Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages

Front page › news › Project sparring to support the call for projects "Municipalities as implementers of the green transition" in October

news

24.09.2026

Project sparring to support the call for projects "Municipalities as implementers of the green transition" in October

A summery field landscape in cooperation in cooperation with red wooden houses and farm buildings behind the field. In the background of the forest. The sky is cloudy and blue.

Are you preparing a project application for the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia's Municipalities implementing the green transition application (ERDF)? Are there any challenges in the structure of the application, in the measures considered or, for example, in considering the results of a lump-sum project that you would like guidance on? Or has it been a while since the last project was prepared?

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia organises project sparring for applicants and opportunities to present projects in October. The purpose of the project clinics is to support the preparation of the project "Municipalities as implementers of the green transition". Two types of project preparation support are available: project sparring and project presentation. Participating in a project sparring or presentation does not guarantee a positive progress in the subsequent evaluation of applications.

1. PROJECTS – Monday 5 October and Friday 16 October

Project sparring on the 5th of October focuses on projects that are still looking in their direction. This may be, for example, a reflection on the objectives and outputs of a lump sum project, the suitability of a project idea for an open call, or any other question related to project planning for which the applicant wishes to receive sparring. The project clinic works especially for applicants who have a period of time since the previous project or, for example, who are less familiar with the ERDF as a financial instrument.

Sparring works in such a way that the project operator(s) book for 30 minutes from the Regional Development Manager (the already booked times will be updated on the page). Sparring is arranged through Teams. The actors present to the Association's experts the background information and the idea of the project as it currently stands. Therefore, the project can still be very raw and guidance can be obtained, for example, for choosing a cost model or for supporting the planning of the outputs of a lump sum-type project.

However, it is a good idea to prepare for sparring by considering questions in advance and preparing a preliminary proposal to highlight the theme and content of the project. This allows you to get the most out of your limited time. The proposal does not need to be submitted in advance.

Available times:

  • Monday 5.10. 12.00-12.30
  • Monday 5.10. 12.45-13.15.
  • Monday 5 October from 13:30 to 14:00
  • Monday 5.10. at 14.15-14.45.
  • Monday 5 October from 15:00 to 15:30.
  • Friday 16.10. 12.45-13.15
  • Friday 16 October from 13:30 to 14:00

 

2. PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS – Tuesday 20 October and Monday 26 October

Project presentations aim at presenting more ready-made project ideas and getting feedback. The project presentation is suitable for projects that have already been prepared further and want feedback on the project idea as well as possible last-minute comments to support the finalisation of the project application. The appointments are booked from the Regional Development Manager (the appointments already booked will be updated on the page).

This is a pre-existing model in the union. Guidelines for project idea rapporteurs - Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia

How to prepare for the project presentation?

  • A maximum of 30 minutes is reserved for the entire event. The presentation of the project idea should be kept tight, for a maximum of 10-15 minutes. The presentation is limited to the project being planned.
  • The presentation of the project idea should reveal the following: the need for the project, the objectives, the main measures, the results, the estimated cost and the duration of the project. If the project is a group project, the role of the actors in the project should be highlighted. It is recommended to avoid detailed general presentations of the organisation or, for example, a comprehensive history review, unless these are relevant to the content of the project.
  • The presentation films are sent 1-2 days before the event to the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region (for the Development Manager) so that the experts have time to familiarise themselves in cooperation in cooperation with the project idea before the event.

Available times:

  • Tuesday 20.10. 9.15-9.45.
  • Tuesday 20.10. at 10.00-10.30
  • Tuesday 20.10. at 10.45-11.15 BOOKED
  • Monday 26 October, 1.30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
  • Monday 26.10. at 14.15-14.45
  • Monday 26 October, 15.00-15.30

Attention to Project Clinics

  • Participation in the project clinic and the presentation of the project idea are voluntary. The project can also be applied for without a project clinic or presentation, and participation in these does not guarantee the project's positive progress in the subsequent evaluation of applications.
  • As usual, advice to support project preparation can also be obtained directly from regional development experts. Consider whether direct contact in cooperation in cooperation with an expert would be sufficient to support the project preparation.
  • The presentation times of the project idea are limited. The presentation of the project idea is best suited to operators whose previous project has been a long time ago or there are clear issues to be solved in the project preparation, for which the applicant wishes to receive guidance.

