news

Northern Ostrobothnia-based research, development and innovation stakeholders are constantly preparing new regional, national and international RDI projects, and are looking for opportunities to join new project groups to promote the digitalisation and automation of agriculture and food. The topics of interest include traceability and food safety in food value chains, data collected through the value chain and its utilisation, as well as the digitalisation and automation of food production processes. Northern Ostrobothnia is currently involved in the following EU Smart Specialisation Agriculture Networks: Traceability and Big Data High Tech Farming The following related projects are also coordinated or implemented in the area: AFarCloud - Aggregate Farming in the Cloud DEMETER Food Trace - Developing the traceability and food safety of Northern Ostrobothnia's food chains Labrobot Ruokariihi - A knowledgeable food economy for Northern Ostrobothnia Seafood Age Response - Low Carbon…

Euregio Karelia is a cooperation area between Northern Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, North Karelia and the Republic of Karelia on the border between Finland and Russia. Euregio Karelia was established by an agreement signed on 24 February 2000 and was the first Euroregion to be established on the land border between the European Union and the Russian The Regional Assembly. This year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Euregio Karelia's cooperation. To celebrate the anniversary, we will organise a seminar on 15 December 2020 using remote connections. The seminar will include, among other things, greetings from the Foreign Ministers of Finland and Russia. The programme and registration instructions will be published closer to the date of the seminar. You can follow Euregio Karelia's current events on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuregioKarelia and the website revamped in October: http://www.euregiokarelia.com/en/events

The state of public finances; How can the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia in cooperation withstand? Morning host and facilitator of the discussion is Kimmo Hinno, Mayor of Haapavesi vs. Mayor of Finland, Olli Rehn, Director General of the Bank of Finland The role of municipalities in public finance plans, vs. Permanent Secretary Juha Majanen, Ministry of Finance The creditworthiness of municipalities, Director Heikki Niemeläinen, Municipal Guarantee Centre Afternoon host and facilitator of the discussion is Marjukka Manninen, Director of the The Regional Assembly of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities The complex challenges of forecasting municipal finances, Mayor Päivi Laajalla, City of Oulu Mayor Jouko Manninen, City of Kuusamo Soteteho, Development Manager Sanna Lehtonen, Staff moving from the Regional Assembly of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities to welfare areas, Economic risks and challenges, Negotiating Manager Henrika Nybondas-Kangas, KT Local Government Employers Establishment of the Welfare Area of Northern Ostrobothnia, Director Ilkka Luoma, Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District County Day resolutions, Regional Assembly …

The electric-assisted rickshaw bikes of Raahe will be awarded as the organisation act of Northern Ostrobothnia in 2020. Raahe Cycling Club Ry, which coordinates the activities, receives a prize of 1,000 euros to support its activities. Riksawheels will be used by service homes and other elderly people in Raahe. in cooperation with the Riksapyörä, the elderly get to go outdoors and meet people. Electric-assisted rickshaw bikes are a new way of producing well-being and have emerged as a good service for the elderly. Raahe Cycling Club Ry has brought together new players and managed to build an extensive cooperation network behind the operations. The award, which will be presented on Monday 2 November 2020 at the Regional Parliament of Northern Ostrobothnia, was received by Marko Alatalo, chairman and Tomi Karsikas, vice-chairman of Raahe Cycling Club. The prize was awarded for the second time and was presented by Matias Ojalehto, Chairman of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, and Esko Hassinen, Chairman of the Advisory Board for Organisations.…

Northern Ostrobothnia regional Day 2.11.2020 Dear Minister, Members of Parliament and Members of Parliament, I am very pleased to welcome you to the traditional regional Parliament! This year, exceptionally, we have only one regional day and we meet each other through telecommunications connections. Today's theme is The state of public finances - how can the municipalities of Northern Ostrobothnia in cooperation withstand? We focus strongly on the municipal economy and changes and opportunities in the business environment, and we end the day in cooperation with social and health care discussions. In particular, I would like to welcome today's speakers. We have a really versatile and great programme, thank you to the office holders of the Regional Assembly for that! Oh, my good friends. Last spring, the COVID-19 pandemic hit our society and the whole world unexpectedly and violently, regardless of national borders. Corona has caused a lot of trouble and worries. It's …

