27.10.2023
Meeting press release of the regional cooperation group
Current project presentations
- Esa Loukusa, Employment Specialist, presented the project ‘Work & Stay – A Whole Life in Koillismaa’.
- The State-of-the-art H2 research infrastructure project was presented by University Researcher Samuli Urpelainen from the University of Oulu.
- KASVA - Sustainable growth for micro and small enterprises through regional cooperation between RDI actors and business services -project was presented by Research Director Anna-Mari Simunaniemi from Kerttu Saalasti Institute.
Adoption of the Regional Financing Plan 2024-2025 of the EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme
The regional cooperation group approved the regional funding plan and priorities for the Renewing and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme. The regional cooperation group decided to transfer EUR 2 million of the JTF business support authorisation of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia to the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia.
Regional councils are responsible for preparing the regional funding plans of the European Union's Regional and Structural Policy Programme in cooperation with the ELY Centres and other regional partners. The financial plans describe the regional allocation of Finnish regional and structural policy funds by priority axis, specific objective and authority for the next two years. 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.
Financial plan and financial tables
Drafting the performance agreement of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Northern Ostrobothnia for 2024 and half-yearly reporting for 2023
Multi-annual performance contracts will be drawn up for the ELY Centres for the new strategic period 2024-2027, taking into account the Joint Strategy Paper 2024-2027 of the Regional State Administrative Agencies and the ELY Centres, the Public Finance Plan and the budget proposals of the administrative branches. The drafting of the performance agreement is mainly carried out by written procedure, reviewing the proposals for 2024 and, if necessary, conducting performance negotiations with the steering parties. The Performance Contract Document 2024 will be signed in December.
Performance planning 2024-2027
The regional cooperation group supports the following projects to be funded from the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027
UUPO investment project, Renewable energy education infrastructure / ERDF
Applicant: Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Sub-applicants: University of Oulu and Jokilaaksot Educational Consortium
Execution period: 2.1.2024-31.12.2025
Total cost estimate 1 338 000 €
ERDF and state funding requested 936 300 €
The project will build the necessary infrastructure for the training of renewable energy in Northern Ostrobothnia. It enables JEDU, Centria and the University of Oulu to offer training in different areas of renewable energy, as well as new training and career paths for those who either become unemployed or are not employed in the peat sector. In a parallel ESF+ project, the applicants will implement infrastructure-based renewable energy training paths that support changing entrepreneurship and support the employment of peat entrepreneurs in new business areas.
State-of-the-art H2 research infrastructure / ERDF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost estimate 1 975 000 €
ERDF and State funding requested 1 382 500 €
Execution period: 1 September 2023 – 31 December 2024
The project will develop a regionally and nationally unique and significant research and development infrastructure for the benefit of actors in all project priorities and beyond. The aim of the project is to enable high-level hydrogen research and training related to hydrogen technologies at the University of Oulu and Oulu University of Applied Sciences, as well as to support companies' access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure. Research infrastructure and experimental equipment enable the study, characterisation and validation of materials under realistic process conditions. The equipment stock can also be used openly outside hydrogen research.
Renewable fuels for transport, capture and conversion of CO2 into fuels and control of other emissions from combustion engine flue-gases - MarineCO2 - Development and investment projects / ERDF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicant: Natural Resources Institute Finland
Total cost estimate, development part 675 554 €
ERDF and State funding requested, development component 540 443 €
Total cost estimate, investment part 149 966 €
ERDF and State funding requested, investment compartment 104 976 €
Execution period: 1.9.2023 31.12.2025
The project studies the utilisation of CO2 collected from the engine environment in fuel production and the conversion of other harmful compounds in exhaust gases into harmless form. The aim is to select and develop catalysts for the removal of nitrogen oxides, ammonia and methane from exhaust gases, including the use of liquid biofuels, biogas and ammonia as fuels for internal combustion engines.
In connection with the pilot-scale combustion engine environment, the investment project will acquire a completely new kind of equipment for the capture and utilisation of carbon dioxide released from the combustion engine, which will include several units related to the capture, concentration, purification and conversion of carbon dioxide into new fuels.
Metapilot Factory / ERDF
Applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Sub-applicants: University of Oulu and Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost estimate 942 616 €
ERDF and State funding requested 754 093 €
Execution period: 1.11.2023-31.12.2025
The project maps the situational picture of the Northern Ostrobothnia region in relation to the global Metaverse development. The survey examines key technologies, innovation platforms and services as well as their suitability for different industries and development areas, taking into account the capabilities of different actors in the development and deployment of new technologies and their business potential. The mapping identifies and selects the most important development areas and concreteizes the implementation plans.
