16.10.2024
Meeting press release of the Secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group, 16 October 2024
Search status and upcoming searches
The next call for projects under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Northern Ostrobothnia will take place from 21 October to 16 December 2024 in Northern Ostrobothnia. This is the runway for growth – the R&D and internationalisation studies of companies, which will be opened by the ERDF and earmarked for EUR 1 million. The next ESF+ call (TL 4) is 16.1.-27.3.2025. The next call for ERDF projects will be for environmental projects from 16 January to 27 March 2025. JTF skills and employment, as well as restoration and reuse funding, are in constant search.
Between 15 January and 1 October 2024, a total of EUR 6 055 829 has been applied for business development grants under axis 1 and 2 and EUR 7 521 880 has been applied for under axis 7 (JTF) from the ELY Centre for Northern Ostrobothnia.
Establishment of a regional financing plan for 2025-2026 (Renewing and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme)
The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region has prepared, in cooperation in cooperation in cooperation with the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia, a proposal for a regional funding plan for 2025-2026 for the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027. The secretariat of the regional cooperation group submits the financing plan to MYR for approval.
In 2025, the funding activities of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region will focus on ERDF activities. The funding focuses on projects under the Northern Ostrobothnia Smart Specialisation Strategy (especially ET 1.1) and projects under the Carbon Neutral Finland Action Line (TL 2), where there are good resources especially for developing the transition to a circular economy. In 2025, applications will also be submitted for projects under the ‘Accessible Finland’ priority axis (TL 3).
The ELY Centre's business support funding (ERDF and JTF) serve ass in accordance in cooperation in cooperation with the business support guidelines approved by MYR. In addition, JTF funding from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment will be allocated, in accordance in cooperation in cooperation with the just transition plan for Northern Ostrobothnia, to the restoration and after-use of peatlands leaving peat production. The ELY Centre's ESF+ funding focuses on projects that comply in cooperation in cooperation with the application priorities. Alongside the ELY Centre's ESF+ funding, the emphasis is on funding JTF's skills and employment projects.
Transition strategy for the border regions of Eastern Finland
The Secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group heard a presentation on the strategy to be drawn up for the border regions of Eastern Finland. The European Commission has granted funding to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment for a project to find solutions to the change in the business environment caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine in Eastern Finland. The project targets eight regions along the eastern border (Lappi, Northern Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Karelia, North Savo, South Savo, South Karelia and Kymenlaakso). For Northern Ostrobothnia, the target areas are especially the municipalities of Koillismaa, Kuusamo and Taivalkoski.
During 2025, the project will produce a proposal for a transition strategy and action plan for border regions and for each targeted county. The strategy includes recommendations for central government, the regional level and municipalities. The transition strategy will be developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in consultation in cooperation in cooperation with the regions and key stakeholders. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region organises regional work.
Revision of the performance agreement of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Northern Ostrobothnia for 2025 and, provisionally, for 2026-2028
Multiannual performance agreements have been drawn up for the Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for the strategic period 2024-2027. The revised performance agreement will agree on the performance targets for 2025. In addition, the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment will carry out a preliminary review and update of the performance target values for 2026-2028.
The performance contract proposals will be reviewed mainly by written procedure between the steering parties and the ELY Centres during November through a new performance management application. Revised and agreed performance targets for 2025 will be signed by the end of January 2025.
The regional cooperation group noted and forwarded the matter to MYR for information.
The Secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group supports one project to be funded under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme
The secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group discussed three projects at its meeting. Of these, it advocates the financing of one project.
Presentations of all the projects discussed can be found in the secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group the minutes of the meeting.
Next meeting
The next meeting of the Secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group will be held on 14 November 2024 at 9 a.m.
Additional information:
Development Specialist Heikki Laukkanen, 050 918 0035