In 2014, a joint thematic programme for the extractive sector was drawn up for the Eastern and Northern Finland (IP area). On 27 August 2020, the Regional Assembly of North Karelia and the Regional Assembly of Lapland invited stakeholders and stakeholders in the extractive sector to a discussion event on the update of the theme programme for the extractive sector in Eastern and Northern Finland. After the event, the preparatory work has progressed and on 18 September 2020 the regional leaders of the IP region made a decision to prepare an update of the thematic programme. The aim of the work to be launched is to update the theme programme drawn up in 2014 into an action plan for the extractive sector in Eastern and Northern Finland for 2021-2024 to reflect the changed business environment at national and international level. The Action Plan outlines common key measures to be promoted by the IP region in the extractive sector in the upcoming EU programming period 2021-2027. This will also pave the way for building EU projects in cooperation with international partners. The work is based on the Commission's pilot project in the Economic Transformation of Eastern and Northern Finland (ELMO). Work on the action plan will be carried out between 1 October 2020 and 31 January 2021…

Jari Leathernen, member of the Regional Board of the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region, was elected President of the Baltic Sea Commission at the General Assembly on Wednesday, 21 October 2020. Leathernen won her opponent Annika Sandström from Stockholm. Tomas Mörtsell from Västerbotten, Sweden, was elected Vice-Chair.  He has been running the organization for two years. His two-year extension began at the General Assembly. Jari Leathernen considers his re-election a success during the previous Presidency. It's great that Northern Ostrobothnian expertise is valued in an international network of regions," says Leathernen. Significant advocacy work for the Baltic Sea regions continues towards the European Union on transport, energy, climate and maritime issues. In addition, I would like to shift more focus to smart specialisation, the bioeconomy and the Arctic dimension. These are the key areas of Influencing for my next Presidency, stresses Leathernen. The Baltic Sea Commission is one of the six Commissions in the European Joint Organisation…

Digital skills are civic skills, and taking care of them is a matter for the whole of Finland. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region will continue the regional coordination of digital support in the Northern Ostrobothnia Digital Support project in cooperation with further funding from the Ministry of Finance. In 2020, a total of 14 regional projects were granted state aid for the regional coordination of digital support, of which 11 are follow-on projects and three are new projects. The state aid was granted by the Ministry of Finance. The Digital and Population Data Services Agency takes care of the national coordination of digital support and also guides the work of the Regional Assemblys. – Digital support belongs to everyone and we are looking forward to further developing it in our own region. It is also a pleasure to involve new regions in the digital support cooperation, says Maria Puotiniemi and Heidi Niemelä of the Northern Ostrobothnia digital support project. The organisation of digital support contributes to ensuring that all citizens have sufficient digital skills and the opportunity to use the services of the authorities equally in Finland. The projects of the Regional Assemblys gather…

Well-being and participating young people are the biggest fstakeholders in the vitality and competitiveness of municipalities and the region. It is natural that young people in the region of young people can Influencing their own future and what kind of place Northern Ostrobothnia is to live and live in the future. The Regional Assembly of Oulu Region has received grants from the Regional State Administrative Agency for Northern Finland (PSAVI/4806/2020) for the development of local and regional activities in the field of youth. The POPNUVA – Involving and influencing young people project has now started to promote the growth, independence and Participation and Inclusion of young people from Northern Ostrobothnia in society. The project develops the operating model and working methods of the Northern Ostrobothnia Regional Youth Regional Assembly and strengthens the participation and advocacy skills of regional and local Regional Youth Regional Assemblys, municipal youth services, decision-makers and officials, and develops participation and advocacy structures and operating methods. The project is managed by the Regional Assembly of Oulu Region and implemented by the municipality of Tyrnävä. Steering group organized…

The presentations of the Northern Ostrobothnia Welfare Forum held on 13 October 2020 can be found here.