18.01.2022
Meeting newsletter of the secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group
The Secretariat of the North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group held a Teams meeting on Tuesday, 18 January 2022.
Sustainable urban development in Oulu
Representatives of Business Oulu presented the operating model for sustainable urban development in Oulu, the strategic priorities of the Oulu Innovation Alliance and the decision-making system for granting authorisations. Eight per cent of Finland's ERDF funding is allocated to sustainable urban development. The authorisation is allocated to the Finnish cities of universities and university centres for activities in accordance with the ecosystem agreements between the state and the cities. In Northern Ostrobothnia, the City of Oulu is involved. The estimated grant power of Oulu is EUR 1 million per year (ERDF). The regional cooperation group has decided to allocate EUR 0.195 million per year for the ESF+ allocation for 2021-2022. With regard to the granting powers for sustainable urban development, the representatives of the City of Oulu make the selection of projects in the steering group of the Oulu Innovation Alliance's funding. The legality and programme conformity of ERDF projects is checked by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, which funds the projects in the order of priority established by the City of Oulu. The tasks of the intermediary body for ESF+ projects are carried out by the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia.
Finland's largest JTF funding pot for North Ostrobothnia
Renewing and knowledgeable Finland 2021–2027 The EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme prepares the content for the new Just Transition Fund (JTF). The JTF counties must also prepare a just transition plan for the county, which will be approved by the European Commission. The plans should be finalised by the end of March. Päivi Keisanen, Development Manager at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, stressed that the target area of JTF activities is not limited to peatlands. It is essential that the benefits of the measures are directed to the area affected by the direct and indirect disadvantages of the peat sector. The measures to diversify industries mainly target sectors outside the peat sector. The funding pot for Northern Ostrobothnia is over EUR 119 million (EU and state funding), and the implementation of the JTF is expected to start in autumn 2022.
Renewing and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme's regional selection criteria for scoring applications received by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia
The Monitoring Committee for Finland's Regional and Structural Policy Programme has adopted general and specific selection criteria and procedures for selecting and highlighting specific selection criteria in relation to each other. Each application selected for funding must meet the general project selection criteria laid down in EU and national law. Each specific objective has specific selection criteria based on content, including four horizontal selection criteria: gender equality, EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, sustainable development, Baltic Sea Strategy. The MYR Secretariat proposes that the provincial cooperation group propose to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment the following regional selection criteria for projects funded by the Regional and Structural Policy Programme of the European Union:
- Priority axis 1 (specific objectives 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3): Development targets identified in the Regional Programme for Northern Ostrobothnia 2022-2025 and its implementation plan, as well as specific objective 1.1 Smart Specialisation Strategy for Northern Ostrobothnia 2021-2024
- Priority axis 2 (specific objectives 2.1, 2.4 and 2.6): Development targets identified in the Regional Programme for Northern Ostrobothnia 2022-2025 and its implementation plan, as well as the Climate Roadmap for Northern Ostrobothnia 2021-2030.
The secretariat of the regional cooperation group supports the following ESF projects to be funded under the Finnish Structural Funds Programme for Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014-2020:
CDE - Enhancing the competitiveness of enterprises through innovation know-how
Applicant: Kajaani University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Aid requested/total cost: 125 060 €/156 325 €, Northern Ostrobothnia's share of the aid 31 265 €
MaraDigi - Enhancing digital capacities in the construction sector
Applicant: Joint Municipal Authority for Education OSAO
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Aid requested/total cost: 114 054 €/142 567 €
WORK POWER
Applicant: Let's try together ry
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Aid requested/total cost: 280 591 €/350 738 €
Digital health coaching
Applicant: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Co-implementer: Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation sr
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Aid requested/total cost: 262 026 €/327 532 €
Tilke
Applicant: Haapavesi-Siikalatva joint municipal authority
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Aid requested/total cost: 234 656 €/293 319 €
JALAS - Participating in child protection work in Northern Ostrobothnia, preliminary study project
Applicant: Oulu Deaconess Institute Foundation, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Funded by: Northern Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Aid requested/total cost: 93 645 €/117 056 €
The next meeting of the MYR Secretariat will take place on 22 February 2022.
