Member Profile

East and North Finland

Presentation of the Region

Nature, the refining of natural resources, and strong technological expertise have created the foundation for economic development in East and North Finland (ENF). Complimentary competences such as digital expertise support the traditional industries and are also growing business sectors themselves in East and North Finland. The area as a whole is one of EU´s Northern Sparsely Populated Areas with population of 1,27 million inhabitants covering a surface area of over 235 450 km2. Abundant natural resources and top-notch expertise are the foundation for growth in the East and North Finland region.

RIS3 Priorities

The shared Smart Specialisation Strategy for the East and North Finland region aims to respond to the European challenge of a sustainable economy that is decoupled from fossil raw materials, where the utilisation of digital technologies boosts the green transition (digital green transition). The smart energy transition, digital solutions and low-carbon economy create development needs and business opportunities that can be seized through strong cooperation between the public sector, civil society, research and innovation actors and the business sector. Clusters and value networks formed by RDI actors and the business life create a basis for coordinated development work.The ENF region offers solutions and new operating models for the global sustainability challenge by pooling the high-standard expertise of RDI organisations and businesses.

The priority areas in the Smart Specialisation Strategy for East and North Finland regions – clean solutions, utilisation of digitalisation and sustainable service production – support the practical implementation of the strategy by specifying the common areas of expertise as well as the related top-level expertise in the regions. The priority areas are linked by the opportunities related to sustainable development and digitalisation. Through the strategic priority areas, the ENF region acts as a promoter of innovations and a driver of RDI cooperation in Finland and on the international scale.

Political Representatives
Teppo Rekilä

Director of Regional Vitality, Regional Council of Central Ostrobothnia

Regional Contact Persons
Jouni Ponnikas

Regional Development Director, Regional Council of Kainuu

Brussels Contact Persons
Eerikki Vainio

Senior Advisor, East And North Finland EU Office

Regional Address

East And North Finland EU Office
24, Avenue Palmerston
1000 Brussels
Belgium

European Week of Regions and Cities: Vanguard Initiative Regions boosting the Digital Transition

The Vanguard Initiative (VI) workshop organised in the framework of the European Week of Regions and Cities, provided a valuable opportunity to discuss h

Vanguard Initiative workshop at the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC): Connecting Regional Innovation Ecosystems:

The Vanguard Initiative (VI) workshop organised in the framework of the EWRC, provided a valuable opportunity to discuss how European

VI at the European Week of Region and Cities

Vanguard Initiative, jointly with the VI Regions East Netherlands, Asturias, Baden Württemberg, East and North Finland, Emilia Romagna, Scotland, Slovenia, and South Neth

The Bioeconomy in East and North Finland. Boosting the green transition across the Vanguard initiative network.

The Bioeconomy Pilot, in collaboration with regions of East and North Finland, joining the Vanguard network at the beginning of 2024, promotes two events to present the state-of-t

The Bioeconomy in East and North Finland. Boosting the green transition across the Vanguard initiative network.

The Bioeconomy Pilot, in collaboration with regions of East and North Finland, joining the Vanguard network at the beginning of 2024, promotes two events to present the state-of-t

EWRC: Connecting Regional Innovation Ecosystems: Interregional Value Chains to spur the Digital transition

Vanguard Initiative, jointly with the VI Regions East Netherlands, Asturias, Baden Württemberg, East and North Finland, Emilia Romagna, Scotland, Slovenia, and South Neth