Funding call for municipalities implementing the green transition

You can find the call for applications here: EURA 2021: 13th call for projects of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia ERDF 1.9.2026 – 30.10.2026
Search info material here: ERDF application info 10.9.2026 Municipalities-green transition promoters

Please contact: 

Laura Kelhä, Regional Development Manager, laura.kelha@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi or tel. +358 40 685 4016

The project clinics are organised as part of the Interreg Europe-funded Rural COOP project, in which the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia acts as a co-executor. You can read more about the project here: Rural COOP project

Keywords:

ERDF, county development and financing, rural coop

Related articles

23.10.2026
The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia participated in the European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels

Photo: Max Englund from left, Senior Adviser in European Affairs, North Sweden European Office, Hanna Honkamäkilä, Secretary General of NRPP Preparation for Eastern and Northern Finland, Dr Jorge Núñez Ferrer, Director for Cohesion Policy and EU Budget, CPMR, Tiina Rajala, Development Director, Katja Sukuvaara, Head of International Affairs and Laura Kelhä, Regional Development Manager at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. Representatives of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia participated in the European Week of Regions and Cities 2026 in Brussels on 12-14 October. Organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and the European Committee of the Regions, the event is Europe's largest annual event on regional and urban policy. This year's theme was strong regions, a strong Europe. The key message of the event was that strong regions are the basis for the success of Europe as a whole. Different European regions face different challenges, ranging from geopolitical changes and demographic trends to skills shortages and securing services. Therefore, the solutions must also take into account the different starting points and needs of the regions. During the week, representatives of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia participated in several events that looked at the regions and their future from different perspectives. The discussions highlighted the importance of multilevel governance and the need for regional involvement in the preparation of the new programming period. Experiences of effective cooperation models at national and regional level were also heard. - European cooperation is built on trust between regions and people. By participating, we make our voices heard when we meet European decision-makers, participate in debates, build relationships and promote interests. During the Week of Regions and Cities, we find and meet partners, learn from each other’s solutions and build joint projects that bring knowledge, investment and jobs to the regions. At the same time, we can explain how the strengths of the northern regions strengthen the competitiveness, security of supply and safety of Europe as a whole," says Development Director Tiina Rajala. In addition to the event programme itself, the Baltic Sea Region Directors Network met at the EU office in Eastern and Northern Finland on Wednesday 13 October 2026. The network brings together regional development leaders from Finland, Sweden, Poland, Estonia and Germany. The topic of discussion was smart specialisation and interregional cooperation to promote it. European networks offer North Ostrobothnia the opportunity to both highlight the region's perspectives and learn from the experiences of other regions. Rachel Lancry, Head of Unit of the European Committee of the Regions' Committee on Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget (COTER), also attended the meeting. Rachel...

12.10.2026
The eighth application period for sustainable urban development has closed on 9 October 2026

The eighth application period for sustainable urban development of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for the 2021-2027 programming period closed on 9 October 2026. During the application period, 12 new applications were received by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The applications applied for funding from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia totalling approximately 1,685 M€. Decisions on applications for positive follow-up will be delivered in November 2026. Project selections are made by the City of Oulu's evaluation team. The next application period for sustainable urban development projects will take place in spring 2027. Approximately EUR 1,500,000 in funding will be applied for at the time

