Press releases

Eleven applicants sought the post of Regional Director of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. At its meeting on 16 January 2023, the Provincial Government decided to invite the following persons to the interview: Kimmo Hinno, Mayor, City of Haapavesi Jyrki Kaiponen, Regional Director, Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia Ann-Mari Kemell, State Secretary, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment Tiina Rajala, Development Director, Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia Jussi Rämet, Mayor, Municipality of Muhos Interviews will be held on 24 January 2023 and possible personal assessments after that. According to the agreed schedule, the provincial council will elect the provincial director on Monday, 13 March 2023. The current Regional Director of Northern Ostrobothnia, Pauli Harju, has resigned as of 31 March 2023. As of 1 February 2023, Markus Erkkilä, Director of Planning, will act as the Vs. Provincial Director. For further information on the position of Regional Director, please contact Mari-Leena Talvitie, President of the Regional Council, tel. +358 44 5273 288 and Jussi Ylitalo, President of the Regional Government, tel. +358 45 1606 466.

The Regional Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has awarded the Northern Ostrobothnia Prize to Ruka Nordic. The North Ostrobothnia Prize is awarded for life's work for the benefit of North Ostrobothnia or for work that has made North Ostrobothnia known and strengthened its identity. Ruka Nordic is the world cup competition for ski jumping, combined and cross-country skiing in Ruka, Kuusamo. Kuusamon Erä-Veikot Ry is responsible for organizing Ruka Nordic and for the overall responsibility of the event. In 2022, the competition was held for the 21st time. The event, which takes place on the last weekend of November, is attended annually by up to 400 athletes from around 30 different countries. The event attracts around 20,000 viewers, in addition to which it has an international TV coverage of around 90 to 110 million live viewers. The number of spectator contacts during the weekend is approximately 1.1 billion. This is a very valuable image for Kuusamo and Finland as a whole. Event…

The last meeting of the year of the North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group was held on Thursday 22 December 2022 in Oulu. The following projects were presented at the meeting of the Cooperation Group: Of the flowers: Presentation of the project on cultural well-being and inclusion in suburbs and online. The project will be presented by Sami Hänninen, Project Manager at the Culture Power Station Association, and Vesa Ilola Raahe Port's Chairperson, Improving the Transport Routes for Wind Power Transport, and the ERDF project will be presented by Timo Mäkikyrö, Director of Transport and Infrastructure, ELY Centre for Northern Ostrobothnia. Application notices and deadlines for the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 Programme Fixed-term application period for the Business Development Grant 9 January - 28 February 2023, ERDF Continuous application period for the Business Environment Development Grant and Business-Networked Research Projects at jointly agreed processing dates, JTF. As soon as possible in early 2023. Continuous application for business development grants, JTF. As soon as it is possible for the year…

The Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia held its last meeting of the year in Oulu on Tuesday, 20 December. Markus Erkkilä vs. Provincial Director at the beginning of February Markus Erkkilä, Director of Planning at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, was appointed as the Provincial Director's deputy for the period from 1 February to 31 March 2023, as well as for the vacant position of Provincial Director from 1 April 2023 until the new provincial Director elected to the position takes up the position. Regional Director Pauli Harju's last day of service is 31 March 2023, but Harju will be on annual leave and other leave as of 1 February 2023. About 40 per cent of Finland's wind power production is accounted for by North Ostrobothnia's report on the development of wind power expertise in Northern Ostrobothnia. Antti Majava Käännepiste from R&D Ltd presented a report on the development of wind power expertise in Northern Ostrobothnia. The results will be published at the wind power seminar on 27 January 2023. The Northern Ostrobothnia Smart Specialisation Strategy has been updated The Provincial Government approved the update of the Smart Specialisation Strategy.…

According to a study published by the Lapland Chamber of Commerce in the Growth through Cooperation project, the investment potential in the Barents region of Northern Finland, Northern Sweden and Northern Norway reaches EUR 160 billion. The report took into account the investments in implementation, confirmed and planned, mainly until 2030. The results confirm the picture of the north as a driver of industrial livelihoods, and the implementation of climate targets is reflected in investments in an unprecedented way. Liisa Ansala, CEO of the Lapland Chamber of Commerce, presented the report to the Youth Council. The activities of the Barents Regional Youth Council (BRYC) as the representative of Northern Ostrobothnia Kosma Rönkä from Oulu and Hanna Honkamäkilä, Head of International Affairs of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia presented the activities of the Barents Regional Youth Council. BRYC (Barents Regional Youth Council) has been operating since 2004. Involved in international cooperation are young people who live in Barents…

