28.09.2023
Regional Cooperation Group meeting release 28 September 2023
The meeting of the North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group was held on Thursday 28 September in Oulu. The Cooperation Group decided to support as many as 21 projects to be funded under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme.
Current project presentations
- Higher education pathway to the extractive sector, KORKO /ESF+ (supra-regional)
- Promoting well-being at work in foster care / ESF+
Renewing and knowledgeable Finland 2021-2027 EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme – preparation of the Territorial Financing Plan 2024-2025
The provincial cooperation group took note of the state of play of the preparation of the regional financing plan.
The regional cooperation group's tasks include approving the regional funding plan for the EU's regional and structural policy programme and its funding priorities. Regional councils are responsible for preparing regional funding plans for the European Union's Regional and Structural Policy Programme. The unions prepare in close cooperation with the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment in particular, but also with other regional partners.
The financial plans cover ERDF, ESF+ and JTF funding. The financial programming is limited to the regional component of the EU's regional and structural policy programme. Funding for sustainable urban development and national themes is not addressed in the regional funding plans.
In connection with the preparation of the financing tables, the situation regarding the commitment and reservation of the granting powers for JTF and ERDF funding in 2021-2023 in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment will also be examined and the need for transfers of granting powers will be verified.
The planning of the use of funds will continue in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. In addition, cumulative indicator targets for each Fund for the period 2021-2024 will be prepared. The completed financial tables must be submitted to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on 31 October 2023.
Implementation plan for security of supply and overall safety in Northern Ostrobothnia (TOPSU)
The regional cooperation group took note of the preparation of the implementation plan launched by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia.
The implementation plan for the security of supply and overall safety in Northern Ostrobothnia (TOPSU) is based on the regional programme, but it takes into account the security of supply and overall safety from different perspectives of regional development. The regional programme has numerous connecting surfaces for both. These include, but are not limited to, development spearheads: digital services and products, health technology, energy production and storage, smart food production and bioeconomy. The region also has expertise and business activities related to cyber security.
Finland's NATO membership and the change in the security situation open up new opportunities and needs for RDI activities. Logistics must take into account the interfaces between different modes of transport, such as ports, airports and terminals. Functional connections to northern Sweden and northern Norway are also necessary for both security of supply and business.
The regional cooperation group supports 21 projects to be funded under the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027
Collaboration with results! / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: City of Oulainen
Total cost estimate: € 499 612
Aid requested: 399 690 €
The aim of the project is to reduce unemployment and respond to mismatches and develop services for future reforms. The project creates an efficient operating model between employment and business services, entrepreneurs and educational institutions, and increases vitality and entrepreneurship in Oulainen.
Round-up 2023-2025 / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicants: Helsinki Deaconess Institute Foundation sr, City of Oulu, Oulu Ev.-Lut. Parish Consortium, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Ltd, Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr
Total cost estimate: €1 246 005
Aid requested: 934 508 €
The project promotes equal participation and the realisation of a sense of community through collaboration between people from different backgrounds, strengthens the operations of the Lost Food Logistics Centre and offers work and study opportunities in the Lost Food Logistics Centre. The project will also increase the amount of food aid provided through centralised collection and distribution of food waste. The project develops cooperation between SMEs in the Oulu region and third sector actors and strengthens circular economy know-how.
Draft work and functional capacity / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: Let's try together ry
Total cost estimate: 830 982 €
Aid requested: € 664 788
The aim of the project is to employ and involve the long-term unemployed in vulnerable, weakest and at risk of social exclusion, such as people with partial work capacity, immigrants, Roma and people with a criminal background. Different methods and combinations of work, workshops and training are used.
Developing digital business knowledge and skills in the age of artificial intelligence (DigitAlli) / JTF
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost: €510 503
Aid requested: € 408 403
The aim of the project is to increase and develop the competence of people working in digital business and especially in e-commerce. At the same time, the competitiveness of micro-enterprises and SMEs in particular, as well as the capacity of staff in digital business, e-commerce and the use of artificial intelligence, will be developed. The project will also train teachers from educational institutions in the region to use AI applications in business teaching.
