Priorities for development – Ostrobothnia

Ostrobothnia’s regional strategy and its innovation and growth strategy establish the region’s main development targets for 2022–2025.  
The priorities and measures outlined in the regional strategy are based on the key development challenges for Ostrobothnia:

Resource-smart society 

  • Focus on sustainable energy solutions, the circular economy, climate-smart innovations and community planning

Growth from digitalisation 

  • Focus on business development and digitalisation, user-friendly services and smart digital systems

Adequate talent pool 

  • Focus on the availability of workforce and competence

Keeping everyone on board 

  • Emphasis on the sense of togetherness, inclusion and wellbeing

The implementation of the Innovation and Skills in Finland programme is closely linked to the smart specialisation strategies of regions (S3), especially to the special objective 1.1 Enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies.

The Ostrobothnian strategy for smart specialisation

Ostrobothnia’s smart specialisation strategy (strategy for innovation and growth) is based on the following cornerstones:

  • The region’s international economy and global competition, which set high requirements for the innovation and renewal capacity of companies and the innovation system at large.
  • New cooperation models, strong research and development operations and a competent workforce. By developing our competence in these fields, we create favourable conditions for new solutions and operating models, as well as for growth through innovation.
  • Changes required in the manufacturing industry, new technology and competence, and measures promoting the emergence of export sectors.

The smart specialisation strategy outlines four priorities, which aim to generate growth, cooperation and renewal:

  • Advanced production methods and automation technology (e.g. the application of robotics, 3D printing and augmented reality, and the integration of different technologies).
  • Digital solutions in different sectors (e.g. the application of IoT, Big Data and artificial intelligence, and the development of new work methods, processes and services).
  • Energy technology and solutions for renewable energy systems (e.g. optimisation, supervision and cybersecurity of smart electricity grids, energy storage, integration of different energy production methods, flexibility of energy production).
  • The circular economy and a carbon neutral economy (circular economy operating models, product and process design for the circular economy and system-level solutions, renewable future fuels and sustainable transport solutions).

The regional cooperation group annually approves and reviews the region’s strategic priorities in terms of funding in accordance with the Innovation and Skills in Finland 2021−2027 programme (ERDF/ESF and JTF).