Press releases

The Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia met in Oulu on Monday 13 April and received an update on the preparation of the EU programme period 2028-2034, the monitoring of the transport system plan, the state of preparation of the main railway vision and the national traffic system plan, as well as the international affairs of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. Capturing and transhipping live Atlantic salmon and trout in Iijoki in 2026 The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has tendered out the Capturing and transhipping live Atlantic salmon and trout in Iijoki in 2026 as part of the Lohi Iijoki 2 project. The task is to procure live, fit and fertile Atlantic salmon and trout from the lower part of the Iijoki River and the terminal area, as well as the transshipment of fish to the Iijoki River and its tributaries during May-October 2026. Decided to implement the measure by Korpilaavu Oy. Proposals to become members of the expert bank of the Finnish Arts and Culture Agency The Finnish Arts and Culture Agency has requested candidates for the expert bank, which will replace the current state …

The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group was informed about the updating of the implementation plan for security of supply and comprehensive security. The plan will be updated with the most significant changes in the operating environment and industries during the past two years. The Centre for Vitality in Northern Finland opens a temporary call for applications for ERDF funding - Runway I for Growth for SMEs in Northern Ostrobothnia. The application period is open 30.3-8.5.2026 and a total of EUR 0.4 million can be applied for. Safe Finland searches (TL 8 and 9) can be opened in April. Four applications were received for the Centre's continuous JTF application period 2.2. - 11.3.2026. They applied for EUR 801 287. The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group supported eight projects to be funded under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme…

The Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia met on Monday 16 March to discuss, among other things, the financial statements and internal control reports. The Provincial Government also appointed the persons to the Advisory Board for Organisations, the Cooperation Group for Education and Research and the Advisory Board for Climate Work. The Provincial Government approved the financial statements and the report of the Board of Directors for its part for the financial year 2025 and decided to refer them to the Audit Board and the Provincial Council after the audit. The financial statements of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2025 show a surplus of EUR 41 079.80. In December 2025, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia approved the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia's strategy for 2025-2029. Working groups in accordance with the strategy, such as the Advisory Board for Climate Work, the Cooperation Group for Education and Research and the Advisory Board for Organisations, were appointed by the Provincial Government for the current council term. … was appointed as the representative of the network of small municipalities in the Advisory Board for Climate Work

The Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia met on Monday 23 February in Oulu. The update of the maritime spatial plan is progressing The update of the maritime spatial plan was launched in all eight coastal regional federations in early 2024. Changes in the marine operating environment, such as the renewal of EU regulations, ambitious national production targets set for marine energy production, and the emphasis on the importance of shipping and marine food production for security of supply, are the reasons behind the start of the update work. The Regional Council of Southwest Finland is responsible for the joint coordination of maritime spatial planning. During the spring of 2026, a draft plan will be prepared, which will be submitted to the provincial governments of the coast for consideration and consultation. Based on the feedback, a maritime spatial plan will be drawn up, which will be approved by the provincial councils in 2027. The Provincial Government abolished the post of Head of Human Resources and amended the duty of the Head of Administration Toni Saranpää to include the duties of the Head of Administration in the duties of the Head of Human Resources. Open positions in the assessment of the job description and the need for a vacancy certificate…

The North Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group met for the first time in 2026. On Thursday 12 February 2026, the agenda included an overview of the recently adopted preparation process and priorities for the provincial programme for Northern Ostrobothnia (2026-2029), a presentation on Leader in Northern Ostrobothnia, and a progress report on business subsidies in Northern Ostrobothnia in 2025. In addition, the regional cooperation group discussed two ESF+ project applications at its meeting. A positive opinion for two projects The Provincial Cooperation Group supported two projects at its meeting. The main objective of Diakonia University of Applied Sciences Ltd, Auta Lasta ry and Cultural Cooperative ILME's Second Story project is to promote the professional competence of child protection workers. This is achieved by using the second story method. In addition, the project organises various art workshops that strengthen children's and young people's self-expression. The project is aimed especially at professionals working in foster care in child welfare and at employees of mental health services in the wellbeing services area. The total cost of the project is 639…

