12.12.2023
Meeting newsletter of the secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group
Open calls for applications
The open calls for applications for the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme can be found on the website: EURA 2021: Call for applications
JTF project applications received by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has processed the JTF project applications for the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme, which were received between 1 September and 30 November 2023. 23 applications were received for approximately EUR 5.2 million.
The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia has processed JTF project applications related to employment and skills under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme, which were received between 1 September and 30 November 2023. Fifteen applications of the JTF's ESF type were received for North Ostrobothnia, seven of which are of a regional nature. The total amount of aid applied for is approximately EUR 4.1 million, of which approximately EUR 2.2 million is for cross-regional projects.
Applications received by JTF for the North Ostrobothnia ELY Centre, processing date 30.11.2023
Name of the project, applicant and grant requested:
- Dr Livingstone - New business in turbulent world - NIHAK, NIHAK ry, 469 022 €
- Development of Centria's testing activities 2.0, Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd, 277,804 €
- Double Kit in Raahe sub-region, City of Raahe, 192 024 €
- New early-stage venture capital fund, City of Oulu, 297,066 €
- Double KIT in the Kalajoki region, City of Kalajoki, 192 024 €
- Internationalisation of the Building Cluster of Northern Finland and reconstruction of Ukraine, Building Cluster of Northern Finland, Norra Finlands byggkluster rf, 90,284 €
- Study to promote innovation in SMEs in Northern Ostrobothnia, Cooperative A. Vipunen, 65 141 €
- Dr Livingstone - New business in turbulent world - RSK, City of Raahe, €198 680
The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group supports the following projects for funding Sustainable Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 from the EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme
Kärsämäki recycling terminal / JTF
Applicant: Municipality of Kärsämäki
Total cost estimate: €390,000
ERDF and State funding requested: €273 000
Execution period: 12.6.2023-31.12.2025
Kärsämäki recycling terminal is an investment project to build a circular economy terminal. The project provides companies with a framework for operating the terminal operations of recycled materials and fractions in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. The recycling terminal will be built in the Kärsämäki industrial area. A canopy-type warehouse will be built in the terminal for storing and storing machinery and equipment as well as recycled fractions.
Enhancing EV battery recycling and logistics with simulations, EVASIMU / JTF
Applicant: Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost estimate: € 194 834
ERDF and State funding requested: 155 867 €
Execution period: From 01/10/2023 to 30/09/2025
The aim of the project is to create and test new methods for robotized traction battery dismantling and material post-treatment, which are based on secondary use of batteries and the processing of material for recycling, to explore and develop new business opportunities and ideas related to the different stages of the process, and to develop the utilisation of XR technologies in production technology design and in the simulation, programming and design of robotized methods.
Utajärvi terminal supporting refining and regional vitality (UtaTe) / JTF
Applicant: Municipality of Utajärvi
Total cost estimate: 680 050 €
ERDF and State funding requested: € 476 035
Execution period: 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2024
The aim of the project is to build a terminal for the storage, processing and further processing of forest and wood industry side streams and demolition wood. The terminal will be located in the Hietaselä industrial part master plan area in the vicinity of Mustikkakangas in Utajärvi. The concrete measure is the construction of a terminal area of about seven hectares. The terminal consists of four sections and is implemented as a partial ground and asphalt field.
Fast Track - Developing Future Excellence Ecosystems through Invesi In / JTF Group Project
Applicant: Nivala-Haapajärvi region NIHAK ry
Sub-applicant: City of Raahe
Total cost estimate: € 678 225
ERDF and State funding requested: € 542 579
Execution period: 1.1.2023-30.6.2026
The aim of the project is to create a cross-regional Invest In strategy and to implement it in the regions, as well as to attract national and international locomotive companies and other companies, investors and financing for the region's economic value chains. The project's measures will be used to identify and support business ecosystems, produce data for investors and Invest In operators in a meaningful way, and develop a fast track process for investments (a fast-track procedure for identifying investment opportunities).
Renewable energy from peatlands and fields (ATSOL) / JTF group project
Applicant: Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Sub-applicant: City of Ylivieska
Total cost estimate: € 438 299
ERDF and State funding requested: € 350 633
Execution period: 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2025
The aim of the project is to find out how areas leaving production use in the North Ostrobothnia region, such as peatlands, gravel extraction areas and poorly productive agricultural parcels, can be utilised in the production of renewable energy. The project focuses in particular on the production of solar and hydrogen energy.
Robotics and smart technologies in social and health care - RoboSoteLab / JTF group project
Applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Sub-applicant: Joint Municipal Authority for Education OSAO
Total cost estimate: € 438 030
ERDF and State funding requested: 350 424 €
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2025
The aim of the project is to create a versatile teaching and testing laboratory for robotics and smart technology in social and health care on the Kontinkangas campus for the needs of technology companies in Northern Ostrobothnia, Oulu University of Applied Sciences and OSAO. The project will create the capacity and prerequisites for the emergence of new technological solutions, promote the adoption of new technologies and enable companies to test the application and development phase of digital solutions in real-life testing and experimentation environments in the social and health care sector.
