Press releases

The provincial government met on Monday 8 May in Oulu. In advocacy matters, Provincial Director Markus Erkkilä spoke about the state of play of influencing the Government Programme. The landscape survey of the TUULI project has been completed The TUULI project studies new areas suitable for wind power, which will be indicated in the regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia. The landscape survey now completed is the last preparatory study of the TUULI project. The combined effects caused by several wind power projects have also been taken into account in the assessment of landscape impacts at a distance of 40 km beyond the borders of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The report takes into account the effects on landscape areas and built cultural environments of regional and national value, nature and cultural tourism areas of regional significance, as well as recreational areas and routes. The disturbances visible in the landscape include industrial areas of regional significance, regional and national electricity lines, as well as peat production areas and soil extraction areas. The landscape report and its appendices can be found here. Sea basin plan update is being rushed Sea basin plan…

Open calls for applications under the Renewing and Skilled Finland 2021 – 2027 programme can be found on the EURA 2021 website: The results of the funding applications of the Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Centre The results of the ESF+ call for applications of the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme The Northern Finland ESF+ call for applications of the Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Centre for Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme ended on 23 March 2023. The number of ESF+ applications for Northern Ostrobothnia was 79 (47 projects). The ESF+ applications applied for a total of approximately EUR 20.7 million. In addition, 22 cross-regional ESF+ applications (projects 10) were received for a total of approximately EUR 6.5 million. The results of the ESF+ call for applications for the Sustainable Urban Development Ecosystem Agreement of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Northern Ostrobothnia (ELY Centre) for Sustainable Urban Development in Oulu ended on 20 March 2023.…

The provincial government met on Tuesday 11 April in Oulu. In matters related to lobbying, Provincial Director Markus Erkkilä spoke about influencing the Government Programme and parliamentary cooperation. In addition, the TE Services 2024 reform sparked a lot of discussion. The responsibility for organising employment services will be transferred to municipalities at the beginning of 2025. The agreement on the employment areas to be formed must be submitted to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment by the end of October 2023. With the EMMI project, the first work package of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia's EMMI – Energy Transition and Assessment of the Climate Impact of Land Use project provides background material for the ongoing Regional Energy and Climate Action Plan for North Ostrobothnia. The result is a general thematic map of hydrogen potential at the level of the provincial review, a more detailed target description of seven different potential areas, and a location control model, HydrogenGIS. In addition, the study examines the boundary conditions for the location of solar energy in land use planning, as well as aspects related to bioenergy. The result is a holistic review of green…

Current project presentations Sustainable and integrated electrical energy storage with additive manufacturing methods (SIESAM), business development grants applied for by the University of Oulu in Northern Ostrobothnia and search results The regional cooperation group took note of the business development grants applied for in Northern Ostrobothnia from 14 March to 31 December 2022. Development grants totalling EUR 29.2 million were applied for in Northern Ostrobothnia, Lapland and Kainuu. The number of applications received was 101. The regional cooperation group also took note of the results of the applications for business development grants from 1 January to 28 February 2023. Since the beginning of the year, the North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment has received 35 applications with a total planned funding of EUR 4.5 million. The regional cooperation group supports three projects for funding Renewable and skilled Finland 2021-2027 under the EU regional and structural policy programme Sustainable and integrated electrical energy storage with additive manufacturing methods (SIESAM) - Development project / ERDF Responsible authority: Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia Applicant:…

The results of the funding applications in the second round of the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme, which ended on 28 March 2023, were received by 35 applications from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. They applied for support for 23 different projects for a total amount of approximately EUR 11.2 million. The application period for national AKKE funding ended on 28 March 2023. Fifteen applications for funding were received. The total amount of support for the projects was EUR 1 048 026. The second ERDF call for applications for Sustainable Urban Development of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia ended on 9 December 2022. Six project applications were received for a total amount of EUR 434 089. The secretariat of the provincial cooperation group took note of the results of the funding applications. The application period for the JTF under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme has been postponed. The JTF call is currently expected to open on 21 April 2023. Due to the delay, the first processing date of the applications will be postponed and it will be 12 May 2023. the Provincial Cooperation Group …

