Press releases

Renewing and skilled Finland 2021-2027: In its meeting on 12 November 2026, the secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Group (MYRS) reviewed the preliminary application schedule of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2027. The JTF project call (Axis 7) is expected to open in February/March, with ERDF calls planned for March/April and June/September. The spring call concerns specific objectives 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 of Axis 1 and specific objectives 2.1 and 2.3 of Axis 2. The summer and early autumn call concerns specific objectives 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 of Axis 1, specific objective 2.3 of Axis 2 and specific objective 3.1 of Axis 3. Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia 13. Between 1 September and 30 October 2026, the ERDF call (Rural Coop theme) received three project applications. A total of around EUR 250 000 was requested. Northern Finland Vitality Center for Employment and Competences, which ended on October 29, 2026...

The North Ostrobothnia Region Cooperation Group (MYR) met in Oulu on 29 October 2026. The meeting focused on the financial programming of the EU's regional and structural policies for 2027 and gave a favourable opinion to the AIDAROX project. Nearly EUR 25 million for regional development in 2027 The Regional Cooperation Group approved the Regional Funding Plan for Northern Ostrobothnia for 2027. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has issued guidelines for the preparation of the regional funding plan for the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme 2021-2027. The final year of the programme is in preparation. The Regional Councils are responsible for preparing the regional financing plan for the European Union's Regional and Structural Policy Programme. The unions carry out the preparations in close cooperation with the Vitality Centres in particular, but also with other regional partners. The financing plan addresses ERDF, ESF+ and JTF funding. The financial programming is limited to the EU regional...

The Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia met in Oulu on Monday 26 October. The Provincial Government took note of the state of preparation of the influencing work of the Government Programme of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia. The aim is for the perspectives of North Ostrobothnia and the North to be conveyed to the programme of the new government to be formed. The action plan for the minerals sector in Eastern and Northern Finland strengthens cooperation The Regional Government approved a joint action plan for the minerals sector for the seven regions of Eastern and Northern Finland for the period 2027-2031. The aim is to strengthen cooperation between the regions and the joint impact of Eastern and Northern Finland in the development of the mineral sector. The action plan updates the priorities for the development of the common minerals sector in the region to reflect the changed operating environment, which emphasises the availability of critical raw materials, clean transition, security of supply, responsibility, circular economy and the strengthening of regional value chains. The plan's four strategic focus areas are competence and RDI ecosystems, responsible mineral sector and sustainable use of natural resources, mineral value chains...

The Regional Cooperation Group Secretariat took note of the revision of the Northern Finland Vitality Centre Performance Agreement for 2027 and decided to refer the matter to the Regional Cooperation Group. The Secretariat submitted the Regional Financing Plan 2027 to the Provincial Cooperation Group for approval. The North Ostrobothnia concessions under preparation amount to a total of EUR 24.898 million in EU and state funding: EUR 10.2 million from the ERDF, EUR 7.241 million from the ESF+ and EUR 7.457 million from the JTF. The approved financing plan will be submitted to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment by 30 October 2026. The Secretariat also took note of the state of play on the preparation of the new programming period 2028-2034. Results of the renewed and skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme and upcoming project calls for the 12th edition of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, which took place between 4 May and 30 September 2026. 78 applications were received for an ERDF project call. They applied for a total of around 14 million...

The Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia met on Monday 21 September in Oulu. The University of Oulu has assessed the possibilities of starting a degree programme in pharmacy in Oulu. At the beginning of the meeting, Dean Jukka Hakkola and Liaison Manager Sakari Jussi-Pekka from the University of Oulu presented the cost estimate and reports of the Degree Programme in Pharmacy. The provincial government approved the draft budget 2027 and the economic plan for 2028-2029 as a basis for further preparation and will request municipal opinions on the proposal by 20 October 2026. The result for the financial year, after depreciation in the budget year, is EUR -257 600. EUR 270 800 shall be credited from the Development Fund. The surplus/deficit for the financial year is EUR 13 200. The total budget 2027 for operational revenue amounts to EUR 5 196 694, representing a decrease of 3,22 % compared to the budget 2026. Operating income consists mainly of municipalities…