Renewable and competent call notices and application periods for the Finland 2021-2027 programme Fixed-term call for applications for the Business Development Grant (ERDF) from 9 January to 28 February 2023 Continuous call for applications for the Business Environment Development Grant and Business-Networked Research Projects (JTF) on jointly agreed processing dates. As soon as possible in early 2023. Continuous application process for the Business Development Grant (JTF). As soon as possible in early 2023. The open calls for applications can be found on the EURA 2021 website: The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) have prepared a continuous application period for the JTF for 2023, with application dates of 31 March, 31 August and 30 November. The days are the same for the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, the ELY's ERDF and ESF-type development projects, as well as the ELY's operating environment support projects (TYT) and business networked research projects. There is a continuous search for business subsidies. Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia…

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia held a meeting in Oulu, ODL Wegelius Hall on Monday 12 December 2022. The regional council granted Pauli Harju resignation from the position of regional director. The last day of office in Harju is 31 March 2023. The budget was approved, the regional council approved the economic and operational plan of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2023-2025 and the budget for 2023. It was decided to increase municipal contributions by 4%. In the 2023 budget of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia, the operating revenue amounts to EUR 6 192 236. Of this, the member municipalities' contribution is EUR 3 628 976. The result for the financial year, after depreciation in the budget year, is EUR 0. The surplus/deficit for the financial year is EUR 0. The Regional Council approved amendments to the Administrative Regulation of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The Northern Ostrobothnia Youth Council was abolished by deleting the provisions concerning the Youth Council and its rules of procedure. In addition, the administrative rule…

The meeting of the North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group was held on Monday 24 November in Oulu. A presentation of the project was heard at the meeting. Youth Friends Association, Work Force, Phoenix ry and Next Sterp, KRIS-Oulu ry told about the Encounter project. The regional cooperation group heard about the ability of Northern Ostrobothnia to change, i.e. resilience. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has produced a study on the resilience of municipalities in the region in terms of different risks. The study covers economic and technological risks, as well as risks related to price volatility, changes in demand, policy and regulation, geopolitics and the environment. The results of the study were presented by Jukka Teräs Norrum Oy.The Secretariat of the Regional Cooperation Group supports the following projects to be funded under the EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027: Encounter project / ESF+ Applicant: Friends of Young People Funder: North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment Priority axis: 4…

At the meeting of the Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group, the state of play of the JTF preparation was heard. Finland's JTF proposal was sent to the European Commission on 4 November 2022 and the Commission has received the proposal. DG REGIO has announced that it will launch an internal Commission accreditation consultation on 7-8 November. In the best case, Finland's JTF proposal can be approved before Christmas. The meeting also heard a summary of the report prepared by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia on the implementation and results of the Structural Funds Programme for Sustainable Growth and Work 2014-2020, based on the indicators of the projects funded by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and interviews with project promoters. The North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment presented the corporate finance review for the 2014-2020 programme period for North Ostrobothnia. In addition, the meeting reviewed the call notices and application periods of the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme and the topical issues of the EAFRD. Funding applications received by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia are valid continuously…

The meeting of the Provincial Government on Monday 14 November discussed, among other things, the recruitment process for the position of Provincial Director and the financial and operational plan 2023-2025. The Provincial Government took note of the resignation of Provincial Director Pauli Harju from the position of Provincial Director and proposes to the Provincial Council that it grant Pauli Harju resignation from the position of Provincial Director so that his last day of office is 31 March 2023. Harju has led the Regional Council since 2008. In matters concerning lobbying, the Regional Director raised the municipalities' position on the lease agreements to be transferred to the wellbeing services county and on the transfer of funding for the Kolartic and Karelia programmes. The recruitment process for the post of Provincial Director starts with the proclamation of the post of Provincial Director for the period from 7 December 2022 to 13 January 2023. A study group was selected for the recruitment process of the Provincial Director: Chairman of the Provincial Government Jussi Ylitalo, Deputy Chairman of the Regional Council of Liisa Ojantakanen (Centre) Mari-Leena Talvitie, Juha Hänninen (cod.) 1st vice-chair of the provincial council Jouni Jussinniemi, in reserve…