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In 2024, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia celebrates its tenth year of operation. No special festivities are planned, but during the year we want to emphasise the effectiveness of the organisation's work even more strongly. “The role of the organisations of Northern Ostrobothnia in the development of the region and in promoting the well-being of the citizens of the municipality has been significantly strengthened year by year. In ten years, cooperation has intensified and effectiveness has increased", said Chair Esa Aunola at the meeting of the Organisational Advisory Board for Northern Ostrobothnia on 5 February. In particular, the importance of lobbying was highlighted in the discussion. There is a need for this, and cross-sectoral cooperation between organisations is a strength. During the jubilee year, we want to invest in advocacy in the work of the Advisory Board. The aim is to reach both decision-makers and citizens, and to highlight the work and results of organisations and also the Advisory Board in different forums. The programme includes meetings, negotiations, statements, a report on cooperation between municipal organisations…

Rural areas in Northern Ostrobothnia will be developed through smart solutions and innovations. The region is strongly involved in the international SMART ERA project, in which North Ostrobothnia is one of the six pilot areas of the project. The SMART ERA project aims to contribute to the depopulation of rural areas across Europe. The aim is to reverse migration flows and kick-start sustainable growth. The solution to the problem is sought from technological solutions and social innovations. Local communities will be involved in the development and design of different solutions. Rural areas are often perceived as less attractive habitats because they have fewer services, different structural problems, limited employment opportunities and an ageing population. The ongoing digital transformation and increased teleworking opportunities offer a unique opportunity to redirect migration flows back to rural areas. SMART ERA…

A study on export and business opportunities and financing channels for the reconstruction of Ukraine has been completed. The report is part of last year's implementation plan for security of supply and overall safety in Northern Ostrobothnia. The report, prepared by Owal Group Oy, reviews the background of the support given to Ukraine, the opportunities for companies brought about by reconstruction, as well as various networks and funding channels. You can access the report via this link.

The Ministry of Education and Culture has granted the Kainuu Regional Council a special grant of EUR 160 000 for the development of the cultural activities of the municipalities of Kainuu and Northern Ostrobothnia. The project will be implemented during 2024-2025 in close cooperation with the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. KAIPO - Strengthening Networks of Culture in Kainuu and Northern Ostrobothnia project creates impact on the cultural activities of Kainuu and Northern Ostrobothnia counties and their municipalities. Neighbouring regions already have some cooperation in the field of arts and culture, which provides a good basis for the implementation of the project, as well as for the development of more extensive cooperation and know-how. As a result of the project, cooperation between counties, municipalities and cultural actors will be intensified and the conditions for more efficient use of resources will be strengthened. Cultural services create new operating models and content, and municipal cultural managers receive more support for their work. Northern Ostrobothnia…

The Northern Transport Strategy 2036 is a strategic vision shared by the regions of Lapland, North Ostrobothnia, Central Ostrobothnia and Kainuu for the development of the region's transport system. The previous strategy was published in 2017. It was considered necessary to update it due to geopolitical changes in the surrounding area. The strategy focuses on cross-border issues. Its visions, objectives and measures were defined in extensive stakeholder cooperation during autumn 2023, when the Regional Council of Kainuu chaired the Transport and Logistics Working Group of Northern Finland. Issues on a more detailed level are resolved in more detailed, provincial transport system plans. The draft strategy was finalised in early 2024. The aim is to prepare a strategy for the approval processes of the regional governments during spring 2024. Stakeholders may submit comments on the draft strategy before then. Comments should be submitted no later than 12 February 2024 at 12.00 noon to kirjaamo(at)kainuunliitto.fi. Additional information: Lauri Romppainen, Regional Engineer, Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, tel. +358 40 385 4021,…

During the autumn of 2023, artists Sinikka Eirola and Tiina Vehkaperä, together with local residents, put together works of art in five municipalities. The material was metal recyclables, i.e. crooks, which got a new life as everyday treasures in the works. The works and their preparation process can be viewed in a published video on the Youtube channel of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia: All around: Communal art on yards and paths (youtube.com) The works located in Hailuoto, Alavieska, Pyhäjoki, Sievi and Kalajoki are now peeking out of the snow in winter, waiting for the arrival of spring and further work. “These works of art are nice because they are never quite finished. You can continue to work on them alone or together by adding new nozzles according to your own mind. The works are transformed over time, both by the weather and by the art activity of the local residents," says Sinikka Eirola. Works made from blankets…

The third call for applications for Interreg Europe is due in spring 2024. It has been decided to organise the call for applications from 20 March to 7 June 2024. At the same time, it opens up the possibility for projects approved in previous calls to complement their cooperation projects. It is possible to invite members from new partner countries, i.e. Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine. The new partner countries will constitute the fifth geographical area in the third round of applications. New project proposals must include partners from four geographical areas. In the third application round, special attention will be paid to the innovative nature of the project idea. Applications can be submitted for all the themes of the programme and all remaining funds of the programme, approximately EUR 121 million, can be applied for. This anticipates that this will be the last call for applications for the whole programme. Interreg Europe… 2021-2027

The application period for the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia's JTF projects for the 2021-2027 programming period closed on 31 December 2023. By the deadline, six applications were received by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The applications sought funding from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia totalling approximately EUR 1.4 million. The funding available is EUR 1.3 million. The decisions on applications for further processing will be received in March 2024.

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, 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 projects under the ecosystem agreement support the formation of business clusters and ecosystems in selected target sectors, identify the needs and services of the companies belonging to them, promote longer-term concrete goals and broad entities in line with the target sectors and spearhead programmes of the Oulu Innovation Alliance strategy, and provide added value from digital to the everyday services and built environment of residents. The application round is open from 18 December 2023 to 19 January 2024. Only one specific objective 1.3 of the priority axis is open for this call. ERDF applications must be submitted to the authority via the EURA2021 system. The projects to be funded must be part of the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme, Northern Ostrobothnia…

During the past summer and autumn in Raahe, Siikajoki, Ylivieska, Reisjärvi, Pyhänä and Pyhäjärvi, the local residents have worked hard in workshops, barning mosaic pieces for the work of art. Now these spectacular nature-themed wall mosaics are ready and hung in place in each municipality for everyone to admire. Together, the works form a magnificent whole of six works, the sum of their parts. The wall mosaic artworks were designed and executed by visual artist Jenny Grönholm and sculptor Jass Kaselaan. They brainstormed the contents of the art workshops and the themes of the works, from which the residents were allowed to vote the most pleasing of themselves. In the workshops, the works were laid under the guidance of the artists. One of the goals of the workshops and the whole art pilot was to get people to join the art scene. “The barn shops had nice encounters and people were enthusiastically involved in the work. Art and its making are clearly of interest…