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The application rounds for the Interreg Aurora programme for 6th development projects and 4th small projects ended on 17 March 2025. A total of 49 applications were received, 42 for Interreg Aurora and seven for Sámi. Of these, 40 were development project applications and nine were small project applications. The main applicant from Northern Ostrobothnia was involved in seven development project applications, the most active being the University of Oulu, which was the main applicant in five applications. Other main applicants from Northern Ostrobothnia were Oulu University of Applied Sciences and the Building Cluster of Northern Finland. In addition, the University of Oulu was a partner in six applications and Oulu University of Applied Sciences in one application. Further information: niko.auer@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi

The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, in cooperation in cooperation with the City of Oulu, is launching an ERDF project application for the implementation of the ecosystem agreement signed between the State and the City of Oulu. The content of the Oulu ecosystem agreement consists of the strategic focus areas and spearhead programmes of the Oulu Innovation Alliance for 2021-2027. The application round is open on 15 April. – 12 June 2025. Priority axis 1 is open for this call. Innovative Finland and its specific objectives 1.1: Improving research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies, 1.2: Exploiting the benefits of digitalisation for citizens, businesses and public administrations and 1.3: Improving the growth and competitiveness of SMEs and Axis 2: Carbon-neutral Finland and its specific objectives 2.1: Promoting energy efficiency measures and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and 2.3: Promoting the transition to a circular economy. In the project application process, the maximum amount of ERDF funding for sustainable urban development is 1,500,000 euros. ERDF applications will be …

In the delegation picture from left Outi Rouru, Kari Aalto, Johanna Bluemink, Ari Alatossava, Anna-Sofia Heikkinen, Arto Manninen, Anne Rännäli-Kontturi, Jussi Rämet, Claes Krüger and Markus Erkkilä. Picture Hanna Honkamäkilä. Preparations for the EU’s long-term budget for the years 2028-2034 are underway, and Oulu Region’s advocacy stakeholders want to ensure that the needs of Northern Finland are taken into account from the very beginning. The current €1,200 billion multiannual financial framework is valid until 2027. This week, Region Mayor of the Oulu Region Jussi Rämet, Oulu Mayor Ari Alatossava and University of Oulu Rector Arto Manninen visited Brussels for…

The Northern delegation in Brussels included Outi Rouru, Kari Aalto, Johanna Bluemink, Ari Alatossava, Anna-Sofia Heikkinen, Arto Manninen, Anne Rännäli-Kontturi, Jussi Rämet, Claes Krüger and Markus Erkkilä. Photo by Hanna Honkamäkilä. The preparation of the EU's long-term budget for 2028-2034 is underway, and the lobbyists in the region want to ensure that the needs of Northern Finland are taken into account at the very beginning of the preparation. The current Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of EUR 1 200 billion is in place until 2027. Jussi Rämet, Regional Director, Ari Alatossava, Mayor of Oulu, and Arto Manninen, Rector of the University of Oulu, travelled to Brussels this week for a close advocacy round. The programme included meetings in cooperation with the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional Development, the Directorate-General for Internal Market and Industry, Finnish MEPs and Commissioner Hanna Virkkunen…

The forest working group of the EU Office for Northern and Southern Finland was launched in the winter of 2021-2022 by building common forest principles towards the EU. The revised forest principles were adopted in February 2025 and they follow the national forest policy guidelines in cooperation with small nuances. They emphasise the need to maintain forest policy decision-making and guidance at Member State level, as well as the need to consult the regions in decision-making. The regions have valuable know-how and knowledge of forest management and of nature, which is important to use when developing initiatives. The objective of the Working Group on Forests is to share information on EU forest-related initiatives on behalf of the EU Office for Eastern and Northern Finland, to form a common position of the regions and to provide expertise in forest-related decision-making. The working group consists mainly of nine members, a specialist from the EU Office and a representative appointed by the regional directors of eight different regions. The rotating chair of the Working Group on Forests will be in 2025…

REGIOSTARS is an annual competition organised by DG REGIO since 2008. It has become a European label of excellence for EU-funded projects that reflect the impact and inclusiveness of regional development. In 2025, the projects will compete in five categories: 1) COMPETITIVE AND SMART EUROPE Boosting competitiveness, innovation and economic resilience 2) GREEN EUROPE The green transition as an enabler of regional development 3) JOINT EUROPE Enhancing interregional mobility and connectivity 4) SOCIAL AND INCLUDING EUROPE Towards a more inclusive Europe by leveraging regional talent 5) A NEAR CITIZEN EUROPE Promoting the sustainable development of all types of regions by addressing common challenges and seizing the greatest opportunities REGIOSTARS has inspired regions to implement a more effective EU regional policy. Requests are requested…

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…