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2020 is an exceptional year. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is tangible in everyone's lives around the world. For the third time, the theme of the Barents region photography competition is the impact of Coronavirus on the Barents region. The Discover Barents 2020 photography competition is open to everyone. You can participate in the event in cooperation with up to two COVID-19 related images taken in the Barents region. The competition is open until 15 January 2021. The wEnablers will receive cash prizes: I prize 1200 euros, II prize 850 euros, III prize 600 euros. The wEnablers will be selected by an international jury. The information will be published on 5 March 2021 on www.discoverbarents.com and www.barentscooperation.org. WEnablers will be contacted in person if contact details have been provided at the time of entry. In addition to the three photos chosen by the jury, the audience can also like and vote for their favorite on Instagram in cooperation with a hashtag #barents2020. WEnabler of the public vote…

The main railway studio, organised today by the main railway group, focused on improving the efficiency of Finland's transport policy. At the current level, the financial investments made in Finland's transport infrastructure are not sufficient when compared to the importance of the accessibility of Finland as a whole to Finland's national economy. The main line's catchment area generates the majority of Finland's GDP, which is why investments in improving the transmission capacity of the main line are impressive investments. Regional Director Esa Halme, Senior Expert in Transport and Economic Development Policy Päivi Wood and Senior Advisor Juhani Tervala call for Finland to have the courage to prioritise. The main line is a key investment target. The MPs interviewed along the main railway presented arguments for promoting the planning and investment of the main railway and its connections. Many projects are already underway, but in cooperation with a very small budget and a slow schedule. Minister of Transport Timo…

The European Commission has adopted a new Smart Specialisation Partnership on Wireless ICT. The partnership is established on the initiative of the University of Oulu and the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region. Other regions committed to the partnership are Norrbotten from Sweden, Northern Prabant from the Netherlands, Wielkopolska from Poland, Western Greece from Greece and Catalonia from Spain. Discussions on the accession of Flanders (Belgium) and Emilia-Romagna (Italy) are ongoing. The partnership will be placed on a platform related to the renewal of the smart specialisation industry. The partnership aims to enable European leadership in the development and deployment of 5G/6G wireless technologies. In particular, the partnership focuses on the development of health, renewable and sustainable industries, autonomous vehicles and smart urban environments and wireless technology solutions for regions. The partnership will build cooperation and increase joint investment by regional and regional companies. The partnership has been built in the project…

The secretariat of the regional cooperation group met on 12 November 2020 in Oulu for a hybrid meeting. Päivi Keisanen from the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region informed the secretariat about the preparation of the EU's regional and structural policy for the 2021-2027 programming period and Timo Lehtiniemi from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Northern Ostrobothnia about the current situation of the rural programme. The results of the project applications of the Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Centre In the October 2020 project application round, 36 applications were submitted to the Northern Ostrobothnia ELY Centre, including three ERDF and 33 ESF applications. The total amount requested is EUR 9.9 million. 17 cross-regional applications were submitted, of which three were submitted as ERDF and 14 as ESF programmes. The total amount requested is EUR 5.3 million. From the COVID-19 recovery package, funding for regional development The Government distributes the re-budgeted allocation powers of the European European European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (ERDF), the European Union and the State's financial contribution approved in an amending budget to be used for Sustainable Growth…

Interreg programmes finance cross-border projects as part of the European Union's cohesion policy. The new programming period 2021-2027 will also bring in cooperation with it a new Interreg programme covering the northern regions of Finland, Sweden and Norway, including South Ostrobothnia and Ostrobothnia in Finland, Västernorrland in Sweden, Nordland in Norway and Sápmi. The programme area corresponds to the current Interreg North and Interreg Bothia-Atlantica programme areas. By answering a short survey, you can Influencing the selection of development areas where our area can best be further developed. The survey is open until 23 November 2020. Respond to and Influencing the new Northern Interreg program Interreg is a part of the EU's cohesion policy for financing cross border projects. The new Interreg program period will be…

In order to secure the downward migration of salmonids, a construction contract worth over EUR 1.5 million will be launched in Haapakoski, Iijoki, in November. The construction of a downhill migration route is a great example of what can be achieved through extensive cooperation. This project will provide us in cooperation with valuable information and experiences that we can use in our future projects," says CEO Jani Pulli from PVO-Vesivoima Oy. The smolts' downward migration path and catchment device consist of a funnel extending to the upper channel of the power plant, flip-flops placed in the funnel, two catchment cage and two pipes, each in cooperation with a diameter of 1 m. The shorter pipe serves as a water discharge pipe as needed. The longer pipe, 130 m, passes through the heel below the dam to the lower channel of the power plant. This tube allows fish to migrate if they are not caught for research or over-transfers. Downhill walkway is used…

The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region is organising a targeted call for applications under the Finnish Structural Funds programme Leverage from the EU 2014-2020. Applications must meet the objectives and measures of the coronavirus action plan for Northern Ostrobothnia and the European European European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (ERDF) (ERDF). Before preparing your application, please take a closer look at the Sustainable Growth and Jobs Structural Fund Programme and the Korona Action Plan for Northern Ostrobothnia. More information about applying.

The evaluation of the regional programme has been carried out in cooperation in cooperation with the regions of Northern Finland and the regional development consultancy MDI, which implements the evaluation. The external evaluation of the regional programme is part of the statutory process of implementing the regional programmes. The external evaluation of the current regional programme 2018-2021 will support and guide the preparation of the new regional programme. The evaluation examined the effectiveness and impact of the Regional Programme for Northern Ostrobothnia, the fstakeholders that supported and hindered the achievement of results and impacts, and the findings of the evaluation were translated into actionable development proposals and recommendations. The evaluation was carried out in a way that was common to all the counties, and the results were reported by county. Check out the final report and the key messages and recommendations of the evaluation at the following link: For more information on the evaluation of the regional programme, please contact Ilpo Tapaninen, Planning Manager, tel. +358 50 301 7546.

The strategy work for tourism in Northern Ostrobothnia is underway, and the views of stakeholders in the field have been surveyed to support the work. The survey was conducted in October. The survey was aimed at tourism entrepreneurs, tourism developers, representatives of tourism Regional Assemblys and educational decision-making bodies, and authorities supporting tourism. The response rate of the survey was 47 per cent. %, and 47 responses were received. In particular, the number of open comments in the survey was gratifyingly high. Thank you to all the respondents! We are currently reviewing the results of the survey, and the results will be used to determine the priorities of the tourism development strategy in Northern Ostrobothnia. The themes highlighted in the survey include digitalisation of tourism, cooperation between tourism stakeholders and raising awareness of the region. Further information: Heikki Ojala, Development Manager, tel. +358 (0)50 433 3951 or e-mail.

The RDI stakeholders of the Oulu Region are actively preparing regional, national and international RDI project applications and looking for opportunities to join project consortiums in cooperation with the aim of advancing digitalisation and automation of the agri-food value chains. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to traceability and food safety in food value chains, collection and utilisation of data throughout food value chains, and digitalisation and automation of food production processes. Our region is currently a member of the following Partnerships of the EU's Smart Specialisation Platform for Agri-Food: Traceability and Big Data High Tech Farming Our project…