We have successfully hosted our first event, “Exploring Horizons”, as a team united by a shared vision. This milestone not only emphasized the importance of collaboration but also our commitment to promoting European funds and innovation in Navarra.
Keep reading if you want to discover the highlights and key moments from this significant day!
The event began with remarks from Ana Ollo Hualde, Second Vice President and Minister of Memory and Coexistence, External Action, and Basque Language, along with Mikel Irujo, Minister of Industry and Business Ecological and Digital Transition. Ana emphasized how the Government of Navarra has been working with a pro-European vision since 2015, highlighting the importance of initiatives like ours in connecting the innovation ecosystem with European policies. “During these years, we have worked hard to foster a greater understanding of Europe within the Administration, but also among the people of Navarra in general,” she noted.
Next, we received an insightful online intervention from Jorge Gasos and Javier Martin-Membiela, who provided a detailed perspective on “cascade funding” from the European Commission. Although the presentation was virtual, the closeness of their intervention made it highly effective. Jorge and Javier shared information about the NGI Sargasso and Foodity initiatives, highlighting how they can benefit local projects and entrepreneurs.
Afterwards, the first round table was held, moderated by Alberto Sierra from Sploro. In this session, Graciela Garrido from FundingBox, Miguel Sousa from Inova+, Francisco Buján from CARSA, and Miguel García from Sploro participated. Each presented how their respective platforms facilitate access to these European funds and connect agents with their respective opportunities.
In one of the key moments of the event, attendees had three options to choose from. On the one hand, they could stay in the round table discussion “Real Perspectives of Cascade Funding Beneficiaries,” moderated by Olga Romero from CEIN, where María Eugenia Martín from Colorsensing, Javier López from URAPHEX, and Miguel Sierra from Soincon-EMI Suite shared their experiences as beneficiaries of European projects. They discussed how their solutions have impacted the market and highlighted Sploro’s key role in their journey to success. It was a very inspiring presentation, especially for those entrepreneurs who find themselves in similar situations.
For those seeking a more interactive option, two mentoring sessions were offered. In the first room, our Project Managers presented initiatives in Women’s Entrepreneurship, ICT, robotics, and circular economy, highlighting programs such as Women Tech EU and Empowomen. In the second room, topics such as AI, advanced industry, IoT, agri-food, health, energy, and transport were addressed. These sessions allowed participants to share their projects and receive guidance to identify the most suitable calls for proposals. Additionally, “Cascade Funding Hub” was introduced, a platform by Sploro that centralizes all European calls in one website to further facilitate access to these funds.
Before the coffee break, attendees enjoyed a surprise: the group De Improviso presented two 15-minute theatrical snippets, offering a dynamic and entertaining recap of the key messages of the day.
After the break, we continued with a roundtable moderated by Marjorie Grassler from Mobile World Capital, focusing on “The Role of the EIC for European SMEs.” We had the participation of Viorel Peca, Head of Unit at the European Commission, Angele Giuliano, EIC Ambassador in Malta, and Luis Guerra, national contact point at CDTI. The experts provided a realistic perspective based on their extensive experience, offering unique advice and presenting initiatives such as Women Tech EU, in Angele’s case.
The last round table, moderated by Virginia Gómez, featured Idoia Franco from Enterprise Europe Network and AIN, Eva Fontecha from the Cámara de Navarra, and Delia Sola, Director of the S4 Service at the Government of Navarra. The discussion focused on funding opportunities for digitalization, the Regional Innovation Valleys initiative, and grants for R&D and entrepreneurship. The commitment to innovation in Navarra was highlighted, along with key projects such as RETECH TechFabLab and EP Permed. The session provided a comprehensive overview of the services available for the regional ecosystem.
If you couldn’t attend, follow our social media as all the presentations are just uploaded to YouTube, where you can access the knowledge shared during the event.
Sploro has made history once again. We are very proud to have brought together such a diverse audience and provided a space for learning about European funding. This event reinforces our mission to make innovation accessible to all organizations in Europe. Thank you for trusting us, and remember: Let’s keep exploring the wonderful world of innovation!