Robotics and smart technologies in social and health care – RoboSoteLab, investment component/ JTF group project
Applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Sub-applicant: Joint Municipal Authority for Education OSAO
Total cost estimate: 849 809 €
ERDF and State funding requested: € 594 866
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2025
The aim of the project is to create a versatile robotics and smart technology teaching and test laboratory on the Kontinkangas campus for the needs of technology companies as well as Oulu University of Applied Sciences and OSAO. The investment project will procure the necessary equipment for the laboratory.
Smart use of natural resources through digital circular economy governance - Kiertola / JTF
Main project promoter: Iin Micropolis Oy
Total cost estimate: € 503 642
Requested EU and state funding: € 402 914
Execution period: From 1.8.2023 to 31.7.2026
The aim of the project is to create new business and jobs in the circular economy for SMEs. The measures aim to attract construction waste and material streams generated in the municipalities of the project area for reuse and recycling. The project will increase the reuse of waste and recycled materials and business opportunities for SMEs offering renewable energy, support cooperation between companies and create new service business to improve the region's zero waste and the share of renewable energy from recycled materials in production
Automotive & Circular Economy Clusters (ACE clusters) / JTF
Project promoter: City of Oulu (BO)
Total cost estimate: € 586 279
Requested EU and state funding: € 469 023
Execution period: 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2025
The project develops the operations of BusinessOulu's Oulu Automotive Cluster and Circular Economy Cluster. Cluster work lowers the thresholds for business cooperation, innovation, growth and internationalisation. With the ACE Clusters project, clusters are organised in a clearer way so that they are better able to meet the needs of businesses. The project aims for both clusters to be certified by the European Clusters Labelling Excellence Structure (EUCLES) on the basis of an audit.
Small Business Hub / JTF
Main project promoter: Joint Municipal Authority for Education OSAO
Sub-project promoter: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost estimate: € 567 073
Requested EU and state funding: € 453 659
Execution period: From 1.8.2023 to 31.12.2025
The aim of the project is to develop a multidisciplinary professional Small Business Hub incubator in OSAO into a part of the Startup ecosystem in Oulu. The aim of the pre-incubator is to offer coaching, business competence and functional learning for entrepreneurship, and to promote the positive development of entrepreneurial skills and entrepreneurial mindsets among VET students, both across fields of study, and to provide similar services to those who have already entered the labour market for entrepreneurship and the processing/prototyping of a product or business idea.
Ecoenergy in the Haapavesi-Siikalatva sub-region - an operating model for hybrid renewable energy in rural areas, EKOENERGY / JTF
Main project promoter: Haapavesi-Siikalatva joint municipal authority
Sub-project promoters: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost estimate: 1 375 170 €
Requested EU and state funding: 1 100 136 €
Execution period: 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2026
The aim of the project is to create an operating model for hybrid, locally centralized energy production, distribution, storage and use in rural areas. The operating model lowers the threshold for switching to renewable energy production and starting a new business by providing information on earnings logic, the preconditions set by legislation and investment needs. The key objective is to promote cooperation between different actors in order to create a sub-regional eco-energy network, initiate sub-regional energy production and promote energy efficiency, as well as improve energy security of supply.
Materials research atomic-level tomography (MOTTO) development and investment project / JTF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Total cost estimate, development part: 116 362 €
ERDF and State funding requested: € 93 088
Total cost estimate, investment compartment: 1 900 080 €
ERDF and State funding requested: 1 330 056
Implementation period:1 January 2024 – 30 June 2025
The purpose of the project is to acquire APT (Atom Probe Tomography) equipment for the Material Analysis Centre (MAKE) of the University of Oulu. In addition, the necessary capabilities will be created during the project to start TSG measurements of material samples and the competence related to TSG measurements will be developed to serve the needs of the university's research groups and companies.
Geoenergy leap/JTF
Responsible authority: Regional Assembly of Central Ostrobothnia
Applicant: Geological Survey of Finland
Sub-applicants: South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd, Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd
ERDF and State funding requested: 667 528 €, Northern Ostrobothnia (2 638 224 in total)
(PPL investment 152 284 €, PPL development 515 244 € )
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 30.6.2026
The project is divided into several parts, both regionally and cross-regionally. In terms of content, the research and development project is coordinated by GTK in cooperation with local sub-implementers, and the drill training project is coordinated by Poratek ry in cooperation with local partners.
Networked Robotics Test Beds – Development and Investment Components / JTF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicants: Joint Authority for Education OSAO, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd and Pyhäsalmen Kvanttikiinteistöt Oy
Total cost estimate, development part: € 575 487
ERDF and State funding requested: € 460 389
Total cost estimate, investment compartment: €1 600 700
ERDF and State funding requested: €1 120 489
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2025
The project will equip and develop the Ouluzone, Linnamaa Campus, Pekurinkulma real estate and Pyhäjärvi Callio infrastructures in the centre of Oulu, and their operations into digitalised, safe, multidisciplinary and collaborative test environments for low-emission mobile machinery, heavy-duty drones and robots. The University of Oulu and OSAO still lack the automatic earthmoving vehicle included in the investment plan for the project. VTT is investing in an electric and autonomous off-road vehicle platform. In the development part, the activities of research infarctions are developed into international-level networked cutting-edge research environments.
