NENA is a network of innovation and sustainability oriented enterprises and umbrella organisations accross the Alps. It was developed within the framework of the Interreg IIIB project and will be further financed by the members, a contribution from CIPRA International and possibly Interreg projects.
NENA concentrates on the value added chain of wood, on renewable energies, on energy efficiency and on ecological building. However, in future, the fields may be enlarged.

The aims of the network are to help alpine enterprises to stay innovative and competitive, whilst increasing their contribution to sustainable development. NENA also allows enterprises and their umbrella organisations to exchange experiences, share know-how, and carry out long term cooperation on specific topics within the Alps. NENA partners also have a chance to design and carry out joint projects (possibly with EU funding).

Whereas cooperation platforms at regional, possibly national level do exist, enterprises and their umbrella organisations only seldom cooperate with their counterparts accross the boundaries. This is the chance that the NENA Network offers its members.

In order for the network activities and structures to be developed and carried out, a core group and coordinator have been identified. The core group includes representatives from the different sectors addressed by NENA, coming from several alpine countries. As one of the initiators of the network idea, CIPRA International has the coordination role, in close link with the members and the core group.
The main work language of the NENA Network has been English, however certain events and documents are translated in all alpine languages, ensuring a wider access to the offers of the network.

During the 2 year Interreg IIIB Project, first activities and products of the network have been built up: This website informs on the news, events and projects. The latest important news in the field of action of the network are also published in the e-newsletter.
During the first two years, the NENA partners have also acquired experience in the organisation of common events (workshops, excursions, conferences). As training is also a major issue, the NENA partners have experimented a master programme and apprentice-exchanges.
In the coming years common projects, contests, project calls, communication and marketing are the fields which the network will explore.