news

Shifting the taxation of information points from the lower electricity tax category II to the general category I will increase government revenues in the short term, but may at the same time weaken Finland's competitiveness. This takes place in an business environment where the global data economy is actively looking for new locations. information points can be used to build future infrastructure that creates jobs, speeds up RDI activities and strengthens energy and security of supply. For example, the The Regional Assembly of Finnish Technology Industries has stated: "If information points are not built in Finland, they will rise elsewhere and their future extensions will also go elsewhere". At the same time, the potential for developing ecosystems in cooperation with the highest added value for the national economy would be lost. From an environmental and energy point of view, Finland is one of the most attractive and responsible investment destinations for information points in the world. Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu have a significant competitive advantage in the location of information points in the region: cool climate and…

  The Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Cooperation Group (MYR) met for the first time on 23 October in cooperation with a new composition. MYR will be chaired by Lyly Rajala for the next term of office. Rajala, who had held various positions in the Regional Assembly for more than 20 years, stated at the beginning of the meeting that he had ended up in cooperation with something new. "I have held many positions, as in the the Board of the Regional Assembly, for example. However, the regional cooperation group is a foreign institution to me, so here I have had to learn a lot of new things in the day care provided by officials." The financial review interested the regional cooperation group's task is to prepare and coordinate plans, programmes and agreements concerning regional development. As a result, the cooperation group was the first to discuss the region and decide on the preparation of a regional financing plan for 2026. Ongoing EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme, Renewing and Skilled…

The current regional programme for Northern Ostrobothnia outlines the direction in which the region will develop in the coming years. It concerns us all – housing, entrepreneurship, well-being, the environment and the future of young people. You still have time to Influencing the programme's priorities, as you can give feedback on the programme until 27 October. The draft regional programme 2026-2029 has sparked lively and constructive debate among different Regional Assembly groups. The presentations have highlighted perspectives that reinforce the importance of the programme as a compass for regional development. The development of cooperation in cooperation with key stakeholders in the region, in particular the wellbeing services region, has been considered important in several political groups. The partnership promise has received broad support and has been considered to support ecosystem thinking. The program's optimism efforts have been perceived as inspiring and the region…

In spring 2025, the results of the national and regional Vitality Barometer were published in Kuopio. In a regional publicity meeting, Jussi Rämet, Regional Director of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, and Marjo Kolehmainen, Managing Director of Entrepreneurs of Northern Ostrobothnia, raised the need to Influencing matters in the region together and coordinate the goals of different stakeholders. The parties committed to the Pledge for Vitality are: Centria, Pohde, Jedu, Entrepreneurs of Central Ostrobothnia, OAMK, OSAO, University of Oulu, Oulu Chamber of Commerce, Regional Assembly of Oulu Region and Entrepreneurs of Northern Ostrobothnia. The Vitality Pledge will be published and signed in cooperation with the parties involved on 15 October 2025 at an event for the regional municipal management and entrepreneurs of the Entrepreneurs of Northern Ostrobothnia, so-called AreaKujo in Oulu. Subsequently, the goal is to get municipalities and cities together in cooperation with local business Regional Assemblys to draw up a vitality pledge during autumn 2025. The functioning of the cooperation and the development of the vitality of the area can be monitored…

Interreg Aurora's application rounds 7 and 5 ended on 7 October 2025. Application round 7 was for development projects and round 5 for small projects. A total of 44 applications were received, 40 for Interreg Aurora and three for Sámi. The majority of the applications, 42, were development project applications. Only two small project applications were received. The most active applicant in Northern Ostrobothnia was the University of Oulu, which was the main applicant in six development project applications. In addition to the University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, which was the main applicant in one application, participated in the application process from Northern Ostrobothnia. Further information: Interreg Aurora Programme Coordinator Niko Auer, Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, tel. +358 40 685 4012, niko.auer(at)pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi

