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In 2024, Business Finland granted approximately EUR 611 million in funding to more than 3,300 projects and more than 24oo companies. A total of EUR 875 million was requested 58 applications were accepted % (4947 applications, of which 2872 were approved) Funding amounted to EUR 610 million (3318 funded projects for 2413 companies) The average amount of funding for the funded project was EUR 183 k€ The most important funding programme for Business Finland was RDI (research, development and innovation), to which EUR 383 million was allocated. The rest of the funding was directed to research organisations and business funding. In 2024, the RDI funding granted by Business Finland was divided into the following types of companies: In 2024, start-ups received 29 % BF's RDI funding. A total of EUR 112 million was granted. Start-ups use early-stage funding to develop their innovations and business models, especially in the technology sector and digitalisation.…

For the first time in the last year, alternative scenarios for the future were created for the region of Northern Ostrobothnia. The four scenarios highlight geopolitical tensions, European unity, the ecological crisis, technological developments, economic growth, demographic trends and the polarisation of society. The scenarios also present themes and measures that Northern Ostrobothnia should invest in in order to build a successful region. Possible scenarios for the future will extend until 2050. In the first scenario, the world changes on the terms of global technological development. In the scenario, two Europeans will experience a renaissance. Scenario three moves from starvation to a well-being economy, and the fourth scenario paints the most pessimistic picture, in which refugees and polarisation guide the activities of communities and people. – Scenario work has proved increasingly topical in a changing world. Geopolitical changes have been even greater than expected at the start of the work, says scenario work in the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region…

The Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD) has completed a major research project launched in autumn 2022. A study called Supporting Sustainable Green Deal Implementation Capacity in Europe's Arctic Northern Sparsely Populated Areas or Officially: Support to the implementation capacity of sustainable green development in the European Arctic Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA) was published on Tuesday 18 February 2025 in Brussels. The final folded report will be available in mid-March. The group of European northern sparsely populated areas covered by the study comprises Eastern and Northern Finland, Northern Sweden and Northern Norway, i.e. a total of 14 counties. The project was commissioned and funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG Reform). The study is based on statistical analyses, surveys and representatives of stakeholders' organisations in the region…

 The Commission published a work programme based on the political guidelines presented by President von der Leyen and mission letters to Commissioners. The work programme includes both the Commission's and Parliament's preparatory and decision-making processes on a scheduled basis. More information on this topic can be found here: EU Weekly Letter: the Commission Work Programme, the future Multiannual Financial Framework When announcing the 2025 Work Programme, the Commission announced its plans to improve competitiveness, increase security and strengthen the resilience of the economy. Alongside the work programme, a plan for reducing administrative burdens and simplifying EU rules was published. In its work programme for 2025, the Commission strongly underlines simplification and efficiency. This will be addressed, inter alia, by the first set of Omnibus packages aimed at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of EU legislation. The term means that a single setting can change multiple settings at the same time. The work programme focuses on a number of important priorities, such as improving competitiveness and promoting sustainable ….

During 2024, the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region granted a total of EUR 48 million to 162 regional development and investment projects under the Regional and Structural Policy Programme. The total cost of the projects will reach EUR 63 million. The largest beneficiary was the University of Oulu, which received ERDF and JTF support totalling EUR 19.8 million for the implementation of development and investment projects. The second largest beneficiary was Oulu University of Applied Sciences and the third was the Joint Municipal Authority for Education OSAO. The European European European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (ERDF) (ERDF) allocated a total of EUR 17 million to 62 projects, comprising 33 clusters of projects. ERDF support was allocated to business-oriented RDI activities, such as the development of new methods and services, as well as the utilisation of various development environments and equipment purchases. ERDF support was allocated to, among other things, the development of the 6G test centre and energy efficiency projects contributing to the green transition. Just Transition Fund (JTF) support…

The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region opens the ninth application round for ERDF projects from the Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2027 EU Regional and Structural Policy Programme. The application round is open from 17 February to 11 April 2025. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region finances European European European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (ERDF) (ERDF) measures. This call will fund projects under specific objectives 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.3 and 3.1. Before preparing your application, you should read more about the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme document and the contents of the above-mentioned specific objectives. An amount of EUR 6.724.000 is planned to be used to finance the projects received in the call for applications. The maximum amount of funding requested (ERDF and State) is 80% development project and up to 70% the total cost of the investment project. For more information on the application rounds, click here.

Northern Ostrobothnia is a treasure trove for tourists, combining unique nature experiences, rich cultural heritage and various destinations and services all year round. Northern Ostrobothnia is also an excellent MICE tourist destination and a forerunner in educational tourism, and much more. The region's tourism is boldly heading towards the future, towards sustainable growth. The tourism strategy for Northern Ostrobothnia was updated during 2024 in cooperation in cooperation with the regional tourism development group. The work was strongly based on the previous strategy work, in which the region's tourism stakeholders were extensively involved. This updated regional strategy, adopted by the the Board of the Regional Assembly in November 2024, will guide the development of regional tourism until 2027. In Northern Ostrobothnia, tourism development is carried out in a regionally driven manner, and the regional tourism strategy serves as a regionally integrative strategy. Regional Tourism Organisations (DMOs), which promote regional brands, play a key role in cooperating closely in cooperation with the … regions.

Sari Nurro, a member of the Regional Board of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, has been elected as the Chairperson of CPMR's Baltic Sea Commission's Maritime Working Group 2025 - 2026. The selection was made by the Executive Board of the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission at its meeting in Brussels on 5 February 2025, while the chairs of the other working groups were also elected. The board meeting took place this time in Brussels, as the new European Commission is currently preparing the upcoming seven-year budget proposal. The purpose of the meeting in Brussels was to highlight important priorities for the Baltic Sea Commission in the preparation of the budget. The Agenda included views on regional and structural policy, transport policy, safety, competitiveness and the Arctic. Four Members of the European Parliament, Merja Kyllönen, Pekka Toveri, Elsi Katainen and Sofie Eriksson from Sweden were heard at the meeting. One of the objectives of the meeting was to strengthen contacts in cooperation with Members of the new European Parliament elected last year.…

The agenda for the meeting of the the Board of the Regional Assembly on 10 February 2025 has been published on the website of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region. Matters to be discussed at the meeting: Region Mayor's proposal: Let's take note. The regional plan for the energy and climate phase of Northern Ostrobothnia, the responses to the proposal phase and the planning documents for the new proposal phase The the Board of the Regional Assembly decides: 1. to mark the update of the risk report concerning the Natura 2000 network for information; 2. to approve the responses to the feedback to the public consultation at the first stage of the proposal; 3. to re-submit the draft plan to the public in accordance in cooperation with Section 65 of the AKL/MRL, Section 12 of the MRA and Section 32 of the MRA; 4. to authorise the regional land use planning and Competences Division to carry out technical repairs before the draft plan is made available to the public; and 5. to review this section at the meeting.  Scenario work for Northern Ostrobothnia Region Mayor's proposal: To be noted.  Request for an opinion on the draft national transport system plan and the environmental report (SOVA Act…

Funding is being sought for AKKE projects supporting the regenerative activities and capabilities of municipalities, which are targeted at supporting the municipalities' regional RDI activities. Projects funded under this call must meet at least one of the following criteria: – the project will support R&D&I activities of SMEs, thereby improving their innovation capacity – the project will strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the region – the project will expand the range of participants in R&D&I activities. The application period is between 3 March 2025 and 31 May 2025 at 15.00. A maximum of EUR 376 476 is available to fund projects that have arrived in the application round. More information on the AKKE page. Keywords: AKKE, development funding, financing