Press releases

The next ERDF application round of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is planned to open from 1 September 2024 to 30 November 2024. Only projects under Specific Objectives 1.1 and Specific Objectives 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3 are eligible. The ELY Centre of Ostrobothnia received two applications for restoration and after-use by the end of April. They apply for a total amount of EUR 1 029 324.  The application period for the Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Centre's ESF project (TL 4) runs from 15 August to 31 October 2024. The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group supports eight projects to be funded under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group discussed 12 projects at its meeting. Of these, it supports the funding of eight projects. Four projects received a negative decision. The projects are presented in the minutes of the Provincial Cooperation Group Secretariat, which can be found here.…

The meeting of the Advisory Board of the Provinces of Eastern and Northern Finland was held on 16 May. The Advisory Board heard about Finland's climate policy, Finland's EU objectives and the EU policy objectives of the regions of Eastern and Northern Finland for the next term of office of Parliament and the Commission. The aim of Prime Minister Orpo's Government is a strong and caring Finland that can cope with the storms of the world. The energy transition and clean technologies offer opportunities for Finland to create jobs, exports, economic growth and well-being. Finland's footprint in climate policy is larger than its size. Pure Finnish nature is important to all Finns. The Government's aim is to strengthen biodiversity and combat biodiversity loss, as well as to ensure the availability of clean and affordable energy. At the meeting, Minister of the Environment and Climate Change Kai Mykkänen told about the Government's objectives. - Eastern and Northern …

The provincial government met on Monday, May 6. On advocacy issues, Provincial Director Jussi Rämet highlighted the state of play of the preparation of the Northern Programme, the constituency meeting, ministerial visits and the visit of Deputy Director General of DG Grow Maive Rute to Oulu. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has launched financial and operational planning for 2025-2027. The new strategy 2025 + does not have time to guide planning for next year in all respects. The Provincial Government discussed the strategic guidelines for 2025 to support the preparation of financial and operational planning. The strategic planning framework and strategic orientations of the previous year served as the basis. The Provincial Government held a referral discussion on the strategic guidelines for 2025 to support the further preparation of financial and operational planning. Preparation of the public proposal phase of the energy and climate phase regional plan continues Feedback on the public consultation on the energy and climate phase regional plan of Northern Ostrobothnia …

The provincial government met on Monday 15 April. In matters concerning lobbying, Provincial Director Jussi Rämet highlighted the preparation of the Northern Agenda, the Parliamentary Assembly meeting on 25 April 2024 and the objectives of the European Parliament elections in the IP area. Toni Saranpää M.A. Toni Saranpää was unanimously appointed Administrative Director of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia by the Provincial Government. According to the interview group, Saranpää's strong experience and competence in the duties of an administrative director in municipalities and joint municipal authorities, good knowledge of the municipal operating environment and municipal finances, excellent knowledge of municipal and administrative law, good knowledge of regional development legislation, excellent Finnish and English language and Swedish language proficiency at official level, as well as the personal qualities revealed in the interview, supported Saranpää's choice. Saranpää is currently the Administrative Director of the municipality of Kempele. From 2010 to 2019, he worked for the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, including as Director and Head of Administration. He has also worked in Ylivieska…

The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia has processed the JTF project applications from the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme related to employment and skills received between 1 December 2023 and 14 March 2024. It is a continuous search. A total of six JTF applications related to employment and skills were received, applying for support of approximately EUR 1.4 million. The ongoing JTF (ERDF) project application for restoration and reuse received one transnational application, in which a total of approximately EUR 398 000 was applied for. The next ERDF application round of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is planned to open from 1 September 2024 to 30 November 2024. Only projects under Specific Objectives 1.1 and 2.3 are eligible. The implementation plan for the security of supply and comprehensive security of North Ostrobothnia 2024-2025 The implementation plan for the security of supply and comprehensive security of North Ostrobothnia 2024-2025 was approved at the meeting of the Provincial Government on 11 March 2024. The plan focuses on the development of RDI activities, the development of business and industry …

