news

Northern Ostrobothnia receives €29.4 million € REACT EU funding for the economic recovery caused by the COVID-19 crisis for 2021-2022. REACT EU funding supports regions to repair the damage caused by the COVID-19 crisis. At the same time, the funds will lay the groundwork for a green, digital and resilient recovery of the economy. Approximately 255.4 million euros were now being distributed in the whole of Finland. €. The funds will be applied for in spring 2021 through the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region and the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia. Funding is ERDF and ESF funding and two new themes of the programme are added to the Structural Funds programme for Leverage from the EU 2014-2020. ERDF funds will be allocated to strengthening SME activities, especially from the perspective of digitalisation and green recovery, as well as to developing research and innovation activities from the perspective of promoting digitalisation and achieving the goal of carbon neutrality in society. ESF funds are allocated to e.g. digital skills…

Carbon neutrality is today's topic, but few places in Europe can be said to be almost a reality. Northern Ostrobothnia municipality Ii is a significant exception. The municipality is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 80% (from 2007 levels) by the end of 2020. The Northern Ostrobothnia Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) and ESIF support have helped the municipality of Ii to achieve this goal. The project portfolio of the municipality of Ii corresponds to the main objectives of smart specialisation in Northern Ostrobothnia in promoting the use of clean technology and green energy. The climate work of the municipality of Ii attracts international attention. The European Commission's Smart Specialisation Platform, the S3 Smart Spacialisation Platform, presents Ii's success fstakeholders in its article series "Smart Stories". The article can be read HERE. Further information: Project Manager Gitte Meriläinen, Regional Assembly of Oulu Region Managing Director Leena Vuotovesi, Iin Microolis…

A cultural development programme is being prepared for Northern Ostrobothnia. Read a blog post about the progress of work and how well-being, culture and development are linked. You can find the blog here.

Finland's first maritime spatial plan is complete – extensive work will help to combine the good status of the marine environment and sustainable growth in Finland's marine area, and for the first time, a comprehensive maritime spatial plan has been drawn up in an extensive cooperation process between different stakeholders. The plan is a cartographic representation of both territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone, identifying, in general terms, significant and potential areas of underwater natural and cultural values, energy production, fisheries, aquaculture, shipping and tourism, for example. The aim is to reconcile the needs of different industries and thus improve the performance of maritime activities and the state of the marine environment. Read the full press release of the Ministry of the Environment here:  in Finnish, Swedish and English.

The Secretariat of the Northern Ostrobothnia Cooperation Group held a Teams meeting on 9 December 2020. Päivi Keisanen presented the preparation of the EU's regional and structural policy and rural development programme for the 2021-2027 programming period and the state of play of the preparation of the EU's regional and structural policy for the 2021-2027 programming period, and Tiina Suutar was briefed on the current state of play of the rural development programme. Suutari also presented new projects applied for under the EAFRD. The Secretariat of the regional Cooperation Group supports the following projects to be funded under the Finnish Structural Funds Programme for Leverage from the EU 2014-2020: Printable intelligence as an enabler of a safe food chain University of Oulu The project measures are divided into work packages as follows: Design, manufacture and testing of structural electronics (OY, VTT and OAMK) Verification of microbiological functionality of photoactive coating (Luke) Case-specific demonstration (OY, VTT, OAMK, Luke) Building and raising awareness of food safety and the food production ecosystem as part of PrintoCent…

The three key themes of climate work in Northern Ostrobothnia are agriculture, peat energy use and transport. According to studies containing strong data and different scenario options, Northern Ostrobothnia has significant potential to reduce climate emissions. In agriculture, the aim is to continue to develop as carbon sequestration. The report contains numerical information on the sustainable use of agricultural bio-based fractions and side streams, the climate impacts of the measures, the cost and yield impacts, and the potential in Northern Ostrobothnia. Three alternative emission scenarios were prepared. The report was prepared by Ramboll Finland Oy. The transport study and the calculations made in it make it possible to assess the impact of the propulsion distribution of newly registered vehicles on CO2 emissions from road transport until 2040. The report was prepared by Sitowise Oy. The study on the energy use of peat examines how the energy use of peat and wood in the area will develop, what kind of impacts the development will have…

The Regional Assembly of Northern Ostrobothnia has launched the TUULI project, which produces new information on the suitability of the Northern Ostrobothnia region for wind power production and seeks solutions for solving environmental issues in the sector. The aim is to create conditions for the development of the wind power sector and thus for increasing emission-free electricity production in the Northern Ostrobothnia region, taking into account different aspects of sustainable development. In Northern Ostrobothnia, the previous regional wind power survey was prepared in 2010-2011. The wind power sector and wind power technology have developed strongly over the last ten years, which is why a new overall study is needed. During the project, wind power targets will be drawn up for Northern Ostrobothnia, location control for wind power production will be developed, and participation and interaction related to the planning of wind power construction will be increased. As a result of the project, Northern Ostrobothnia's regional view of the most suitable areas for wind power construction can be presented. “Work will be carried out in cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders to achieve …

Euregio Karelia's cooperation area and cooperation forum will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. To mark the anniversary, a webinar will be organised under the theme ‘The importance of regional cooperation in Finnish-Russian dialogue’. You can follow the seminar on the Zoom online platform and on YouTube. Webinar time:  Tuesday 15.12.2020 at 9-12 Webinar address: The link will be sent to those who have registered Registrations: By 10 December at https://webropol.com/ep/euregiokarelia Preliminary programme of the event 8:45 - 9:00 Opening of the remote connection 9:00 Opening of the seminar, Timo Korhonen, Chairman of the Kainuu Regional Board 9:10 Greetings and Speech by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Pekka Haavisto, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland 9:30 Greetings and Speech by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia Representative of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Russia 9:50 Statement by the Republic of Karelia Head of the Republic of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov (tbc.) 10:00 Music performance and video greeting: Young people's experiences of cross-border cooperation Madetoja Music High School mixed choir, led by Madetojan…

The Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Youth Regional Assembly held its first meeting on Tuesday, 1 December 2020. Before the actual meeting, Regional Director Pauli Harju welcomed the members of the Regional Youth Regional Assembly to join the joint activities. Harju emphasized working together, understanding and listening. Participation is important, because together we make the county a good place to live. Kosma Rönkä from Oulu was elected Chairman of the meeting. The President of the Regional Youth Regional Assembly and the necessary number of Vice-Presidents for the term of office of the Regional Youth Regional Assembly shall be elected after the adoption of the Code of Conduct. A five-person working group was appointed to prepare the rules of procedure for the Regional Regional Youth Regional Assembly. The working group is chaired by Onni Kuivalla from Kempele. The draft code of conduct will be presented at the meeting of the the Board of the Regional Assembly on 15 February 2021. The Code of Conduct provides for the method, purpose and duties of the regional Regional Youth Regional Assembly, the decision-making and meeting procedure, and other organisation of Regional Youth Regional Assembly activities. The next meeting will be held on 13 April 2021 at 13.30. POPNUVA – involving and influencing young people…

Two specific priorities are identified in this call for applications: 1) increasing the ability of regional and regional stakeholders to apply for funding from the EU's international funding channels and the ability to network internationally, and 2) funding can be directed to measures to correct disturbances and structural changes that increase the region's competitiveness and economic well-being. More detailed information on the AKKE funding page. The application period opens on 7 December 2020 and ends on 22 January 2021.