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Clusters and industries have recovered rapidly from the fall in 2020 caused by the coronavirus. After the dip, the clusters started to grow strongly in the number of personnel and especially in turnover, which can be seen, for example, in the astonishing rise of the metal cluster. The revenue growth of the creative economy cluster has also been surprisingly strong. Exports have recovered well and could already peak in 2007 in a few years' time. The only downward trend is the number of employees in the construction sector. When comparing structural data for 2019 and 2020, it can be seen that the importance of Northern Ostrobothnia relative to the whole country has strengthened in all clusters monitored. In the wood and ICT clusters, the share of Northern Ostrobothnia has increased by almost one percentage point. The share of tourism has increased even more. When interpreting the figures, it should be noted that the data originated from …

The Government has decided to appoint Finland's representatives to the Interreg Aurora, Central Baltic and Baltic Sea Region programmes for the 2021-2027 programming period. Tiina Rajala, Development Director at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, and Hanna Honkamäkilä, Head of International Affairs, will be appointed to the Aurora Programme Monitoring Committee. Programme proposals for Interreg programmes have been submitted to the European Commission. The programmes are expected to be adopted by the European Commission during the summer and autumn of 2022. The implementation of the programmes starts with the approval of the programmes by the European Commission.

Pellervo Economic Research PTT updated the regional economic impacts of the peat industry based on the latest 2020 statistical data. The study serves as a material for the counties' just transition plans guiding the use of JTF funding. The counties' transition plans are currently being reviewed by the European Commission. The European Commission's feedback on the plans is expected in spring 2022. The study determined the direct and indirect regional economic impacts of the peat industry by region and sub-regional unit with 2020 data, measured by gross and added value of production and employment. In 2020, the gross value of production in the peat industry was EUR 391 million and employment was 1200 person-years. In the entire production chain, the industry employed 2,200 person-years. The peat industry is particularly concentrated in three provinces: North Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia and Central Finland. The gross value of production in the peat industry in North Ostrobothnia was EUR 71.3 million and employment was 256 person-years. Throughout the production chain, the industry employed 461…

Lucille Ehrhart, Secretary General of the Baltic Sea Commission, visited North Ostrobothnia, including Tyrvävä as a guest of Jussi Ylitalo, Chairman of the Board of the Regional Council of North Ostrobothnia. Lucille Ehrhart, Secretary General of the Baltic Sea Commission, visited Northern Ostrobothnia towards the end of March to learn about the activities of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia and its diverse advocacy activities in the region. The Baltic Sea Commission is one of the six commissions of the European CPMR (Union of Peripheral Maritime Regions). It carries out advocacy work towards the European Union, in particular on regional policy, transport, energy, climate and maritime issues. North Ostrobothnia will contribute to achieving Finland's carbon neutrality target for 2035 in line with the EU's objectives. Ritva Isomäki, Specialist in Natural Resources, Bioeconomy, Circular Economy and Climate Issues at the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, presented to Ehrhart the Northern Ostrobothnia Climate Roadmap 2021-2030, which was completed as a result of a two-year comprehensive process. “I got to know the activities of the union and the region in a variety of ways.…

The regions of Eastern and Northern Finland will continue their fruitful cooperation within the framework of the region's common smart specialisation strategy. The aim of the cooperation is to improve the growth of cooperation networks and funding opportunities especially for companies located in the Eastern and Northern Finland region as well as research, development and innovation (RDI) actors. The work will be carried out on a practical level in the Smart Specialisation in Eastern and Northern Finland 2022-2027 (ELMO II) project, which aims in particular at consolidating cooperation between provincial experts. At the same time, the creation of new innovations in the region is supported, especially through value network analyses and the development of cluster activities. The ELMO II cooperation network supports the development of the national and international networking activities of actors in the Eastern and Northern Finland region by providing actors in the region not only with information but also memberships to the Vanguard Initiative, as well as in European cluster networks European Clusters Excellence Labelling Structure (EUCLES) and …

The Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia has been selected as the second coordinator of the tourism policy area of the European Union's macro-regional strategy for the Baltic Sea region together with the Pomorski region of Poland. EU macro-regional strategies address the challenges of cross-border geographical areas within the European Union. Macro-regional strategies create a bridge between EU and local politicians. Strategy work does not create new EU funds, legislation or formal structures. The implementation of the macro-strategy for the Baltic Sea region is based on the Baltic Sea Interreg programme. The EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region includes 14 policy areas with specific responsibilities. One of these areas is tourism. The Action Plan for the Baltic Sea Region Strategy was adopted in 2021. With regard to tourism, the Action Plan has three priorities: development of cross-border tourism in remote and rural areas, investment in people, skills and technology in tourism and …

Organisations play an important role in the development of the region and in promoting the well-being and inclusion of local residents. This has been understood and internalised in Northern Ostrobothnia. In the future, the role of organisations as part of multidisciplinary development work will be further strengthened and consolidated. This is the central goal of the North Ostrobothnia Organisational Advisory Board, which is now starting its third term. "We want organisations to be involved in the implementation of the newly published provincial programme for Northern Ostrobothnia," says Ilpo Tapaninen, Director of Planning. It is also tasked with strengthening cooperation between organisations and between organisations, the public sector and the business sector, working together with the inclusion work of the North Ostrobothnia Welfare Area and promoting the organisation's activities. Visibility and recognition for good work are gained, for example, through the annual organisation award. The Advisory Board has a diverse representation of organisations from different fields. There is also ….

At its meeting on Monday 14 March, the Provincial Government of the Regional Council of Northern Ostrobothnia decided to provide humanitarian aid of EUR 10,000 to Ukraine through the Finnish Red Cross. The provincial government has expressed the hope that the municipalities of the province will participate in supporting Ukraine through reliable international aid organisations. – Assistance should be provided when needed. The power of cooperation is known in Northern Ostrobothnia, and municipalities are directing humanitarian aid to alleviate the emergency situation in Ukraine, says Jussi Ylitalo, Chairman of the Provincial Government. The Regional Director of Northern Ostrobothnia, Pauli Harju, has also expressed a wish for municipalities to participate in helping people in need in Ukraine. Several municipalities in Northern Ostrobothnia have already decided or are in the process of deciding to provide financial assistance to Ukraine, which is fighting the Russian aggression. Currently, the total grant amount granted by the counties is approximately…

The CPMR Baltic Sea Commission published a position paper on behalf of Ukraine and Ukrainians. In its statement, the CPMR Baltic Sea Commission recalls the long-standing good cooperation between the countries around the Baltic Sea and raises concerns about the multiple negative effects of the Russian invasion. Read the full statement at the link below. CPMR Baltic Sea Commission stands with Ukraine_Statement from the BSC Executive Committee (1)

We gathered information on the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Finland and beyond. For example, you can read about the impact of sanctions on different parties in the links below: Ministry for Foreign Affairs/Russia's invasion of Ukraine (Home - Ministry for Foreign Affairs (um.fi) ) Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce ( https://www.svkk.fi/newsroom/ukraina-monitoring-2022/ ) Finland Chamber of Commerce (From Russia sanctions to companies - Finland Chamber of Commerce ) Finnish Entrepreneurs (All about Ukraine for entrepreneurs - Yrittajat.fi ) Confederation of Finnish Industries (https://ek.fi/current/news/ukraina/ ) Finnvera ( https://www.finnvera.fi/finnvera/newsroom/newsroom/news/Russian-and-ukrainan-guarantee handling-interrupted ) Business Finland English ( https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/campaign-sites/ukraine-russia-situation ) Business Finland (htttps://www.businessfinland.fi/campaign-s)) ) Business Finland