Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of July 30, 2026, from the General Directorate of Policies against Depopulation — CIUDEN Agreement / Foral Community of Navarre for the Territorial Innovation Center |
|---|---|
| Publication | August 6, 2026 |
| Entry into force | August 6, 2026 |
| Affected parties | Rural municipalities in Navarre at risk of depopulation, entrepreneurs and entities in the Navarrese rural environment |
| Category | Public Sector |
| Year | 2026 |
| Signatory parties | Ministry for Ecological Transition (General Directorate of Policies against Depopulation), CIUDEN Foundation (City of Energy, F.S.P.) and Foral Community of Navarre |
| Higher framework | Plan of measures against the Demographic Challenge (approved 2021) — CIT Network |
| BOE Reference | BOE-A-2026-17169 |
Rural municipalities in Navarre at risk of depopulation have had since August 6, 2026 a new institutional support instrument: the Territorial Innovation Center (CIT) of Navarre, created through a tripartite agreement published in the BOE with reference BOE-A-2026-17169. This is not a direct subsidy, but rather a governance and collaboration ecosystem that activates joint financing, technical support and connection with the national CIT Network to develop projects that revitalize the territory.
The initiative is framed within the Plan of measures against the Demographic Challenge approved in 2021 and connects directly with the Strategy to Combat Depopulation in Navarre approved in 2023 and with the European Commission's Rural Vision 2040. For those operating or wanting to operate in the Navarrese rural environment, the time to position yourself is now.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement formalizes the creation of the Navarre CIT as a provincial-level collaboration ecosystem with three operational pillars:
- Tripartite governance: the Ministry for Ecological Transition (through the General Directorate of Policies against Depopulation), the CIUDEN Foundation and the Foral Community of Navarre share the direction and financing of the center.
- Integration into the national CIT Network: CIUDEN acts as the central node of the CIT Network, facilitating the exchange of best practices and synergies among all territorial centers in the State.
- Development of rural entrepreneurship projects: the CIT will promote innovative initiatives that revitalize rural territories at risk of depopulation, with institutional support at all three levels (European, state and foral).
The regulatory framework that supports the agreement combines three levels:
| Level | Instrument | Year |
|---|---|---|
| State | Plan of measures against the Demographic Challenge — CIT Network | 2021 |
| Foral | Strategy to Combat Depopulation in Navarre | 2023 |
| European | Rural Vision 2040 (European Commission) | Current |
Economic and operational impact
The agreement does not publish budget allocation figures in the text of the resolution. What it does establish are the mechanisms that generate economic and operational value for actors in the Navarrese rural environment:
- Joint financing: projects approved within the CIT framework will be able to access funds contributed by the three signatory parties, reducing dependence on a single source of public financing.
- CIUDEN technical support: the City of Energy Foundation provides its experience as the central node of the CIT Network, which implies transfer of methodologies already tested in other territories.
- Reduction of entry barriers: multilevel institutional support facilitates access by entrepreneurs and rural entities to programs that would otherwise require greater administrative capacity of their own.
- Synergies with other CITs in the State: integration into the CIT Network allows replication of successful models from other communities and access to investment and knowledge networks already consolidated.
From an operational perspective, tripartite governance means that decisions on projects and financing are made in a coordinated manner between the foral and state levels, which can streamline processing for projects that fit the priorities of both administrations.
Who does it affect?
- Rural municipalities in Navarre at risk of depopulation: they are the direct beneficiaries of the CIT, both in terms of financed projects and attraction of investment and talent.
- Entrepreneurs in the Navarrese rural environment: people who want to launch or scale a business project in Navarrese rural areas with institutional support.
- Rural sector entities: cooperatives, associations, foundations and companies operating in the Navarrese rural sphere that want to access territorial innovation programs.
- Navarrese local administrations: town councils and associations seeking financing or support for local economic revitalization projects.
- Consultancies and advisories specialized in rural development: that provide services to the above actors and need to know the new framework for accessing financing.
Practical example
An agri-food cooperative from a Navarrese municipality with fewer than 500 inhabitants wants to develop a digital transformation project of its value chain to access urban markets. Until now, it depended exclusively on foral calls or LEADER funds with their own deadlines and requirements.
With the Navarre CIT in operation, that cooperative can present its project to the center's ecosystem and opt for joint financing from the three parties (Ministry, CIUDEN and Foral Community), receive CIUDEN technical support based on similar experiences in other territories of the CIT Network, and connect with other centers in the State that have already solved similar challenges. Multilevel institutional support also strengthens the project's credibility with private investors or financial entities.
What should companies do now?
- Verify if your municipality or area of operation is at risk of depopulation: the CIT prioritizes Navarrese rural territories with this profile. Check the map of at-risk areas from the Foral Community of Navarre to confirm your eligibility.
- Review the Strategy to Combat Depopulation in Navarre (2023): projects financed by the CIT must align with its axes. Identify which axis your activity or project fits into.
- Contact the Foral Community of Navarre and CIUDEN: request information about the channels for accessing the CIT, planned calls and requirements for submitting projects.
- Prepare a project sheet: document the problem you solve, the impact on the territory, the business model and financing needs. The more specific, the easier it will be to position it before the CIT.
- Monitor calls from the Plan of measures against the Demographic Challenge: the CIT Network periodically publishes project calls. Being on the radar from the start of the Navarrese CIT maximizes chances of access to the first rounds.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Territorial Innovation Center (CIT) of Navarre and what is it for?
The Navarre CIT is a provincial-level collaboration ecosystem created through a tripartite agreement between the Ministry for Ecological Transition, the CIUDEN Foundation and the Foral Community of Navarre. Its objective is to develop innovative initiatives that revitalize rural territories in Navarre at risk of depopulation, with joint financing and technical support from the three institutional levels.
What is the CIT Network and how does the Navarre CIT integrate into it?
The CIT Network is the set of Territorial Innovation Centers created under the Plan of measures against the Demographic Challenge approved in 2021. CIUDEN acts as the central node of the network, facilitating the exchange of best practices and synergies among all territorial centers in the State. The Navarre CIT joins this network with the agreement published on August 6, 2026.
Who can access the Navarre CIT projects?
Rural municipalities in Navarre at risk of depopulation, entrepreneurs in the Navarrese rural environment, rural sector entities (cooperatives, associations, companies) and Navarrese local administrations can access them. Projects must align with the Strategy to Combat Depopulation in Navarre (2023) and with the Plan of measures against the Demographic Challenge (2021).
When does the Navarre CIT agreement enter into force?
The agreement entered into force on the same day as its publication in the BOE: August 6, 2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-17169). The resolution was signed on July 30, 2026 by the General Directorate of Policies against Depopulation.
What role does CIUDEN play in the Navarre CIT?
The City of Energy Foundation (CIUDEN, F.S.P.) provides its experience as the central node of the national CIT Network. Its function is to facilitate the exchange of best practices between territorial centers, provide methodologies already tested in other territories and generate synergies between the Navarre CIT and the rest of the state network.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Notice: This article is merely informative in nature and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-17169