ACTION - Steps towards working life to strengthen agency project / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicants: Joint Municipal Authority for Education Brahe, City of Raahe, Municipality of Siikajoki
Total cost: € 827 428
Aid requested: € 661 946
The project develops services that respond to the risks of prolonged unemployment throughout the Raahe sub-region. The project aims to find solutions to educational and skills mismatches between job vacancies and unemployed people.
Duuniportti / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicants: City of Kalajoki, Joint Municipal Authority for Education in the River Valleys, Kalajoki Christian College Support Association
Total cost: € 656 247
Aid requested: €524 996
The project prepares for the TE2024 reform and Kalajoki Campus, which will be formed in Kalajoki in 2025, bringing together the Education Centre JEDU, Kalajoki Upper Secondary School, Kalajoki Academy and the City's business and employment services. The project will build a functional and practical operating model for the shared service point, as well as customer-oriented, individual service paths.
Optimum / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: Support for self-employment in Northern Finland PSOTTY ry
Total cost: € 687 931
Aid requested: 550 345 €
The aim of the project is to improve the job search skills and labour market knowledge of higher education students and highly qualified jobseekers in Northern Ostrobothnia, Lapland and Kainuu. In addition, the project develops and maintains their digital and remote working skills, improves the recruitment skills of companies and employers in the region, and supports the well-being and coping of job seekers and small entrepreneurs.
From digital workshop to working life / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: City of Oulu
Total cost: € 479 472
Aid requested: € 383 577
The project will create a new operating model for BusinessOulu's Employment Services. The model helps companies with skills shortages and develops the special skills of jobseekers for whom a lack of special skills can be an obstacle to employment. The project provides targeted training for jobseekers in areas such as digital design and 3D printing.
Low-threshold service point project in the Lakeude region / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: Municipality of Kempele
Total cost: € 512 988
Aid requested: € 410 391
The joint project of the municipalities of Kempele, Liminka and Tyrnävä develops the service especially for people in the weakest position in the labour market. The aim is to train young people who are not in education, training or employment and to provide them with the necessary expert services without queues. Municipalities will have their own low-threshold service points.
TASSU - Dance and music as a source of social inclusion and agency / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Co-implementer: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost: € 418 420
Aid requested: € 334 736
The aim of the project is to combat social exclusion by developing innovative operating models and tools for organisations. The operating models and tools apply dance and music methods that support participation and agency. Models and tools are used to work with marginalised and disadvantaged populations. In particular, the project supports the inclusion of people at risk of social exclusion.
Jalas2 - Promoting well-being at work in foster care / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr
Co-implementer: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost: € 689 153
Aid requested: € 551 321
The aim of the project is to improve the well-being and coping of substitute care workers and supervisors in child protection. The project develops a peer-to-peer coaching operating model in which employees can promote and highlight the well-being of work communities.
High school student / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: City of Oulu
Total cost: € 586 254
Aid requested: € 469 003
The project creates an operating model to support young people's attachment to TUVA and upper secondary school studies. At the core of the model is Lukiopirtti, led by special education teachers and a team of community pedagogy coaches. The upper secondary school apprenticeship is intended for young people studying in TUVA education and day school who need support in their studies due to life management challenges, coping or mental health problems. The model supports inclusion and strengthens the functional capacity and well-being of young people.
Knowledge-driven management for the future / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost: €559 499
Aid requested: €447 600
The project will create a training package for people in working life. The aim is to increase the data capacity of people, especially those working in SMEs and public organisations, and to help organisations that employ them to develop the quality and efficiency of their activities through good practices. The aim is to train people to become experts in data utilization.
DigiSampo / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: City of Oulu (BusinessOulu)
Total cost: € 523 641
Aid requested: € 418 913
The project pilots and creates a service path as part of the service offered to BusinessOulu's companies. The aim is to increase the digital capability of companies in the Oulu economic area. Digitalisation is promoted through marketing, skill surveys and sparring services, as well as short-term coaching. The results and experiences of the project will be shared in both regional and national networks.
