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Digitalisation is already affecting almost every aspect of life, and several functions related to everyday life have become digitalised. Digitalisation brings several benefits and makes life smoother, but it also sets requirements for sufficient digital competence. As digitalisation progresses, it is particularly important to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn digital skills and equal conditions to use digital devices, services and environments to support their own lives as they wish. As the development of digitalisation progresses, it is worth considering what kinds of digital services, environments and usage habits increase well-being and which factors related to digital in turn weaken well-being. The Northern Ostrobothnia digital well-being and participation development project, which ended at the end of July 2023, has aimed to promote digital well-being, especially taking into account the municipality-based perspective. The project is based on the provincial programme 2022-2025…

On Thursday 17 August 2023, the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, together with the City of Oulu, organised a Northern Security and Economic Seminar in the Old Oulu Barracks area. The seminar was held after the change in the Finnish security environment. At the same time, the importance of northern Finland as a provider of security of supply and transport connections increased. The aim of the seminar was to combine geopolitical change with geoeconomic change, as the market does not exist separately from political interests. Mari-Leena Talvitie, the chair of the provincial council, who opened the event, said that the eyes have turned to the north. – The region is of great geopolitical importance to Finland and the scale of economic opportunities is nationally significant. For this reason, the Government Programme provides for the preparation of a separate Northern Programme under the direction of the Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister's Office will begin preparations for the Northern Programme in August-September 2023. Ambassador of Finland to Barents, and Ambassador of Finland to Canada,…

  This year not only talks about the Baltic Sea, but the Regional Director of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia Markus Erkkilä and the Mayor of Oulu Seppo Määttä rely on the power of the example. In a video published today on Wednesday, August 16th, they dive into the sea themselves in Nallikari, Oulu, and hope that others will follow their example on the Baltic Sea Day at the end of August. – A good cause requires not only knowledge and speech, but also deeds, Markus Erkkilä and Seppo Määttä state. At the same time, Markus Erkkilä and Seppo Määttä are challenging decision-makers and actors in the area, as well as residents and residents. You can participate either by taking a dip in the sea or by doing a small act for the benefit of the Baltic Sea.  Participants are encouraged to share their own good deed or dip in social media accounts. You can attach two events to the publications…

Generations along the River Iijoki - Processing the relationship between the environment and nature through art - pilot gathers the story of the River Iijoki as told by people of different ages and backgrounds. Art Pilot's workshops have started from the sources of Iijoki in Kuusamo and will end in Ii at the end of autumn. Art Pilot's art workshops are carried out by Niina Aho and Satu Suvanto. Together with the participants, they explore their relationship between nature and the environment using the concept of place-feeling. The work combines environmental art, creative writing, sound art, and video and photography. ‘For example, in the Jakkukylä village of the municipality of Ii, the aim is to meet people who hunt, fish and move in nature. The theme is approached through ancient hunting culture and Finnish rock painting symbols. We inspire participants to share their own experiences and together with rock paintings we create our own signs for the environment with natural materials", opens the workshops with artist Satu Suvanto.…

As of 15 August 2023, Jarkko Kärkimaa will start working in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia as a regional development expert. His main area of responsibility will be public authority tasks related to the Just Transition Fund (JTF). With Jarkko's work, the final preparation of JTF projects can be carried out faster than at present. Since 2012, Jarkko has worked as a programme coordinator in the Karelia CBC programme managed by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and, before that, as a payment inspector for projects under the European Regional Development Fund. Colleagues welcome Jarko. Jarkko Kärkimaa Regional Development Specialist Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, Poratie 5A, FIN- 90140 Oulu mobile +358 (0)50 520 6670 E-mail: jarkko.karkimaa(at)pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi

Ukraine is trying to start reconstruction quickly, although the situation has not yet calmed down. What can be done at this stage and how can we anticipate the future? Come and hear about cooperation and export opportunities at the Ukraine Reconstruction Opportunities Info 22.8. In addition, the implementation of Northern Ostrobothnia and the further steps in promoting the matter will be discussed. The event is intended especially for companies in Northern Ostrobothnia and organisations interested in reconstruction. Petri Vuorio, Director of the Confederation of Finnish Industries, Oskari Laukkanen, Senior Specialist at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Reijo Kangas, Director of Business Finland, talk about the possibilities of Finnish companies in rebuilding. They will also present MFA's and Business Finland's support measures for companies. In addition, the regional company's commentary will be given by Hanna Haipus, Business Director at Kontiotuote Oy. Time: 22.8.2023 9-11 Venue: More information and registration here. Welcome to us!

The Art Pilot explores the identities of the residents and encourages the making of art The first art pilot of the Cultural Cell project of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, the Art Laboratory, is already in its final stages. The first round of the art lab focused on the identity of the residents of the area by considering personal art relationships and things that are important to oneself through art. The materials collected during the round were analyzed using service design methods, and based on these, the theme of the second round was designed only for us in the municipality. The theme sought the specialities and qualities of local residents with an experimental guiding art method. ‘The method of lowering the threshold for making art proved to be an inspiring and inspiring way of approaching art’, said artists Elina Stoor and Talvikki Pisilä. In the third round of the Art Laboratory, participants were able to send greetings to neighbouring municipalities, through which exhilarating insights were made from nearby areas. "People often see things more perceptively a little longer" inches artist…

Art Pilot's work is built along yards and paths in Alavieska, Kalajoki, Hailuoto, Pyhäjoki and Sievi. The works are built in workshops organised by municipalities using methods and practices based on participatory community and visual arts. ‘In practice, this means different methods of experimental visual arts and guided discussion that stimulate participants’ self-expression and creative thinking.’ summarises Sinikka Eirola, the organiser of the workshops and Chair of the Cultural Association Vimma. ‘The participatory exercises encourage participants to interact with each other and to engage in discussions about the importance of community, art and culture in their own lives. The themes are approached in the workshops by functionally working together, encouraging doing things differently and experiencing the environment and everyday life from a new perspective. The aim of the workshops is to create a dialogue and … between the participants and the art pilot instructors.

The municipalities of Lakeude, Lumijoki, Liminka, Tyrnävä and Kempele, are collaborating to create an experiential and inclusive series of Marrastulet light events in November 2023. The Northern Opera Company is responsible for the production and content. Site-specific works are created from themes created by municipalities, such as darkness, death, hope, communality and plainness. The theme that unites everyone is light. Local stories and legends are collected in cooperation with village associations, for example. "We are very excited about the event and are already planning to continue it together with other municipalities in the plain," says Elina Huurre, Director of Culture and Leisure at Tyrnävä. Janne Nevala, Liminka's Director of Library and Culture, continues: "Pilotti is a good start for cooperation between municipalities' cultural activities. The events take place in everyday places, which can be experienced differently for one night. Venues & Event Spaces…

Finland holds the Presidency of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024. The presidency will be transferred to Finland from Germany. The cross-cutting themes of the Presidency, which began in early July, are overall security, crisis preparedness and resilience. The Baltic Sea States and the CBSS work together in three priority areas: a secure area, a sustainable and prosperous area and a regional identity. They are all still essential objectives and Finland will strive to promote them all during its Presidency. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is involved in promoting the Sustainable and Prosperous Priority Area through the EUSBSR PAC Tourism project, which is implemented together with the Pomorskie Region of Poland. The project is responsible for coordinating the tourism policy area of the European Union Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region. The priority area ‘Sustainable and prosperous region’ aims to promote dialogue and the flow of information between researchers, social actors and citizens. Sustainable and prosperous…