The Interreg Aurora Programme announced the selected projects on November 24th. They stated on their website that there is a great interest for cross-border cooperation and the opportunities for funding from the new Interreg Aurora Programme.
– We are impressed of the width of the approved projects in the first call. The projects address relevant needs and challenges and will strengthen the competitiveness, sustainability, and attractiveness of the whole Programme area, says Andreas Sjölander, chair of the Steering Committee meeting for sub-area Aurora.
The Kvarken Council applied for 3 of the 27 approved projects
The Steering Committee for sub-area Aurora approved several interesting projects lead by for example research and educational institutes in the Programme area. Three of these 27 approved projects are projects that the Kvarken Council, together with its partners, applied for; Bothnian Coastal Route (BCR), a tourism project aiming to increase the attractiveness of the coastal route across the Kvarken and around the Bothnian Bay. Bothnia Green Energy supporting the cross-border collaboration in the development of sustainable energy solutions. And the third one, Nordic Battery Belt – Feasibility study, gathering the region’s battery technology actors to investigate needs and the content of a larger implementation project about for example competence supply, regional marketing, and education (more details about these projects below).
– This is great news. We want to thank the granted funding, our active members and partners who initiated the projects based on the needs of the region, as well as those who refined the ideas and worked on the applications. Now we must roll up our sleeves and manage the projects well to further develop the region into a place where residents and businesses can establish and ratify themselves, grow and operate with the best possible conditions, says Mathias Lindström, the Director of the Kvarken Council.
The three approved projects applied by Kvarken Council EGTC in short:
Bothnian Coastal Route (BCR) – A tourism project aiming to increase the attractiveness of the coastal route across the Kvarken and around the Bothnian Bay
Budget and funding: The total budget of this project is 2 712 677,00 EUR, whereof 1 763 241,00 EUR EU-funding via the Interreg Aurora programme. The rest of the funding comes from Finnish national and Swedish regional co-funding, from the Nordic Council of Ministers and from municipal and private co-funding.
Project partners: The partnership consists of Kvarken Council EGTC (lead part and coordinating beneficiary), the city of Kalajoki, Luleå Business Region AB, the city of Oulu/ Business Oulu, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, Visit Skellefteå AB and Visit Umeå AB.
Financiers: Interreg Aurora, Regional Council of Lapland, Region Västerbotten, Kvarken Council EGTC, Umeå Municipality/ Visit Umeå AB, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, City of Kalajoki, Luleå Business Region AB, City of Oulu/ BusinessOulu, Visit Skellefteå AB, City of Vaasa, Kokkola Tourism Ltd, Haparanda municipality/ Haparanda/Tornio, Bothnian Arc ry, City of Jakobstad, Piteå municipality, Kemi Tourism Ltd, NLC Ferry Ab Oy
Project timetable: The runtime of this project is three years, from the beginning of 2023 until the end of 2025.
Bothnia Green Energy – will stimulate the cross-border collaboration and investments in sustainable energy solutions in the geographical area around Kvarken
Budget and funding: The total budget of this project is 1 918 400,00 EUR, whereof 1 120 969,00 EUR EU-funding via the Interreg Aurora programme. The rest of the funding comes from Finnish national and Swedish regional co-funding, from the Nordic Council of Ministers and from municipal and private co-funding.
Project partners: The project partnership consists of the Kvarken Council EGTC (lead part and coordinating beneficiary), Jakobstad Region Development Company Concordia, Kokkola Region Development Company KOSEK, Oy Merinova Ab, Skellefteå Science City AB, Umeå Municipality, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK and Övik Energi.
Financiers: Interreg Aurora, Regional Council of Lapland, Region Västerbotten, Region Västernorrland, Kvarken Council EGTC, Jakobstad Region Development Company Concordia, Vaasa Region Development Company VASEK, Oy Merinova Ab, Umeå Municipality, Skellefteå Municipality, Örnsköldsvik Municipality, City of Vaasa, City of Kokkola, Umeå Energi, Skellefteå Kraft, Övik Energi, Vaasan sähkö, Katternö/ Herrfors, Kokkolan Energia
Project timetable: The runtime of this project is three years, from the beginning of 2023 until the end of 2025.
Nordic Battery Belt – Feasibility study – will gather the region’s battery technology actors to investigate needs and the content of a larger implementation project about for example competence supply, regional marketing and education
Budget and funding: The total budget of this project is 40 000,00 EUR, whereof 26 000,00 EUR EU-funding via the Interreg Aurora programme. The rest of the funding comes from Finnish national and Swedish regional co-funding and from the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Project partners: The project partnership consists of the Kvarken Council EGTC (lead part and coordinating beneficiary) and MidtSkandia.
Financiers: Interreg Aurora, Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, Region Västerbotten, Kvarken Council EGTC, MidtSkandia
Project timetable: The runtime of this project is 1.11.2022–31.7.2023.
Continue reading on Interreg Aurora webpage HERE.
List of approved Interreg Aurora projects, call 1, HERE.
In the end of November a pre kick-off event for the Interreg Aurora project Bothnia Green Energy was held in Kokkola.