28.09.2022
Meeting newsletter of the secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group
The secretariat of the regional cooperation group held its meeting on Wednesday 28 September 2022 in Oulu.
Saija Tikkanen presented the update of the smart specialisation strategy for Northern Ostrobothnia for 2021-2025. The priorities remain the same. Northern Ostrobothnia is regenerative and prosperous, Climate-smart and international, networked and attractive.
Preparation of regional funding plans for 2022-2024
Päivi Keisanen, Development Manager, told about the preparation of the regional funding plans for the EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme 2021-2027. The financial programming describes the regional allocation of regional and structural policy funds by priority axis, specific objective and authority. In addition, the plan provides an estimate of municipal and other public funding. The plan may also include a possible allocation of funds to cross-border activities.
The JTF financial tables are being prepared for the first time. The 2022 figure also includes the 2021 shares. The implementation of the JTF will not start until 2023. As a result, a total of EUR 88.601 million will be available for JTF allocation in Northern Ostrobothnia next year. The JTF allocation mandate for the whole programming period amounts to EUR 118.523 million, which means that up to 75 % of the JTF funding for the whole programming period is available. A change in the financial framework is proposed to the regional cooperation group.
The secretariat of the regional cooperation group is in favour of funding the following projects from Finland's Structural Funds Programme Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014–2020 Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014–2020 for sustainable growth and work 2014-2020:
Smart machinery and systems – investment / ERDF
Applicant: Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost estimate 445 000 €
Requested ERDF and state funding 311 500 €
The project aims to promote a low-carbon economy and support the green transition. The investments in the project are directed to different areas of business and industry. The regional stakeholders will benefit from the acquisitions and the investments made through the project will enable the local business community to test and prototype the equipment in cooperation without any investment costs.
KOTO - Modernisation of the learning environment in mechanical engineering / REACT-EU
Applicant: Joint Municipal Authority for Education OSAO
Total cost estimate 330 000 €
ERDF and State funding requested 231 000 €
The aim of the project is to promote the competitiveness of the engineering industry and ensure the availability of skilled labour. Investments in the CNC bending machine and the robotization of machining will diversify OSAO's learning environments. The project offers companies the opportunity to test the school's equipment base in the manufacture of their own products before possible own investments.
Research and training infrastructure for autonomous machinery / REACT-EU
Applicant: Joint Municipal Authority for Education OSAO
Total cost estimate 266 000 €
Requested ERDF and state funding 186 200 €
The project will invest in a bulldozer and compactor in cooperation with the necessary automation equipment to enable RDI activities. The machines are used in research and teaching.
ROOPPI - Learning environment for construction / REACT-EU
Applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost estimate 496 406 €
ERDF and State funding requested 347 484 €
The aim of the project is to implement a concrete laboratory infrastructure and a digital environment describing the construction infrastructure. The aim is to create a laboratory environment for the construction industry in the Linnanmaa campus area.
SÄLLI investment/REACT-EU
Applicant: River Valley Joint Municipal Authority for Education
Total cost estimate 982 200 €
ERDF and state funding requested 687 540 €
The project promotes the green transition and improves the competitiveness of companies by acquiring vehicles, trailers, charging stations and workshop equipment for the training infrastructure for electric commercial vehicles in the Northern Ostrobothnia region.
HIIWATTI - Forerunner in carbon-neutral transport and energy production / REACT-EU
Applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost estimate 1 162 448 €
ERDF and state funding requested 813 713 €
The project invests, builds and implements a testing and development environment that enables the transport of cargo in cooperation with carbon-neutral electric powered efficient drones and a fully electric vehicle.
Multimodal human physiology emulation environment using extensive validated data – EMUVALID/ERDF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Total cost estimate 185 980 €
ERDF and state funding requested 130 186 €
The research and development activities carried out in the project can be used to reproducibly develop, test and validate mobile patient measurement technologies.
Learning environment for renewable energy production and improved nutrient recycling / ERDF
Applicant: River Valley Joint Municipal Authority for Education
Total cost estimate 157 580 €
ERDF and state funding requested 110 306 €
A hybrid system in cooperation with a solar thermal system, a water-to-air heat pump, a geothermal heat pump and a small-scale wind power plant will be invested in Nivala's building services department. The Haapajärvi school facility will acquire a biogas-powered electricity generator for the bioenergy research and learning environment, in cooperation with which the electricity produced will be used for the operation of the school facility.
Results of project calls
The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region's first ERDF project application under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme, which ended on 31 August 2022, received 53 applications (projects 29) and applied for support totalling approximately EUR 14 million.
The Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment's ESF+ and Environment ERDF project applications under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme ended on 29 August 2022. 74 ESF+ applications (47 projects) were submitted to Northern Ostrobothnia. The ESF+ applications applied for a total of approximately EUR 20.6 million. Thirty-nine (14) cross-regional ESF+ applications were received to Northern Ostrobothnia for a total amount of approximately EUR 6.5 million. Environmental applications for Northern Ostrobothnia were received in 4 (projects 2), where approximately EUR 551 000 of ERDF support was applied for.
calls for applications and deadlines for the new and competent Finland 2021-2027 programme
Open calls for applications can be found on the website EURA 2021: Call for applications
Next meeting
The next meeting of the secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group will be held on 20 October 2022.