The provincial government met on Monday 11 March. At the beginning of the meeting, Project Manager Sanfrid Lindblom presented a preliminary report on the development of clean and stable energy production in the Pyhäjoki economic area. The press release and preliminary report can be found on the website of the municipality of Pyhäjoki. The financial statements of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia were approved by the Provincial Government, which for its part approved the report of the Board of Directors and the financial statements of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for 2023. The result for the financial year was EUR -139,592.46. A total of EUR 184 837.56 was credited from the Development Fund, corresponding to the project co-payments, resulting in a deficit/surplus of EUR 45 245.10 for the financial year. The provincial council's deliberations will take place on 3 June. It is proposed to the Board of Governors that the surplus of EUR 45 245.10 for the financial year be entered in the surplus/deficit account of the balance sheet. For 2023, the operating costs of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia were budgeted at EUR 6 183 536 and the actual operating costs were EUR 6 274 519.33. The largest expenditure item was personnel costs 3 851 359.37…

At its meeting on 27 February 2024, the secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group discussed the application status of EU projects. Between 14 October 2023 and 16 February 2024, a total of 87 applications for ERDF funding under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme were received for processing by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. A total of approximately EUR 20.1 million was applied for. The North Ostrobothnia ELY Centre's ESF+ project application round, which ended on 31 January 2024, received 52 applications targeting North Ostrobothnia. The applications applied for support totalling approximately EUR 13 million. In addition, eight cross-regional ESF+ applications for Northern Ostrobothnia were received by the ELY Centre, in which a total of approximately EUR 2.1 million was applied for support. Environment The ERDF project application process received two cross-regional applications targeting North Ostrobothnia, in which a total of approximately EUR 0.4 million in support was applied for. The Secretariat of the Provincial Cooperation Group supports 18 projects to be funded under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme…

On Monday 12 February, Regional Director Jussi Rämet discussed the preparation and objectives of the preparation of the Northern and Eastern Programme, the planning of clean and stable energy production at Hanhikivi and the Act on the Use of Territories. The Regional Government decided to start drawing up a joint maritime spatial plan for the regions of the North Bothnian Sea, the Kvarken and Bothnian Seas and the exclusive economic zone bordering them. According to the objective of the Maritime Spatial Planning Co-ordination Group, the draft plan should be completed in 2026. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia participates in the joint coordination of maritime spatial planning cooperation of the coastal regional councils, which will continue to be led by the Regional Council of Southwest Finland. Maritime spatial planning is part of the EU’s Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP), which aims at a smart, sustainable and inclusive blue economy. The aim is to promote the sea area…

Current project presentations The Carbon-wise 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. Pasi Lounasmäki, Business Finance Review of the ELY Centre for Northern Ostrobothnia, 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 Implementation period: From 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2025 Total cost estimate: 519 699 € ERDF and state funding requested: The aim of the project is to increase the utilization rate of side streams generated in Koillismaa and at the same time improve the region's self-sufficiency. The side streams of northeastern land consist of bio-based materials, but also synthetic materials or parts thereof such as …

Open calls for applications Open calls for applications under the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme can be found on the EURA 2021 website: Application notices Results of funding applications The company's development grant applications (JTF ) was submitted between 3 March and 31 December 2023 in Northern Ostrobothnia 109 copies. In these, the planned EU and state funding amounted to a total of EUR 48,529,600. The provinces of Northern Finland (North Ostrobothnia, Lapland and Kainuu) have approved the allocation of JTF granting powers to the JTF framework of Northern Finland. The cross-border granting authority totals EUR 1,293 million. €. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia acts as an intermediate authority. Between 28 August and 31 December 2023, six project applications were received for a grant of EUR 1 352 728. The secretariat of the regional cooperation group supports the following projects to be funded Sustainable Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 from the EU's regional and structural policy programme Ruka2030 Naturally the best for business / JTF Applicant: Kuusamon…