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Eva Pongracz,Professor at the Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit at the University of Oulu Sitra defines the circular economy as an economic model that does not continuously produce more goods, but instead uses services instead of owning them: sharing, renting and recycling. The idea behind the circular economy is that materials taken from nature – which have already been refined to meet the needs of humanity – will remain in use and in the economic system for as long as possible. Economic growth therefore does not depend on the consumption of natural resources. As a concept, the circular economy is not new. The idea originated in the 1960s and was first mentioned as a word in 1966. The concept was made famous by Lady Ellen MacArthur, a world record-holder solo sailor who woke up to the limited resources when she lived on her boat's limited cargo for 71 days…

Immobility costs money. At the Finnish level, the price of inactivity is estimated from 3.2 billion euros to as much as 7.5 billion euros per year in a study conducted by the Director of the UKK Institute Tommi Vasankari. A comparison can be made, for example, in cooperation with the acquisition of fighter jets by the Finnish Defence Forces, which is the most expensive acquisition in the history of the Finnish state. The price is estimated to be between $7 and $10 billion. The fighters are renewed approximately every 30 years, but the cost of immobility is annual. The majority of the costs of inactivity are currently borne by the adult population, the working age population. However, various studies show that the movement of children and adolescents has also decreased and overweight has increased. According to the same study, lack of mobility costs nearly 400 million euros per year in Northern Ostrobothnia. Measured by a different morbidity index, Northern Ostrobothnia is one of the most ill regions…

The situation in North America is interesting. In many places, the area is strongly growing, while in other places it is strongly shrinking. We are far from other growth centres and the capital, where accessibility is a particular issue for the development of our region. As values change and in the face of Finland's emission reductions, we need environmentally sustainable ways to travel to both the rest of Finland and Europe. Jenni PitkoPeople's Representative Helsinki-Oulu is the most popular domestic flight in Finland. By speeding up the main line, you could get to Helsinki by train in as little as three and a half hours with the current train fleet and thus get a smooth alternative to flying. For a train of less than four hours, we need the green light from the government and financial assistance from the EU. Train traffic in this period was on the rise before the coronavirus. The figures, together with the freight tonnage, speak clear language in favour of additional tracks.…

Taina Pihlajaniemi, Vice-Rector of Research at the University of Oulu The purpose of the universities is to promote free research and scientific and artistic education, to provide research-based supreme education and to educate students to serve their country and society. In carrying out their duties, universities must offer opportunities for continuous learning, interact with the rest of society and promote the societal impact of research results and artistic activities. Basic scientific research produces new information on the subject to be studied. This work is fuelled by the curiosity and interest of researchers to better understand the subject of their research. The significance of new knowledge is universal in nature and brought to the attention of the world's scientific community through scientific publications and presentations. Applied research, on the other hand, aims at utilising already existing information, for example, to implement the desired type of product. There is a reason for …

Marjo Kolehmainen, Managing Director of Entrepreneurs in Northern Ostrobothnia, has 17,000 companies. More than half of these are solo self-employed and the rest employ more than 72,000 people. Entrepreneurship as a driver of vitality is recognised in our region. The numbers also speak for it. In Northern Ostrobothnia, companies pay approximately EUR 2.41 billion in wages annually and generate approximately EUR 15.6 billion in turnover.  Businesses pay about 200 million euros in corporate income tax. With taxes, society can take care of its own services. Entrepreneurship is constantly changing. In our province, entrepreneurship is still growing. More businesses are created than ceases. Entrepreneurship in general is more interesting as a career option. It is a career dream for many young people today. An important observation that should be reflected in the teaching. The resulting companies are, as a rule, solo entrepreneurs. Number of employers…

Petri SirviöCustomer Manager, Creative IndustriesBusinessOulu We were asked to comment on the soft success factors, culture and its change in our region. Perhaps with the number of characters allowed, we can start a debate on the subject – I have to accentuate it a bit. Soft success factors are hard in many ways. When comparing products or services, we tend to compare technical characteristics or clinical quality factors that can be easily measured in the services. We call them hard workers. We assume that competitiveness, and therefore success, automatically follows the most advanced technology or the largest number of new features. We know how to invest in this: North Ostrobothnia's R&D rankings are among the top in the world. Our talented and well-trained scientists and engineers develop advanced technologies. These technologies (i.e. by definition tools or working methods) are then typically sold as such. The subcontractor role is …

Timo Aro, Regional ResearcherRegional Development Consultancy MDI North Ostrobothnia is a mystery from an outsider's point of view. The area resembles soap, which is not easy to get hold of. The image of Northern Ostrobothnia from the outside does not convey either a positive or a negative point of view. When you hear the word North Ostrobothnia, most people think of Oulu, Kärpät, Lestadianism, the North, technology, engineers and Nokia. Northern Ostrobothnia is often overshadowed by the great and powerful Oulu. It comes as a surprise to most that Northern Ostrobothnia is the fourth largest concentration of residents, jobs and businesses in the country. Or that the region's level of education is the third highest after Uusimaa and Pirkanmaa. In the area, it is also possible to throw one trump card over others, i.e. future capital in the form of children and young people. The county is overwhelmingly number one…

Mats LindforsRuka-Kuusamo Tourism Association's Managing Director In early 2020, tourism attracted both domestic and foreign visitors. Many forums had noted that tourism is a significant part of our economy, both at the national level and at the level of many municipalities. In the spring, tourism had to take a sudden stop, from full speed to zero in the middle of the heaviest season. Since spring 2020, we have been a virtually closed tourist area for international tourists. We anticipated the all-time domestic tourism summer, which it also was for many regions. The development between the provinces was surprisingly different. Overnight stays registered in Northern Ostrobothnia in June-September 2020 were up (+2.9 %), e.g. in Lapland (-20,4 %) and Central Finland (-27.3 %) was not as successful. There were great differences within our region. Kalajoki (+8.1 %) and Kuusamo…

Varpu WiensThe specialist of the Sokra subproject of the Diakonia University of Applied Sciences There are no things in the village on the verge of North Ostrobothnia pampers us with magnificent nature. It serves us seaside areas, coastal areas crossed by rivers, marshlands and highlands. The area of the province is about 25,500 km² of forest, and the area includes the national parks of Oulanka, Rokua and Syöte, as well as part of the Hossa National Park. The positive image is also confirmed by the 2017 Environmental Awareness Award, which was awarded to forests and peatlands in Northern Ostrobothnia, and the Rokua Geopark, Finland's first UNESCO Global Geopark. We are beginning to understand how important nature is to the quality and even continuity of life. Proven well-being effects include: recovery, decreased stress levels, slowed heart rate, decreased blood pressure, increased diversity of microbiota in the body…

Jussi PaakkariDirector of Research AreaVTT North Ostrobothnia boasts a young population base, universities, basic industry and successful growth companies. The region has world-leading research knowledge and technology in many of the growing fields of the future. The challenge is how to integrate our know-how and innovations into value chains and into global markets. Past success is not a guarantee of future success. Telecommunications technology is a local example, combining high-level expertise, active research and development, and successful international business. Over the years, Nokia has created a critical mass in the region that is credible and capable of operating globally in an extremely competitive industry. We have the full potential to continue to thrive with products based on radio expertise, but this requires continuous research and development. Companies in the industry need to take care of…