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Figure: Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. Different ages of small juveniles of Atlantic salmon and trout are planted in the Iijoki watercourse. Newly hatched salmon in the picture. On 24 May 2023, 400,000 freshly hatched juveniles of Atlantic salmon and 100,000 sea trout, 30,000 pre-summer juveniles of Atlantic salmon and 50,000 1-year-old juveniles of Atlantic salmon and 20,000 sea trout will be planted in the River Iijoki and its tributaries at the turn of May-June. The restocking supports the creation of salmonid stocks stigmatised in the river.’The sea trout are planted in the Loukusanjoki, Pärjänjoki, Livojoki, Kostonjoki and a small batch is also planted in the Siuruanjoki. Salmon are planted in the main river of Iijoki and in the Livojoki river", says Eero Hartikainen, Specialist in Fisheries at Metsähallitus.The youngsters were acquired from the Natural Resources Institute Finland, Kalankasvatus Vääräniemi Oy and Montan Lohi Oy. The Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Council has been responsible for the procurement of the chicks. Fish are planted by Metsähallitus. As an exception, Montan Lohi Oy plants 1-year-old sea trout. The success of restocking is monitored by electro-experimental fishing…

The North Ostrobothnia Regional Council's JTF application period opened on 19 April. In just over three weeks, a record number of applications were received, 149. The first application period for the continuous application period ended on Friday 12 May. ­– This is the highest number I have ever had in my twenty-year career. Normally, around 50-60 applications are received, says Regional Development Specialist Aki Lappalainen. The record number of applications shows that the opening of JTF funding applications has indeed been expected in the region. Applications will focus on content that creates new technologies and solutions, in line with the application programme. Funding was sought for projects supporting sustainable growth and the circular economy, as well as for projects developing technological innovations. Significant support for the development of the region The JTF funding for actors in the Northern Ostrobothnia region is intended to develop the region's business life and minimise the negative effects of the green transition. Regional Council's Development Director Tiina Rajala is satisfied…

The application period for phase 1 of the JTF projects for the 2021-2027 programming period of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia ended on 12 May 2023. By the deadline for the first application period, 149 applications were received by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The applications sought funding from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia totalling approximately EUR 63.4 million. The maximum amount of funding available is €35.3 million. The first solutions for applications for further processing can only be obtained after the summer holidays. This is due to the record number of applications. The next application period for JTF funding, which will be open until the end of November 2023, will close on 31 August 2023. Check out this link to JTF funding.

Europe Day is celebrated on 9 May. White Europe Day will be celebrated on 9 May in Oulu and this year the event will be extended to two days. On the eve of Europe Day, 8 May Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, will visit Oulu for the first time in her role as Commissioner. The day's programme includes various visits and a Commissioner's Question Time open to all citizens. Question Time will be held on Monday 8 May from 11 a.m. to 11.45 p.m. at the Valve Culture Centre in the Café-Restaurant Seljet. Complimentary bun coffee is available for the first 30 attendees. Europe Day will be celebrated at the Valkea shopping centre on Tuesday 9 May. Those interested in the EU can come and talk to the Northern Ostrobothnia EU Info Point at 12-15. At the same time, you can get acquainted with the Oulu2026 project, which also participates in the celebration of Europe Day. EU-themed products and books will be distributed. The main event of Europe Day is the Valkea shopping centre…

JTF funding can now also be applied for cross-regional thematic projects in Kainuu, Lapland and Northern Ostrobothnia. A total of €1.293 million has been earmarked for thematic projects. €. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia acts as an intermediate authority. The call will fund only trans-national projects under JTF priority axis seven Just Transition Finland under specific objective 7.1 ‘Territorially just transition to de-peatisation’ and will implement the following themes: o Development of logging chains and methods o Circular industrial economy: utilization of side streams o Green hydrogen economy The results of the projects must be usable in the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia, Lapland and Kainuu. When selecting projects to be funded, priority will be given to projects involving actors from all the above-mentioned provinces. Before preparing an application, it is a good idea to take a closer look at the Renewable and Skilled Finland…

Support under the Act on Fixed Broadband Construction 1262/2020 can be applied for in the municipality of Kempele. Applications addressed to the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia must be submitted by 22 May 2023 at 12.00 noon at the latest by e-mail to kirjaamo@pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi More information on the project area, the application procedure and the selection criteria can be found at https://pohjois-karjala.fi/broadband.

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has opened an application round for JTF projects from the EU's Regional and Structural Policy Programme for a Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027. The application round is open from 19 April 2023 to 30 November 2023. Applications will be processed periodically. In the call for applications, JTF applications will be accepted for Priority Axis 7 “Finland for Just Transition” under Specific Objective 7.1 “Territorially Just Transition for the Renunciation of Peat”. Before preparing an application, it is advisable to read more about the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 programme document and the content of the above-mentioned specific objective, as well as the transition plan. Approximately EUR 35,000,000 is planned to be used to finance the projects that have arrived in the application round. The maximum amount of funding requested (JTF and State) is 80% development project and up to 70% the total cost of the investment project. For more information on the application round, click here.

Are you a professional artist or cultural operator from Northern Ostrobothnia, Lapland, Kainuu or North Karelia? Are you or your organisation internationally active or do you have international goals or wishes? Do you want to help develop cultural and cultural cooperation in the Barents region? If you answered yes, we hope you will join us in preparing a cultural report for the Barents region by answering the survey. The cultural report will be an overview of the cultural life in Northern Norway, Northern Sweden and Northern Finland and its international activities with development proposals. The report provides a description of the current state, opportunities and challenges of cultural life, as well as future development needs and strategies. The study takes into account the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's war against Ukraine and the economic downturn. Cultural actors in the Barents region play an important role in the drafting of the report and participate through the survey…

The report of the EMMI project of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia entitled 'Opportunities of renewable energy production and the related green hydrogen economy and land use conditions in Northern Ostrobothnia' has been completed. The work provides new information on various forms of renewable energy and the opportunities of the hydrogen economy in Northern Ostrobothnia. Several studies related to the hydrogen economy have been carried out from a techno-economic point of view; the main focus of the EMMI is on land use. In particular, the municipality-specific reviews and interactions were the successes of the work. The report can be downloaded from the EMMI project website: There is also a summary presentation. The work was commissioned by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia by Sweco Oy and Gaia Oy. The work of the EMMI project continues. Next, the climate impacts of the new wind power areas in the energy and climate phase regional plan for Northern Ostrobothnia will be investigated over the entire life cycle. Changes in land use are also taken into account in the assessment. Additional information: Ritva Isomäki, Senior Specialist, Project Manager ritva.isomaki(at)pohjois-pohjanmaa.fi

The latest cluster monitoring in Northern Ostrobothnia extends to the end of 2022. Of the clusters monitored, ICT, a large cluster of the creative economy and tourism developed best during the year. The ICT cluster's turnover grew by 19.7 per cent and the number of employees by 6.4 per cent in 2022. Net sales growth was strongest in the first quarter, more than 30 per cent, but in other quarters the growth was between 12 and 22 per cent. The ICT cluster's personnel growth was strong throughout the year and slightly increased towards the end of the year. For the creative economy cluster, with software design and manufacturing, other construction joinery products, other non-metallic mineral products, furniture manufacturing and newspaper publishing as the main industries, turnover increased by 10.8% in 2022. The cluster's net sales grew more strongly in the early part of the year than at the end of the year. Creative …