coordinator, Ion Arrizabalaga.
This section also showcased success stories of digital solutions from Navarrese companies such as Orbetec‑Anasinf, Dateando and Imeanticipa—examples that could serve other small and medium‑sized enterprises with similar needs.
Additionally, NASERTIC’s HPC specialist, Iñaki Martínez, explained the services available at IRIS Lab that can benefit all kinds of companies with needs related to advanced supercomputing or the development of dedicated environments for bespoke artificial intelligence projects.
During the networking reception, attendees had the opportunity to share their companies’ digitalisation needs and conditions with the IRIS Navarra team in order to receive personalised advice and identify specific solutions for each case within the IRIS Lab services catalogue.
Digital Innovation Hub, IRIS Navarra
The IRIS Navarra Digital Innovation Hub is a public‑private ecosystem that includes the 40 most relevant Navarrese stakeholders in the field of innovation. It is promoted by the Government of Navarra and managed by the public company NASERTIC.
IRIS Navarra is Navarra’s benchmark and one‑stop shop for digitalisation and digital innovation, helping to accelerate innovation and digital transformation in the region. This space concentrates local knowledge and supports companies in their digitalisation processes, with a special focus on SMEs, micro‑SMEs, self‑employed workers, technology centres, universities and public entities.
Source: navarra.es