Haapajärvi bioenergy terminal construction project / ERDF
Applicant: City of Haapajärvi
Total cost estimate 2 233 185 €
ERDF and state funding requested 1,563,230 €
Execution period: 1.11.2023-31.12.2024
The City of Haapajärvi wants to promote the logistics of energy wood harvesting and the operating conditions of SMEs that carry out processing regionally by constructing a bioenergy terminal in Haapajärvi. The bioenergy terminal project will serve the biorefinery under preparation in Haapajärvi and its raw material needs. The project will build a bioenergy terminal in the immediate vicinity of the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency's raw wood terminal area and VT27, where the new Halla bioindustrial area with biorefinery functions, prepared by the city, will also be built.
Utilisation of acid sulphate soils - SmartHasu / ERDF
Applicant: Finnish Environment Institute
Co-implementers: GTK, Åbo Akademi University, Ab Yrkeshögskolan vid Åbo Akademi University
Total cost € 811 114
Aid requested 648 890 €
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2026
The aim of the project is to develop research methods for acid sulphate soils to identify soil corrosion hazards and from the perspective of soil reuse planning. The project investigates the use of circular economy materials in the neutralisation and stabilisation of acid sulphate soils, promotes the use of acid sulphate soils in earthworks, and produces new information on the risk of corrosion caused by acid sulphate soils and its reduction in construction in part.
Work & Stay – a whole life in North-Eastern Finland / ESF+
Applicant: City of Kuusamo
Co-implementers: Naturpolis Oy, Ksakki ry, City of Pudasjärvi, Taivalkoski Municipality, Posio Municipality & Puolanka Municipality
Total cost 2 224 853 €
Aid requested 1 779 899 €, Northern Ostrobothnia 1 478 304 €
Implementation period 1.12.2023-31.12.2025
The aim of the project is to increase well-being, employment and vitality in Koillismaa, as well as to prevent social exclusion, promote the employment of those who are poorly attached to the labour market and promote the availability of skilled labour.
JOPE - Persistent, proficient and able learning / ESF+
Applicant: Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr
Co-implementer: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost € 734 294
Aid requested 587 436 €
Implementation period from 1 December 2023 to 31 August 2026
The aim of the project is to promote the well-being and coping of the staff of the City of Oulu's comprehensive and upper secondary schools. The project promotes competence and the practices of individuals and organisations that increase well-being at work and thus productivity and performance at work. The project develops preventive solutions to the general challenges of coping in the education sector.
SECTION - Strengthening the competence of municipal professionals in supporting the well-being and health of families with children / ESF
Applicant: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Co-implementer: Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr
Total cost 448 604 €
Aid requested 358 882 €
Implementation period 1.11.2023-31.10.2025
The aim is to strengthen the competence of municipal professionals, parishes and organisations' employees in promoting the health and well-being of families with children, especially in promoting lifestyles and health behaviour, as well as in supporting physical and mental well-being. In addition, the aim is to strengthen cooperation between HYTE actors within and between municipalities and in relation to the wellbeing services area.
The provincial cooperation group shall treat the following project as a written procedure:
KASVA - Sustainable growth in micro and small enterprises through regional cooperation between RDI actors and business services / ERDF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicants: North-Eastern Finland Development Company Naturpolis Oy, Nivala-Haapajärvi Region NIHAK ry, Liminka Municipality, Centria University of Applied Sciences Oy, Utajärven Yrityspuisto Oy, Haapaveden-Siikalatva Region Joint Municipal Authority and Pohjois-Pohjanmaan Yrittäjät ry.
Total cost estimate 1 975 000 €
ERDF and State funding requested 1 580 000 €
Execution period: 1.11.2023-31.10.2025
A group project of low-threshold business service operators, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovation actors in Northern Ostrobothnia, the main objective of which is to promote the sustainable growth, renewal and development of companies in the region, their capacity for change and the living and holding power of the regions. A peer-to-peer network will be launched for regional business service operators to develop regional cooperation between business services and RDI operators. The project produces research data and develops operating models that provide information quickly to support business advice and regional foresight work.
The regional cooperation group did not support the following project to be funded from the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027:
- It's a booze! – supported on the way to work / ESF+, applicant Lintulammen Tenants' Association
The next meeting will take place on 23 November 2023.
