Secure Finland
Secure Finland is a national theme under the Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2027 EU regional and structural policy programme. Its objective is to strengthen the security, defence readiness and crisis resilience of Finland and Europe in the changed security environment. The theme supports Finland’s and the EU’s defence‑strategic objectives as well as the development of defence capability and security of supply. The development of the defence industry and dual‑use transport infrastructure also strengthens regional competitiveness and promotes employment.
The theme consists of two priority areas that were added to the programme as part of the programme amendment linked to the mid‑term evaluation:
- Priority area 8: Finland promoting the production of dual‑use items (approx. EUR 97 million)
- Priority area 9: Finland building security (approx. EUR 203 million)
Each priority area contains one specific objective that describes the content of the programme in more detail.
Priority area 8: Finland promoting the production of dual‑use items
Specific objective 8.1: Enhancing the industrial capacity supporting defence industry and dual use
The aim is to support the investments and RDI activities of companies developing and manufacturing defence equipment and dual-use technology that enhance the capacity of these companies to develop and produce defence material and dual-use items, and their technological expertise. The aim is also to promote the growth of these companies in domestic and foreign markets, and boost their productivity.
Priority area 9: Finland building security
Specific objective 9.1: Development of dual‑use transport infrastructure enhancing military mobility
The investments will improve transport networks so that they can meet military requirements, which will also benefit passenger traffic, commercial transport, and crisis management capabilities at EU level. The measures will strengthen cross-border infrastructure, remove bottlenecks, improve preparedness and increase the resilience of regions and critical supply chains. Transport infrastructure investments enhancing military mobility set out in this specific objective may be carried out in the entire programme area of Mainland Finland, with the exception of the Uusimaa region.
Further information on the specific objectives
More detailed descriptions of the specific objectives can be found in the programme document: Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021–2027.
Theme governance
For Priority area 8, all four Economic Development Centres acting as intermediate bodies under the EU regional and structural policy programme serve as intermediate bodies: the Centres for Economic Development in Southeast Finland, Central Finland, Eastern Finland and Northern Finland.
For Priority area 9, the national intermediate body is the Economic Development Centre of Northern Finland.
Calls for project applications under the theme can be found in the EURA 2021 system.
The steering group of the theme is chaired by the Ministry of Defence, and the secretariat is coordinated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Additional information
Contact persons for each call can be found in the calls for project applications in the EURA 2021 system.