NENA Project partner at the upbeat event in Hittisau/A  © CIPRA

The NENA project stands for Network Enterprise Alps - Enhancing sustainable development, competitiveness and innovation through SME and cluster co-operation; it ran from February 2006 until February 2008 with a budget of €2.38 million from the EU Interreg IIIB Programme.

NENA focuses on the two areas of renewable resources with emphasis on the timber value-added chain, energy from renewable resources and energy savings in passive buildings, as well as innovation and technology with emphasis on innovation management, further training, process optimisation and certification, and interface management.

The NENA network facilitates the exchange of know-how for the enterprises involved, encourages the creation of cooperation ventures, develops further training programmes and contributes towards a better image. Synergetic effects are to be tapped both within the individual branches of industry and between the branches themselves.

NENA promotes sustainable development in the Alpine region by taking account of social, ecological and economic issues. By involving businesses from urban and rural regions NENA is helping to bridge the gap between large agglomerations and disadvantaged regions.