The Government has decided to amend the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme, which supports the growth and competitiveness of the regions. Approximately EUR 300 million of the programme's funding will be reallocated to new specific objectives that support Finland's security and security of supply in the changed business environment. The new specific objectives are: · Strengthening industrial capacity in support of defence industry and dual use (approximately €90 million) €) · Development of dual-use transport infrastructure for military mobility (approximately €210 million) The aim is to increase defence-related production capacity in some 700 companies, especially through the use of dual-use technologies. In addition, infrastructure will be upgraded to support both military mobility and business needs. The new targets will be managed as a national theme and the funding will be provided by the vitality centres starting from the beginning of 2026. Implementation starts…

The Government has decided to allocate a total of EUR 16.1 million to the implementation of the Eastern and Northern Finland programmes for 2025. Of this, the Northern Finland programme accounts for EUR 4,106 million. The aim of the programmes is to boost economic growth, investment and development of skills and competences in the regions, strengthen security of supply and self-sufficiency, and secure the availability of labour. The measures support the policies of the Government Programme and are in many respects over-government terms. Funding from the Northern Programme supports, in particular, large-scale, transnational projects that increase cooperation and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of the region. The funding will focus on six themes of the programme: 1. Sustainable growth and regenerative investment 2. Clean energy and digital clean growth 3. Sustainable tourism 4. Skills and availability of labour 5. Security, security of supply and self-sufficiency…

  The Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Youth Regional Assembly met for the first time on Wednesday, 8 October 2025. The Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Youth Regional Assembly is a joint Regional Youth Regional Assembly of Pohde and the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region. The members represent the Regional Youth Regional Assemblys of 30 municipalities in Northern Ostrobothnia. The Regional Youth Regional Assembly is one of Pohteen's three advocacy bodies, the other two being the Elderly Regional Assembly and the Disability Regional Assembly. The Regional Youth Regional Assembly participates in planning, preparing, implementing and monitoring the activities of the wellbeing services county in matters that are relevant to the services of children and young people. The current term of office of the Regional Youth Regional Assembly runs until 2027. In its organizing meeting, the Regional Youth Regional Assembly made the following choices for its new term of office: President: Matilda Alanen from Muhos. First Vice-Chair: Jere Viinamäki from Isis. Second Vice-Chair: What an Inkeroinen from Nivala. Regional Assemblylor: Matilda Alanen. Deputy member of the Regional Assembly: Jere Viinamäki. Represented by …

On Wednesday 8.10.2025, some 40 tourism and cultural stakeholders from Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu gathered at Paltamo to discuss the opportunities offered by the Oulu2026 Capital of Culture year for our region. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region organised the event in cooperation in cooperation with the Regional Assembly of Kainuu, Humanpolis, Oulu Tourism Ltd and Oulu Cultural Foundation. The aim was to strengthen cooperation between regional tourism and cultural stakeholders, create new networks and find concrete ideas for the development of cultural and tourism activities as part of the Oulu2026 programme. The workshop focused on, among other things, the development of international marketing and cooperation between regional tourism brands, as well as the importance of promoting accessibility in the region. Another key theme was Oulu2026 product ideas and partnerships, where nature and culture are intertwined. Participants discussed what kind of partnerships they need to support their own activities and implement new product ideas…

Change Now – Prosperous communities and mental resilience!   The Northern Ostrobothnia Welfare Forum 2025 will be held on Friday, 21 November 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. at the Iisi Arena at Kisatie 2 B, 91100 Ii. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region organises the forum in cooperation in cooperation with the Northern Ostrobothnia Village Regional Assembly and the municipality of Ii. The event is free of charge, including coffee and lunch.   The Northern Ostrobothnia Welfare Forum will be held for the eighteenth time. This year we will focus on healthy communities and mental resilience. The forum also hears about local good practices and rewards the well-being act of the year.   After the event, the municipality of Ii will organise the afterparty of the well-being forum for young people in the evening. Appears in Etta. More information ii.fi The program has been published and updated.     You can sign up for the forum via this link ​ by 12.11.2025.