02.11.2026
Press release of the provincial cooperation group, 29 October 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.
Almost 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 territorial component of the EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme for 2027.
The total allocation mandate for 2027 amounts to approximately EUR 24.9 million, of which EUR 10.2 million from the ERDF, EUR 7.2 million from the ESF+ and EUR 7.5 million from the Just Transition JTF.
The targets of the Regional Programme for Northern Ostrobothnia, the Climate Roadmap and the implementation plan for security of supply and overall safety are taken into account in the allocation of funding. In addition, the themes that have emerged in regional development discussions and the objectives of the Eastern and Northern Finland programmes will be emphasised in the preparation.
ESF+ funding puts particular emphasis on measures supporting youth employment and inclusion, reducing long-term unemployment and developing new skills in areas such as energy, defence industry and dual-use technologies.
The financing plan approved by the Regional Cooperation Group has been submitted to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment by 30 October 2026.
Assent to the AIDAROX project
The regional cooperation group supported the funding of the project AIDAROX - AI, data, robotics and XR expertise for Northern Ostrobothnia. The project is implemented by Centria University of Applied Sciences, Oulu University of Applied Sciences and University of Oulu in cooperation
The aim of the project is to strengthen Northern Ostrobothnia's expertise in the fields of artificial intelligence, data utilisation, robotics, XR technologies, digital twins and information security. The project responds to the identified skills gap in the region and the growing need for companies to use new technologies in their operations. The target groups are in particular unemployed jobseekers, recent graduates and staff of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The project implements a broad working life-oriented training package that includes online courses, webinars and workshops. The trainings cover topics such as information management, utilization of artificial intelligence, data analytics, information security, XR solutions, robotics and digital twins. The aim is to provide participants with concrete skills for the use of new technologies in working life and to improve employment and career development opportunities.
Aid requested (EU+ State)/total cost: 549 182 € / 686 481 €
Funder: Northern Finland Vitality Centre (JTF
Implementation period: From 1.1.2027 to 30.06.2029
Other matters of the meeting
In addition, the meeting reviewed the 2027 performance agreement of the Vitality Centre of Northern Finland and provided an overview of current issues in EU rural funding.
The next meeting of the provincial cooperation group will be held on 17 December 2026.