Knowledge management as an asset for change management – TIMU / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: Oulun Ev.-Lut. Parish Union
Sub-project: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost: € 478 701
Aid requested: € 382 965
The project improves the digital skills of the staff of the Oulu Parish Consortium and its parishes and the Oulu Diocese's doomscapitulium to meet the requirements of knowledge-based management. The aim is to understand the possibilities of digitalisation and use it to make current processes more efficient. The aim of the project is to form knowledge-based management as a key tool in a changing operating culture.
Higher education pathway to the extractive sector, FIFG / ESF+ (supra-regional)
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicant: University of Oulu
Co-implementers: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd and Lapland University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost: € 643 704
Aid requested: € 514 962
The aim of the project is to meet the region's need to increase the number of students and experts in the extractive industry, especially in Northern Finland. The project develops and plans an attractive educational path from a university of applied sciences to a university. In the planning of the training path, companies' wishes are heard and the aim is to meet the needs of working life. Cooperation between educational institutions and companies will also be developed.
VATUPASSI - Responsible future / ESF+
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Applicants: University of Oulu, City of Kalajoki, Nivala-Haapajärvi Region NIHAK ry, City of Ylivieska
Total cost: 840 800 €
Aid requested: 672 640 €
The project develops the corporate responsibility of companies. During this time, solutions will be sought to identify and understand responsibility comprehensively in companies' strategy and supply chain. The project develops, tests and pilots sustainability ladders for companies. In addition, a VATUPASSI toolkit will be built for companies to help them get their sustainability issues in order.
Customisation for Competitiveness - Wood Construction Product Systems Development Project / ERDF
Responsible authority: Regional Assembly of Oulu Region
Applicants: Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd, University of Oulu
Total cost: 532 170 €
ERDF and State funding requested: € 425 734
The project focuses on the development of wood construction product systems and the research of their business impacts. The aim is to create new information and new operating models as well as a new wood construction product configurator for use by wood construction companies.
Development of the functional ecosystem of the RadioPark concept / ERDF
Responsible authority: Regional Assembly of Oulu Region
Applicant: City of Oulu
Total cost: € 459 202
ERDF and State funding requested: 367 362 €
The project develops and pilots the operating models of the RadioPark ecosystem. The purpose of RadioPark's activities is to create opportunities for large co-development projects for SMEs developing and applying radio technology. In addition, operating methods will be developed and created for the cluster to enable companies to test new radio technologies in different environments.
Business Opportunities for International Market (BOIM) / ERDF
Responsible authority: Regional Assembly of Oulu Region
Applicant: City of Oulu
Total cost: 1 76 465 €
ERDF and State funding requested: € 1 415 571
The project seeks new market openings globally for SMEs in Oulu and Northern Ostrobothnia. The aim is to help companies market and network globally. At the same time, the opportunities for companies and BusinessOulu experts to participate in activities aimed at internationalisation will be increased. The project will attract new companies to set up or invest in the Oulu region.
Smart and regenerative tourism in the Oulu region / ERDF group project
Responsible authority: Regional Assembly of Oulu Region
Applicants: City of Oulu, Oulun Matkailu Oy, Humanpolis Oy, Iin Micropolis Oy and the City of Raahe
Total cost: €1 103 219
ERDF and State funding requested: € 882 575
The aim of the project is to make the Oulu region one of the leading international destinations for sustainable tourism in Europe. The aim of the project is to create an international SDG development programme for sustainable tourism in the region and to develop tourism content. The project will build Visit Finland's Sustainable Travel Finland programme path in the area. The target group of the project is tourism companies and other tourism operators located and operating in Northern Ostrobothnia.
Next meeting
The next meeting will take place on 27 October 2023.
Additional information: Heikki Laukkanen, Regional Development Specialist, tel. 050 918 0035
the regional Cooperation Group agenda.
