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A key objective of the New Expert Group on Urban Mobility is to ensure a more direct involvement of the local and regional level in the formulation of EU policy recommendations. The European Commission is reforming the EGUM Group and has therefore made an open call to local and regional authorities and sectoral organisations. The renewed expert group will focus on topics such as public transport, accessibility, shared mobility, SUMP projects and connectivity in cities and regions. The application process is now open, with 20 seats reserved for LRA representatives. Priority will be given to cities with more than 10,000 inhabitants, but other cities and regions can also express interest. Applications must be submitted no later than: 9.9.2022. More information on this topic can be found here. You can fill in the application here. Intelligent Cities Challenge –…

The questions of the North do not automatically take centre stage in the European Union; they must be raised there on their own. This is the direction of Mirja Vehkaperä, whose positions of trust include not only the chairmanship of the City Board, but also membership of the European Committee of the Regions. Vehkaperä finds his task very interesting and important. It is particularly important for him to highlight northern issues and illustrate conditions in northern Europe, so that the necessary issues are also understood at EU level and regional issues are taken into account.   "With my own experience of the work of MEPs, I can say that cities, regions and local areas are terribly far away from the EU, so we need the Committee of the Regions and to speak on behalf of the regions. The questions of the North always arise. No one talks about it unless we do it ourselves. Promotion …

The first round of applications for ERDF projects for the 2021-2027 programming period of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has ended on 31 August 2022. By the deadline, 53 applications were received by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. Most of the applications were related to the development of research, knowledge and innovation under specific objective 1.1 Project applications were also received commendably for all other specific objectives. The applications sought funding from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia totalling nearly 13 M€. The maximum amount of funding that can be granted is EUR 8.5 million. The next call for applications for the 2021-2027 programming period is planned to open in January 2023.

The Organisational Advisory Board of Northern Ostrobothnia will carry out 2-3 organisation sessions during the rest of the year. This is an online event on topical issues related to the activities of associations and aimed at all association actors. It is easy to join through the Teams link. The date is set at the beginning of the evening, as association operators often do other day work. ‘Outward orientation has been sought from the work of the Advisory Board. At the conference, we want to meet this need. Now we look forward to an enthusiastic participation!" inches Esa Aunola, Chairman of the Advisory Board, from the North Ostrobothnia Villages Association. The theme of the first organizational session is the organisation award and the theme of the award is the experience of participation in organizational work. Expert, project manager Varpu Wiens (Diak, Sokra-project) and service manager Piritta Pietilä-Litendahl (ODL foundation) are preparing the presentation. Check out the more detailed programme of the organisation session via this link. The participation link can also be found in the event announcement. All of provincial…

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia is applying for funding from the Finnish Structural Funds programme Sustainable Growth and Jobs 2014-2020. The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia received an additional authorisation in July 2022 and this enables the opening of one more application round for projects in the 2014-2020 programming period. ERDF applications will be accepted for Priority Axis 1 "Competitiveness of SMEs" and Axis 2 "Production and exploitation of the latest knowledge and know-how". Specific objective 1.2 is not open in the application round, while the other specific objectives of priority axes 1 and 2 are open. The application period is 1.9-30.9.2022. ERDF applications must be submitted to the authority via the EURA2014 system (www.eura2014.fi) no later than 30 September 2022. Projects can run until 31 December 2023 at the latest. The maximum amount of funding requested (ERDF and State) is 70% the total cost of the project. Projects under Priority Axes 1 and 2…

In Haapakoski, Iijoki, Finland's first downhill migration route for salmonids and catching equipment have been taken into use this summer. The downward migration path was implemented as part of the large-scale Iijoki migratory fish project 2020-2022. The fairway was presented to the media and the public at the opening ceremony on 22 August 2022. Figure: Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The downward migration route of Haapakoski smolts consists of a control fence visible in the foreground, a funnel structure connected to the dam and a smolt tube leading to the lower canal of the power plant. “Good cooperation leads to innovative solutions. The Haapakoski downward migration route is a unique solution, both nationally and internationally, the implementation of which has required significant research and development efforts and open-minded implementation," said Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Antti Kurvinen. In the future, we will test and, based on the results, develop…

On Tuesday 14 June 2022, a workshop on international funding was organised, focusing on the preparation of the application for EU funding and the application process. The workshop was co-organised by the ERDF-funded Kanves project and Culmentor Oy. The event was held both on site in Oulu and remotely. A total of 42 people participated in the workshop. The event was free of charge and open to all. EU project consultant, Senior Expert Heidi Honkanen from Culmentor Oy, worked as a rapporteur and speaker in the workshop. The event was opened by Heikki Ojala from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. During the workshop, the different stages of the preparation of the application for EU funding and the application process itself were reviewed. The stages of the workshop were: The application process and the construction and management of the project consortium, the structure of the application text, the interpretation and the requirements of the programmes, i.e. the evaluation criteria, the preparation of the application in practice: novelty and impact of the application, utilization of results, communication,…

Welcome to come up with ideas for developing the region's near future from the point of view of smart specialisation.  ​ Northern Ostrobothnia gets the opportunity to develop in a variety of ways, as development needs can be brought up in a variety of different themes and taking into account the needs of different organisations. So you are very welcome to join us!​ Seminar has three themed workshops from which you can choose the one that suits you best when you sign up. Theme workshops are:​ Climate-wise, responsible and renewing industry​ Digital services and products​ Health and well-being sector​ The seminar will be held in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, Poratie 5A, Oulu. The event starts with lunch at 11 am and the actual program starts at 12 noon (-15)​. Pre-registration is mandatory and you can register here by 18 August at 12:00 noon. Programme 11.00-11.55 Lunch, Antell Poratie restaurant 12.00 Opening of the event, Pauli Harju, Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia 12.05 Intelligent…

The application period for projects under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the 2014-2020 programming period ended on 30 June 2022 in the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. By the deadline, 16 applications were received by the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia. The majority of the applications were related to the development of research, skills and innovation activities under Specific Objective 4.1. In addition, funding was sought for the development of companies' innovation activities, renewable energy and energy-efficient solutions. The applications applied for funding from the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia for a total of EUR 4.22.134. The funding available for projects is approximately EUR 2,700,000 million. Please note that the first call for applications for the 2021-2027 programming period will be open until 31 August 2022.

Opinions are sought on the Just Transition Plan for Northern Ostrobothnia.  The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment requests statements on the JTF programme proposal and, at the same time, on the counties' transition plans and the programme's environmental report by 8 August 2022. In Finland, the basis for JTF preparation is the Government Programme on halving the energy use of peat by the end of 2030. The JTF shall address the socio-economic and environmental adverse impacts of the low-carbon transition in order to safeguard employment and sustainable regional economies.  The peat industry employs approximately 2,500 person-years in Finland. The direct and indirect adverse effects of a significant decline in the sector on regional economies and employment are significant, to which the JTF is tasked to respond through regional and structural policy measures to diversify livelihoods and adapt the workforce in the regions with the least capacity to adapt to change. The counties' just transition plans will be integrated into the Renewable and Skilled Finland 2021-2027 EU …