The Centre for Vitality in Northern Finland will open a continuous call for applications for business subsidies on 2 June 2026. Enterprise development grants can be applied for projects supporting priority axis 1: Innovative Finland with specific objectives 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 and priority axis 2: Carbon-neutral Finland with specific objectives 2.1., 2.2. and 2.3. Approximately EUR 15 million of ERDF funding can be allocated. In addition, the Secretariat received for information the 2025 annual review of the companies and operating environment development grants of the Northern Ostrobothnia Vitality Centre. The Provincial Cooperation Group Secretariat did not support projects to be funded under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme The Provincial Cooperation Group Secretariat discussed only one project at its meeting and received a negative opinion. The project is presented in the minutes of the Provincial Cooperation Group Secretariat. Next meeting Next meeting of the secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group…

The Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia met for its first meeting of the spring season on 19 January in Oulu. At the beginning of the meeting, Director General Jaana Korhonen presented the activities of the Northern Finland Vitality Centre. Response to the Board of Governors' Initiative: In Northern Ostrobothnia, the living conditions of migratory fish have been improved. The ongoing process of changing fishing obligations in Iijoki largely determines the direction and responsibilities of the measures to be taken in Iijoki. Organisations other than the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia are primarily responsible for the measures related to the fishing routes of the Oulujoki River. Bypassing and dismantling smaller power plants is always done on a case-by-case basis and requires area-based activity. In practice, increasing the role of the Regional Council would require an increase in project funding, matching municipal funding and human resources. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia contributes to the implementation of the EU Restoration Regulation and the Water Framework Directive. However, practical measures are largely implemented by other actors and…

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia will open the next JTF call in early 2026 and the ERDF call in late spring 2026 (ending after the summer holidays). The exact dates will be specified later. In Northern Ostrobothnia, the fifth call for applications for research and development projects for SMEs and the use of new technology has applied for grants for seven projects for a total of EUR 747 547. A total of EUR 29 104 372 has been applied for business development grants from JTF funding in 28 applications and a total of EUR 37 81 996 from ERDF funding in 138 applications. The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group supported eight projects to be funded under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group discussed ten projects at its meeting, eight of which received a favourable opinion. The projects are presented in the minutes of the Provincial Cooperation Group Secretariat. Next meeting Provincial…

The Regional Government of Northern Ostrobothnia convened its last meeting of the autumn season on 16 December in Oulu. The Provincial Government approved the report on internal control and risk management and the equality and non-discrimination plan of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The report on internal control and risk management for 2025 The report on internal control for 2025 was approved. Internal auditing is carried out in accordance with the annual audit plan approved by the Regional Director. Each year, the provincial government is notified of the previous year's internal audit report on the audits carried out, the audit findings and recommendations for the development of operations. The findings and actions taken in the areas of responsibility's internal control and risk management have been discussed in the Executive Board meetings on a third-year basis. No significant internal control weaknesses have been identified in the past period.  Contract management has been developed by starting to review existing contracts and by updating contract monitoring and metadata. In 2025 there will be …

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia met on 8 December 2025 for its last meeting of the autumn season in Oulunsalo. The Regional Council approved the provincial programme for Northern Ostrobothnia for 2026-2029, the strategy of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2025-2029 and the budget for 2026. New provincial programme: Northern Ostrobothnia – our province! The objectives of the provincial programme for Northern Ostrobothnia 2026-2029 answer the question of what results and impacts the region wants to achieve during the programming period. The three main strategic themes for the coming years are 1. Sustainable competitiveness, regenerative investment and innovation; 2. Welfare and regional resilies in a changing world and 3. High quality and attractive environment. The new priorities of the regional programme commit the actors to take responsibility for the results and their effectiveness. The current EU Structural Funds period ends with the provincial programme’s mandate 2026-2029. During the regional programme period, capacity will be created to cope with the challenges of the future and Northern Ostrobothnia will be able to…