The North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group heard about the current state of preparations for the new programming period (2028-2034) and the six-month report on corporate finance in North Ostrobothnia The North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group met on Wednesday 9 September 2026 at the premises of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia. During the meeting, the state of play of the new programming period (2028-2034) and the current state of preparation were heard. The meeting also included a presentation of the organisation of the Northern Finland Viable Power Centre and a half-yearly report on business finance in Northern Ostrobothnia (ERDF + JTF) for the first half of 2026. In addition to presenting current affairs, the meeting also included a topical project presentation from the Natural Resources Institute Finland and the University of Oulu. This was a project application from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for the spring 2026 JTF call From Emission to Resources (EMRIS). The provincial cooperation group gave a positive opinion on two projects. Working life now! (ESF+) Working life Now! is the association of Young Friends, together with Liminka…

The Centre for Vitality in Northern Finland will not open the call for applications for business environment development grants in autumn 2026. Also, the call for applications for TL 3 infrastructure will not be opened on 1 September due to the lack of fundings, but only in the first half of 2027. Enterprise development grants (ERDF) have been applied for in Northern Ostrobothnia for a total of EUR 12 442 800. 45 applications have been received by June. On the other hand, 16 applications were received by 7 May 2026 for the continuous JTF application process related to employment and skills. A total of EUR 3 765 098 was requested. In addition, 10 cross-regional applications were received for Northern Ostrobothnia and a total of EUR 2 070 573 was applied for. The ESF+ project call for Northern Finland (et 4.3) closed on 1 June 2026 and received 26 applications for support 7 594…

The Regional Board of Northern Ostrobothnia held its first meeting of the autumn season in Oulu on Monday, 17 August. The the Board of the Regional Assembly approved the strategic targets and indicators for 2027 and decided to increase the municipal contributions to the budget by one percentage point. The draft budget 2027 and the economic plan 2028-2029 will be discussed by the the Board of the Regional Assembly on 21 September 2026. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region in cooperation in cooperation withdraws from the Barents cooperation The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region in cooperation in cooperation withdraws from the Barents Regional Assembly and thus from the Barents cooperation. At the end of 2025, the Barents Regional Assembly launched an evaluation process on the future of Barents regional cooperation. The geographical scope of the cooperation has been significantly reduced, especially since Finland in cooperation in cooperation withdrew from the Barents Euro-Arctic Regional Assembly, and as a result, the regions of Lapland, Kainuu and North Karelia in cooperation in cooperation withdrew from membership of the Regional Assembly. According to the study, there is a consensus among member regions that maintaining the current structure does not …

By May, a total of 16 JTF (tyos) project applications and a total of nine project packages were received by the Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Vitality. A total of EUR 3.765 million was requested. Ten project applications were submitted to the Regional Assemblys, a total of four project packages. A total of EUR 2.070 million was requested. By 1 June, a total of 26 and 16 projects were submitted under the cross-regional ESF+, specific objective 4.3.  A total of EUR 7 594 226 was applied for.  In addition, there were two transnational applications for which a total of EUR 849 844 was applied for funding. The Secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group supported seven projects for funding The Secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group discussed ten projects at its meeting. Seven of them received a favourable opinion. The applications have been presented by the regional Cooperation Group…

The Regional Board of Northern Ostrobothnia met on Monday 8 June for its last meeting of the spring season to discuss, among other things, next year's budget planning and the current situation of the maritime spatial plan. The implementation plan for security of supply and comprehensive security was approved by the the Board of the Regional Assembly, which approved the implementation plan for security of supply and comprehensive security in Northern Ostrobothnia for 2026-2027. Changes in the geopolitical environment and the security situation highlight the need to examine security of supply and overall security as part of regional development. The priorities of the Regional Programme for Northern Ostrobothnia are broadly linked to these themes and provide a strong basis for strengthening preparedness in the region. The implementation plan ensures that the measures support the region's RDI activities, businesses, people's daily lives, as well as safety and security of supply. The Regional Board took note of the planning situation of the maritime spatial plan, discussed the preliminary draft of the maritime spatial plan and authorised the Regional Assembly of Southwest Finland to request comments from stakeholders as part of the joint preparation of maritime spatial planning. The maritime spatial plan describes…