First steps to create the biomass cluster in Navarra

16 March 2010

The European BIOCLUS project was started up with the project kickoff meeting held in Jyvaskyla (Finland) at the end of February. Its main mission is to create bioenergy sector clusters in different regions of the European Union and to thus foster the sustainable use of both forest and herbaceous biomass.

This project, financed by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Union (Regions of Knowledge programme), has 20 partners from 5 different countries, covering regions from: Central Finland, Central Poland, Macedonia (Greece), Slovakia and Navarra, in Spain.

In the case of the Foral Community, the partners involved in the BIOCLUS project, to date, include:

• Administration: Department of Rural Development and Environment, as well as the Department of Innovation, Enterprise and Employment of the Government of Navarra.
• Technology Centres and universities: CENER (National Renewable Energy Centre) which has longstanding experience in European biomass projects.
• Private enterprises: Biomasa Térmica de Navarra (BIOTERNA), located in Sangüesa, engaged in the manufacture and marketing of wood pellets.

The aim of BIOCLUS is to mobilise the different agents of the sector, fostering their incorporation and active participation in the cluster to be able to identify, provide support and promote the existing synergies both within the region and between the different European regions.

The drafting of strategic research agendas is planned, which will be used to make up regional plan of action, based on which the models and cooperation practices required to develop the bioenergy sector in each region will be prepared.

The actions scheduled within the framework of the project include, among others, the organisation of technical conferences and meetings, as well as regional and international exchanges, guided tours and conferences on innovation in the biomass sector, among other events.

A project webpage will shortly be published where it will be possible to find all the updated information about the project.