25.08.2021
Decisions of the Provincial Cooperation Group
The North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group held a hybrid meeting on 25 August 2021. At the beginning of the meeting, Mikko Finnilä from the University of Oulu presented the project Agility for research and development with digitalised micro- and nanotomography and Sanna Savolainen from BusinessOulu presented the project Go global – invest and export Oulu.
Launch of the Oulu Innovation Alliance 2021-2027
Ecosystem agreements are signed with the Helsinki metropolitan area and other university cities and city centres, mainly with the resources of sustainable urban development for the 2021-2027 EU programme period. Included are Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Turku, Oulu, Rovaniemi, Vaasa, Joensuu, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, Lappeenranta (incl. Imatra), Lahti, Pori, Seinäjoki, Mikkeli, Kajaani (incl. Sotkamo) and Kokkola. Funding of 500,000 euros has been granted for the start-up of the Oulu innovation ecosystem. The total cost of the project is EUR 835 000. The agreements will develop cooperation networks, strengthen know-how tips and increase the effectiveness of RDI activities. At the same time, research and the networks that utilise it are compiled into larger centres of expertise, where different actors complement each other. The contracting cities have in common the development based on university-driven high-level expertise and its utilisation.
12 projects received a positive opinion – 4 projects supported more than half a million euro
The regional cooperation group supported 11 ERDF and one ESF projects to be funded under the Finnish Structural Funds programme Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014-2020. The final decision on the financing of ERDF projects is made by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the ELY Centre of Northern Ostrobothnia on the financing of the ESF project.
Sustainable growth for tourism companies in the Oulu region/ ERDF
The applicant for the project is the City of Oulu and the sub-applicants are Oulun Matkailu Oy, Kalajoen Matkailuyhdistys ry and Humanpolis Oy. The project has been prepared to accelerate the recovery of tourism in the Oulu region. The aim of the project is to be able to respond as well as possible to the changed demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to find the most efficient channel for achieving the market, as well as to target operations to meet the recovering tourism demand. The estimated cost of the project is EUR 964 771. A total of EUR 771 817 has been applied for EU and state funding.
Go global – invest and export Oulu/REACT-EU
The project, applied for by the City of Oulu, promotes export measures for companies in Oulu and Northern Ostrobothnia, increases and develops the international competitiveness of companies, and increases the attractiveness of the Oulu region for international investors. In order to keep Oulu and the whole of Northern Ostrobothnia vibrant, the experts in working life should be kept in the north. The key factors are more jobs and more private investment in the region. The estimated cost of the project is EUR 795 726. Applications for ERDF and state funding amount to EUR 636 580.
Agility in research and development in cooperation with digitalised micro- and nanotomography / ERDF
The project, applied for by the University of Oulu, will acquire an X-ray microscope that will enable the establishment of an X-ray microscopy laboratory that will provide digital diagnostic services. The device enables faster and more accurate imaging of the studied materials and devices, as well as their new kind of digital analytics. The internationally competitive digital imaging diagnostics laboratory serves researchers and companies. The device enables the imaging of both metallic and organic materials. This opens up new opportunities in tissue, biomaterials, electronics and fibre and packaging research, as well as in industry. The device can be used for phase-contrast imaging, which enables X-ray imaging on materials where the radiation is not absorbed enough for normal X-ray imaging. The total cost of the project is EUR 980 000. EUR 686 000 is requested for ERDF and state funding.
Growth from cycles to next generation green technologies (KASKI) /REACT-EU
The project aims to respond quickly to the demand for a circular economy and to develop a circular economy environment that can be replicated across Finland. The project will launch the placement activities of the Circular Economy Centre in Ii. The goal is to make 98% use of the materials, and in order to achieve this, a new operating environment and goal-oriented working method are required between the business network created in the project. The digital business network platform developed in the project enables international cooperation between circular economy actors and networks. The applicants for the project with a total cost of EUR 674 195 are Iin Micropolis Oy, Iilaakso Oy and the University of Oulu. Applications for ERDF and state funding amount to EUR 539 356.
The other projects supported are:
Data for competitiveness and growth (Dataki)/ERDF
Applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Sub-applicant: City of Oulu, University of Oulu
Total cost estimate: € 463 556
ERDF and State funding requested: €370 845
A world of excellence – boosting exports with 3D printing/ERDF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicant: Nivala-Haapajärvi region NIHAK ry.
Total cost estimate: € 433 182
ERDF and State funding requested: € 346 560
A world of excellence – boosting exports with 3D printing (Investment window)/ERDF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicant: Nivala-Haapajärvi region NIHAK ry.
Total cost estimate: €140 000
ERDF and State funding requested: € 98 000
Remote Drive/ESF
Applicant: City of Oulu
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
total cost: € 437 262
Aid requested: 349 810 €
Innovation ecosystem for a carbon-wise bioeconomy/ERDF
Applicant: Northeast Finland Development Company Naturpolis Oy
Total costs: € 586 066
ERDF and State funding requested: € 468 853
Smart RDI for the development of digital well-being and health solutions (Smart RDI)/ERDF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicants: VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd and City of Oulu/Business Oulu
Total cost estimate: € 574 055
ERDF and State funding requested: 452 242 €
Regional cooperation in incubation/REACT-EU
Applicants: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd and the City of Oulu
Total cost estimate: € 468 668
ERDF and State funding requested: € 374 934
VAU!HAUTOMO/REACT-EU
Applicants: Nivala-Haapajärvi region NIHAK ry and University of Oulu
Total cost estimate: € 484 911
ERDF and State funding requested: € 387 928
Thematic network and development zone projects awarded
The Government finances thematic networks and development zone projects. In Northern Ostrobothnia, funding has been granted to the University of Oulu (the national innovation ecosystem for HYTKI- wellbeing and health data, €500,000), the City of Raahe (the national hydrogen network, €320,000) and the City of Oulu (the development zone of the Bothnian Bay, €300,000).
Oulu Innovation Alliance 2021-2027 launches half a million euros
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has granted 500,000 euros in national innovation ecosystem funding to the City of Oulu. The funding will be used to implement the work packages agreed by the Oulu Innovation Alliance. The total cost of the project is EUR 835 000.
Enterprise support applications received by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia
Business aid applications received by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia were recorded for information. Link to attachments.
Meetings of the Provincial Cooperation Group
The next meetings of the Provincial Cooperation Group will be held on 27 October and 22 December 2021.
