National themes

It has been agreed that part of the funding provided for the Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2027 programme from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) will be allocated to national themes. The national themes are strategically important development themes whose preparation is coordinated by various ministries. However, their implementation takes place within the scope of the programme’s defined activities.

At most six per cent of overall ERDF funding and at most 20 per cent of ESF+ funding will be allocated to the national themes. The Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) that carry out structural fund activities act as interme-diate bodies under the national themes.et.

Half the ERDF’s national funding will be allocated to the “Innovation and competence net-works” theme prepared in cooperation by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the Ministry of Education and Culture. The remaining ERDF funding will be allocated to “Energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reductions”, “Climate change mitigation and adoption”, and “Carbon neutral circular economy society” themes prepared by the Ministry of the Environment.  ​​​​​

The national themes under ESF+ funding have been prepared across different administra-tive sectors in cooperation between three ministries: the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

The ESF+ themes that support employment highlight current issues, including matching in labour markets, improving access of people with partial work ability to employment, social entrepreneurship, the development of working life, and supporting the integration of immigrants.

The competence theme includes broad development areas, including the national themes of continuous learning and strengthening innovation skills in creative industries. misen valtakunnalliset teemat. 

The theme that supports inclusion covers the following development areas: “Developing services for children, young people and families, and promoting their wellbeing”, “Providing support for people with difficulties in finding a job”, “Promoting equality and non-discrimination, preventing disadvantages”, and “Support and coordination for inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination in European Social Fund activities in 2021–2027”.

Descriptions of the national themes are available here. (in Finnish)