C1 chemical pathways for the production of green chemicals – C1-to-Chemicals/JTF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Total cost estimate: 853 864 €
ERDF and State funding requested: € 683 091
Execution period: 01/01/2024 – 30/04/2026
The project will create new knowledge on the use of small molecules such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) in the production of C1 compounds (CO, CH4, CH3OH, HCOOH), using both homogeneous and heterogeneous more environmentally friendly and cost-effective catalytic reaction pathways. In particular, the focus will be on the use of biogenic CO2 extracted and purified from industrial smoke and exhaust gases, as well as hydrogen produced from renewable energy from water and biomass, in the manufacture of chemicals and fuels.
Innovative manufacturing methods for circular water treatment materials – manufacturing, testing and commercialisation (INNOWATER) / JTF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Total cost estimate: € 658 011
ERDF and State funding requested: €526 409
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2025
The aim of the project is to develop mechanically and chemically stable, selective, cost-effective and regenerable materials for water treatment from industrial side streams. Circular economy-based materials are used in water purification as an adsorbent, catalyst or precipitation chemical to remove impurities. The raw materials used to produce water purification materials include steel industry slags, mining industry analytes or calcined kaolin. The project optimises water purification processes by combining different water purification technologies.
From coal to many – local production in the green transition (Biocarbon time) / JTF group project
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicants: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd, University of Vaasa, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Utajärvi municipality. Association for Rural Culture and Education
Total cost estimate: € 2 521 500
ERDF and State funding requested: 2 017 198 € (Pohjanmaa 90 272 €)
Execution period: From 1.10.2023 to 31.12.2026
The project covers the biochar value chain from raw materials and their growth to the use of alternative end products. In terms of raw materials, the project explores the potential of former peat production areas to grow biochar raw materials and the use of low-cost alternative raw materials for biochar production. The manufacturing methods focus more on pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonisation, especially from the point of view of sustainability, for example by promoting the energy efficiency of pyrolysis by utilising digital twins in the study and by exploring the utilization possibilities of manufacturing by-products. The sustainability of manufacturing processes and products is assessed systematically during the project. Private funding for the project has been provided by Kiertokaari, Outokumpu Stainless Oy, Stormossen Oy, Feasib Oy, AGRI-Biotech Oy, Carbon Balance Finlad Oy, Oulun Vesi.
Uula – new skills for the green transition / JTF
Applicant: Joint Municipal Authority for Education OSAO
Co-implementers: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd, University of Oulu, KSAK Ltd
Total cost: € 1 467 331
Aid requested: €1 173 861
Execution period: From 1.3.2024 to 31.12.2026
The project will bring new tools and services to increase employment and improve the employability of the target group in Northern Ostrobothnia. The primary target group is operators in the peat sector. The project tailors individual training and employment pathways to a heterogeneous target group. Comprehensive customer encounters and needs-based service and education offer respond to skills shortages, socio-economic challenges and social inclusion.
Innovations that enhance mechanical and automotive engineering (KATI) / JTF
Main project promoter: University of Oulu
Sub-project promoters: Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Joint Municipal Authority for Education in Jokilaaksot, Joint Municipal Authority for Education Brahe, Joint Municipal Authority for Education OSAO, Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Total cost estimate, development share: € 2 411 996
Requested EU and state funding: € 1 929 596
Total cost estimate, investment share: € 867 998
Requested EU and state funding: € 607 598
The total investment and development shares of the Innovations for more efficient machinery and automotive technology (KATI) project are €3,279,994, of which €2,537,194 is aid.
Execution period: 15 May 2023 – 31 August 2025
The aim of the project is to achieve a significant positive impact on the development of the region's competence level and well-being through the diversification of the regional economy through new competence and the creation of new jobs. The aim is also to enhance the region's vigorous transition through new know-how and to implement measures that are energy-efficient, emission-free and increase the region's security of supply.
Sustainable growth in Northern Ostrobothnia – green transition monitoring system / JTF
Main project promoter: University of Oulu
Sub-project promoters: Natural Resources Institute Finland, Finnish Environment Institute, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Total cost estimate, development share: € 2 674 073
Requested EU and state funding: € 2 139 258
Total cost estimate, investment share: € 1 933 575
Requested EU and state funding: € 1 353 505
Total investment and development shares of the green transition monitoring system €4 607 648, of which €3 492 763 is aid
Execution period: 1.9.2023-31.12.2025
The aim of the project is to build a regional monitoring system for the climate, water and coastal impacts of land use measures in accordance with the green transition in Northern Ostrobothnia. The monitoring system provides information on the coastal area of the Bothnian Bay and the lower atmosphere for the needs of different actors.
In addition, the following issues were addressed:
- The topical issues of the EU's EAFRD were reviewed.
The next meeting of the secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group will be held on 24 January 2024.
