The Regional Strategic Programme 2007–2010

As regional development authority, the Council of Oulu region also manages the implementation of the Regional Development Plan. A basis for implementation work is the Regional Strategic Programme, which is worked out for periods of 3–4 years by the Council together with member municipalities and different regional actors. The drafting process is being held open and participatory to gain true commitment to programmes´ targets. 

The regional strategic programme outlines regional development targets, key projects and measures, and a financing plan for the programme for the years to come. These are based on the development needs and potential of the region. The regional strategic programme is designed to act as an umbrella programme coordinating regional development work. The programme coordinates the national targets, special national programmes implemented by the region, programmes co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the strategies and development work of different authorities.

Regional Strategic Programme 2007–2010 for Oulu Region (accepted on 29th November 2006 by the Regional Assembly) offers statements that describe the nature of the desired future development in the region. These are: “liberal and tolerant society´, “respect for professional pride´, “quality of living environments´ and  “internationalization´.

The current Regional Strategic Programme identifies six important underlying strategic themes adapted from those set in the Regional Plan 2020. Themes structuring the regional development processes are “the youth´, “international and unprejudiced society´, “wireless technologies´, “rural-urban co-operation´, “regional identity´ and “quality of environment´.

The Regional strategic programme includes impact analysis and environmental impact assessment. The impact analysis is divided along the lines of operative actions defined in the programme. Its purpose is to analyse regional policies and monitor their influence on the territory. List of indicators include the ones chosen by regional officers and those specified by the state. Quantitative data is collected and analyzed primarily on regional level, sub-regional analyses are drawn on some indicators. In addition, comparative analysis is made on national and regional levels. Environmental impact assessment is formulated according to Finnish legislation on environmental impact assessment based on respective EU directives.

Priorities and operational activities

Here we present the prorities defined in Regional Strategic Programme 2007–2010 along with some examples of more concrete kind.

Priority 1: Sources of Livelihood and Competitiveness
- International operations. Enhancing the chances for international activities and contacts of the enterprises. Creating new markets.
- Creating new ways of organizing service production. Promoting the interaction and co-operation of entrepreneurs and the public sector. e-solutions.

Priority 2: Know-how and Education
- Knowledge and know-how in Northern Finland. Reaching the national average level of education. Increasing R&D actions in the region. Raising the standards and international connections of university level education and research.
- Developing innovative processes and environments. Finding new ways of organizing the businesses to create new ideas and innovations. Not only new products and technologies but also social and cultural innovations.

Priority 3: Welfare and Social services
- Avoiding social exclusion. Preventive actions; promoting individual initiative in health issues, developing suitable housing for the elderly. Combating unemployment and exclusion, especially among young people.
- Welfare technologies and research. Supporting the welfare cluster, especially the international relationships of the enterprises. Oulu Wellness institute.

Priority 4: Attractive environments
- Production of bio-energy. Gaining expertise on bio-energy production. Strengthening public status of bio-energy production and use. Experiments on production of bio-gas, liquid fuel, CHP etc.
- Cultural environment. Make better use of region´s natural and cultural heritage, built environments, historical features etc. Updating information and creating co-operation between actors, especially on rural-urban dimension.

Priority 5: Internal organization and Development of sub-regions
- Increasing immigration and immigrants´ employment.
- Regional networks and organizations. Developing the 1+3 regional model, national and international networking.

investments on transportation infrastructure. The strategic programme outlines the most important targets on transportation infrastructure and logistics. In the Programme 2007–2010 the main targets of development include Seinäjoki–Oulu main railway line, airports of Oulu and Kuusamo and the trunk roads 4 and 8.

Oulu region is known for its high technology know-how and professional competence. One of the aims of the present regional programme is to spread this professional know-how and pride to other fields of occupation also. At the same time, emphasis is on social welfare and preventive actions in order to safeguard the individual welfare and avoid social exclusion.