12.10.2026
The food future of the region was envisioned at the Nordic Food Economy Strategy and Development Days

The Northern Food Economy Strategy and Development Days gathered in Oulu from 6 to 7 October 2026 a wide range of actors in food economy, research, education and development to discuss the future of the sector and common development priorities. The aim of the event was to bring together actors in the field to build a shared vision of the future of the food economy in Northern Ostrobothnia and more broadly in Northern Finland. The first day of the workshop focused on food strategy work in Northern Ostrobothnia. The day started with two introductory speeches: Research Director Tuomas Kuhmonen from the University of Turku focused his speech on the food system of the future, highlighting the views of young people in particular. After Kuhmonen, Elina Ovaskainen, Senior Specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, spoke out about the national food strategy (2040) and gave tips to support the provincial work. After the introductory speeches, Regional Development Manager Laura Kelhä from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia presented the preliminary results of the operator interviews conducted in Northern Ostrobothnia. Based on these presentations, the workshop work focused on identifying changes in the operating environment, the region's strengths and future development priorities. Participants from different parts of the food system were present on both days. The discussion was lively, constructive and rewarding. During the workshop discussions, a wide range of views emerged on issues such as competence, competitiveness, security of supply, innovations, the future of primary production, processing and strengthening cooperation. Participants provided valuable insight to support strategy work. I feel that the days were very successful. We have had excellent cooperation with women of the earth and household, and by joining forces we can achieve more. It has been gratifying to see how actively different actors have participated in the strategy work. This reinforces the idea that the topic is important and there is a need for a strategy," says Laura Kelhä, Regional Development Manager. On the second day, the focus was on network work and the construction of practical development measures. The programme of the day focused on cooperation in the northern food and natural products sector, heard about the experiences of the Agri-Food cluster in North Savo and discussed the organisation of the development network and future objectives in relation to regional, national and European food strategies. The strategy work will now continue with the analysis of extensive data and the work of the North Ostrobothnia Food Economics Working Group. During the autumn, the draft strategy will be refined by means of a broader operator survey, after which the draft to be prepared will be placed on a round of comments and opinions. Strategy work and its different stages are described in the various channels of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia.

09.10.2026
Rural COOP webinar highlights the key role of rural areas in the green transition

In english below. How can the green economy support the sustainable and holistic development of rural areas? This issue was addressed in the Green Economy as a Driver of Integrated Territorial Development webinar of the Rural COOP project, organised by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia as part of the Interreg Europe Rural COOP project. The webinar brought together participants from across Europe, including Finland, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Poland, Italy, France, Switzerland, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina. José Enrique Garcilazo, keynote speaker at the OECD, said that rural areas are often viewed in terms of population decline and ageing. However, many rural areas play an important role in economic growth and renewable energy production, as well as valuable natural resources. Successful green transition solutions must take into account the diversity of rural areas and build on their own strengths and circumstances. Strengthening local value chains is important to create more value locally from rural natural resources and renewable energy. The perspective of Northern Ostrobothnia was presented by Ritva Isomäki of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. He described how the goals of the green economy are promoted in the region through regional development, regional planning, climate work, development funding and cooperation. Strategic objectives become relevant when they lead to concrete actions and involve local actors in their design. Two practical examples from Northern Ostrobothnia were also presented in the webinar. The BIOTUTO project presented by Peetu Virkkala from the University of Oulu examined the utilisation of agricultural side streams in biogas production and rural business development. The project brought together farmers, municipalities, researchers and companies to identify opportunities and strengthen cooperation related to the regional biogas value chain. The UTAH2 project, presented by Tuure Haarjärvi, University of Oulu School of Economics, studied the local production and use of hydrogen in Utajärvi. The project combined technological development, business opportunities, infrastructure and the involvement of local people. A key lesson of the project was that major changes do not start big: small projects and pilots can build the skills and collaboration needed for larger investments in the green transition. The common message from the speakers was clear: a successful green transition requires local participation, cooperation and trust. Rural areas should not only be seen as investment sites for green investments, but as active partners in implementing the transition. The solutions must be based on the regions' own strengths and needs and create tangible benefits for local businesses and communities. Knowledge and research help identify regional opportunities and...

Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture

EastNorth Finland

Europe Direct Northern Ostrobothnia

Regional Assembly of Oulu Region | Regional Assembly of Oulu region
Coat of arms of Northern Ostrobothnia