08.02.2024
Provincial Cooperation Group's press release
Current project presentations
- The Carbon Smart Circular Economy project was presented by Project Manager Leena Niemi from Naturpolis Oy.
- The Solar Hydrogen unit as part of an extensive energy production, consumption and storage system group project was presented by researcher Samuli Urpelainen from the University of Oulu.
North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment
Pasi Lounasmäki presented the business subsidies granted in 2022-2023 in Northern Ostrobothnia.
The regional cooperation group supports the following projects to be funded from the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027
Carbon-wise circular economy / JTF
Applicant: Northeast Finland Development Company Naturpolis Oy
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2025
Total cost estimate: €519 699
ERDF and State funding requested: € 415 759
The aim of the project is to increase the utilisation rate of side streams generated in Koillismaa and at the same time improve the region's self-sufficiency. Koillismaa's side streams consist of bio-based materials, but also synthetic materials or their components, such as recycled plastic, glass and construction waste. The goal is that after the project, the development needs related to the bioeconomy and circular economy at the regional and regional level, new bioeconomy and circular economy investments in Northern Finland, smart specialisation and structural change can be better met. New circular economy solutions will reduce the region's carbon emissions and make the use of renewable energy more efficient.
VAU!START+/JTF
Applicant: Nivala-Haapajärvi region NIHAK ry
Sub-applicants: Joint Municipal Authority for River Valley Education, City of Ylivieska, City of Kalajoki, Joint Municipal Authority for Haapavesi-Siikalatva Region
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2025
Total cost estimate: €1 234 317
ERDF and State funding requested: € 987 454
The common goal of the business service organisations in the southern part of Northern Ostrobothnia is to launch incubator and accelerator services throughout the operating area. The project utilises close cooperation with the region's upper secondary education organisations so that start-up entrepreneurs who have started with entirely new innovations and business ideas receive targeted support to advance them all the way to the international market.
Thermal battery – industrial side streams as heat storage material for electricity / JTF group project
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Execution period: 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2026
Total cost estimate: 449 990 €
ERDF and State funding requested: 359 990 €
The project will develop a high-efficiency, cost-effective, easily replicable storage technology based on the use of low-cost industrial by-product materials for the storage of sustainable electricity that can be scaled from an individual application to a district heating network.
Agile technologies for the development of innovative bio-applications – investment strand / ERDF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2025
Total cost estimate:1 819 083 €
ERDF and State funding requested: €1 273 358
The project promotes research and product development in the region by providing state-of-the-art research platforms and expertise in live cell analytics. The measures of the investment project include the acquisition of equipment suitable for the analysis of living cells for the translational cell biology core service unit of the University of Oulu, as well as the installation, testing, maintenance and upgrade of the equipment. Devices for the analysis of living cells provide versatile information on the properties of human and animal cells, bacteria and microparticles. Equipment procurement includes the refurbishment of high-performance analysis equipment for living cells.
JTF - Hydrogen society special steels and advanced steel applications / JTF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Implementation period:1.9.2023-31.12.2025
Total cost estimate: € 78 681
ERDF and State funding requested: € 542 944
The transition towards a hydrogen society is challenging due to the lack of hydrogen-resistant materials, the lack of development of design tools and the lack of up-to-date standardisation. The project responds to this need and thus enables the development of different applications for future needs. The project will provide companies with the necessary information on the topic in order to develop new business in the area.
Hydrogen reduction of domestic ores / JTF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 30.6.2026
Total cost estimate: € 578 581
ERDF and State funding requested: € 462 864
The project combines vanadium and hydrogen. The project will research, test and develop a further processing process based on sustainable electricity and green hydrogen for iron ores with varying titanium content. The aim is to develop an environmentally sustainable production method that enables an economically viable mining and downstream business. The project will create new, universal expertise in the further processing of vanadium iron ores with varying titanium content based on sustainable energy use. The new know-how enables the processing of low-carbon iron and vanadium from various vanadium-containing iron ores. The project will test concentrates with both high and low titanium content. The project creates conditions for the extraction and enrichment of ores with varying titanium and vanadium content, as well as for the further processing of ore concentrates.
Solar Hydrogen Unit as part of a large-scale energy production, consumption and storage system / JTF Group Project
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicant: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Execution period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2025
Total cost estimate: € 731 797
ERDF and State funding requested: € 585 435
The aim is to study and develop the production, storage and use of hydrogen in combined heat and power (CHP) production by integrating the hydrogen system components into a smart electricity and heat network, the operation of which can be adapted, adjusted and optimised in accordance with the changing needs of the operating environment. This will improve the flexibility and security of supply of new energy systems. The aim is the implementation, modelling and testing of hydrogen production, use and storage units, as well as the creation of digital twins of units.
BIOTUTO - Collaboration to boost recycled nutrients and local bioenergy production / JTF
Applicant: University of Oulu
Sub-applicants: Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd, Nivala-Haapajärvi Region NIHAK ry, Jokilaaksot Joint Municipal Authority for Education
Execution period: 1 February 2024 – 31 March 2026
Total cost estimate: 994 876 €
ERDF and State funding requested: 796 194 €
The aim is to promote new business opportunities for the processing, sourcing and use of biomass in rural areas. The project examines the value chains from the field to the end users of bioenergy processed through bioterminals, the roles and earnings logic of different actors, and factors affecting the profitability of operations. The case area of the project is the Nivala-Haapajärvi region, where several biogas plants are planned.
UUPO project, Renewable energy training paths / JTF
Applicant: Centria University of Applied Sciences Ltd
Execution period: 2.1.2024 – 31.12.2026
Co-implementers: University of Oulu, River Valley Joint Municipal Authority for Education
Total cost: 934 173 €
Aid requested: 747 267 €
The project plans and pilots a flexible renewable energy training path for North Ostrobothnia, with the themes of producing energy using biogas, solar energy and wind power, as well as utilizing hydrogen storage and acoustics in energy storage. In addition, the training path includes pilots of additional training for entrepreneurs, providing information on new entrepreneurial opportunities to replace the peat sector.
The regional cooperation group did not support the following project to be funded from the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027:
- PLC-Automation Oy premises, applicant PLC-Automation Oy.
- Strength for the green transition – strength for change, applicant Oulu University of Applied Sciences Ltd, co-implementer University of Turku.
The next meeting will be held on 14 March 2024.