The provincial government met on Tuesday 14 March in Oulu. On lobbying issues, Provincial Director Markus Erkkilä presented the state of play of air traffic. The Regional Board approved the financial statements and the report of the Board of Directors of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The result for the financial year 2022 is a surplus of EUR 84 342.90. The financial statements and the report of the Board of Directors proceed from the meeting of the Provincial Government to the Provincial Council in May for consideration. Even though the operating environment has undergone a revolution, the goals of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia can be well suited for change. Strengthening the Western connections in advocacy and international cooperation, in regional planning through wind power, which has increased energy self-sufficiency, and in supporting the green transition with cohesion policy instruments respond well to the challenges brought about by the geopolitical change, emphasised Pauli Harju, who will be on leave at the end of March, in a review by the Provincial Director. Project Manager Mirko Laakkonen presented Iijoki's project portfolio. Restoration of the natural cycle of migratory fish in Iijoki…

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia held an extraordinary meeting in Hotel Lasaret, Oulu, on Monday, 13 March 2023. The Regional Council elected Jussi Rämet, Master of Philosophy, to the post of Regional Director. The decision was voted on by Provincial Councillor Juha Hänninen. In the closed ballot, Jussi Rämet received 57 votes and Tiina Rajala 13 votes. Rämet has been the Mayor of Muhos since 2021. Prior to that, since 2012, he was the planning director of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. Between 2016 and 2017, he was deputy to the Regional Director of Northern Ostrobothnia, while Pauli Harju was the Director of Change for the Regional Reform at the Ministry of Finance. Rämet worked as a change manager in the regional government and health and social services reform in Central Ostrobothnia from 2018 to 2019. The position of Regional Director became vacant following the resignation of Regional Director Pauli Harju on 1 April 2023. By the deadline, a total of eleven applications were received for the post of Provincial Director. Influencing the objectives of the Northern Programme and the Government Programme of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia Markus Erkkilä…

Current project presentations Digikampus as part of vocational education, OSAO Oulu Region Diagnostic Development and Manufacturing Hub (DiHub), VTT Arts seedlings and cultural tutors, City of Oulu HOP well-being, inclusion and coping, Distribution of the granting powers of Diaconia University of Applied Sciences Ltd. in 2023 The Government decided on 16 February 2023 on the distribution of the 2023 funds of the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme to the intermediate bodies. The proposal for the distribution of powers to the ELY Centres and Regional Councils is, in substance, in line with the proposals for regional funding plans. In view of the exceptionally large number of granting powers and in order to ensure efficient project financing and speed of disbursements, only 60% of the regional ERDF resources are proposed for distribution to the intermediate bodies at this stage. Regional JTF funds are also proposed to be distributed to the IBs at this stage for 60% of the mandate. Rest of …

The Provincial Government convened on Monday 27 February to make a proposal to the Provincial Council on the person to be elected to the position of Provincial Director. The provincial council meeting will be held on Monday 13 March. As of 1 April 2023, the position of regional director has become vacant following the resignation of the current regional director. Eleven applications were submitted for the vacant post of Provincial Director. The provincial government invited six applicants to the interview, of which three candidates progressed to the personal assessment: M.Sc. (Econ.), LL.M. Ann-Mari Kemell, M.Sc. (Econ.) Tiina Rajala and M.Sc. (Econ.) Jussi Rämet. The proposal of the President of the Provincial Government at the meeting of the Provincial Government on 27 February was that the Provincial Council elects Jussi Rämet, M.A., to the position of Provincial Director. At the meeting, a supported amendment proposal was made that the provincial government does not propose the person to be elected to the provincial council; instead, the election of the provincial president will take place in an official election at the provincial council meeting on 13 March 2023. After a clear vote (11-2), the Provincial Government decided to propose Jussi Rämet to the position of Provincial Director.…

The Government decided on 16 February 2023 on the allocation of funds for the 2023 programme of the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 EU Regional and Structural Policy to the intermediate bodies. The proposal for the distribution of powers to the ELY Centres and Regional Councils is, in substance, in line with the proposals for regional funding plans. In view of the exceptionally large number of granting powers and in order to ensure efficient project financing and speed of disbursements, only 60% of the regional ERDF resources are proposed for distribution to the intermediate bodies at this stage. Regional JTF funds are also proposed to be distributed to the IBs at this stage for 60% of the mandate. The remainder of the mandate is proposed for distribution by decisions of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on the basis of the progress of project funding. As a rule, despite the phasing, each region and authority would receive its allocation according to the original financing plan, but with sufficient funding rotational speed…