EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - The Regional Centre Programme in Finland

The Regional Centre Programme in Finland

Introduction

Expertise – Specialisation – Co-operation – Networking – Vitality – Welfare

The Regional Centre Programme is a government special programme in accordance with the Regional Development Act. Its objective is the establishment of a network of regional centres covering every region/province for the development of the strengths, specialisation and cooperation of urban regions. RCP is implemented on 34 regions.

Proposition

Urban centres are locomotive in expertise-led economic growth. A large proportion of businesses, higher education and research institutions is situated in urban regions. High level expertise, a creative and safe working environment and functioning services are the basis of Finland’s competitiveness. The expertise base in urban regions is strengthened with the aid of the Regional Centre Programme.

By European standards Finnish urban regions are small with greater distances separating them. All urban regions, however, possess the prerequisites for success. Through the special expertise of businesses in their region they are genuine operators in global networks.

Finland needs diverse urban regions. Through the urban network everyone’s expertise and strengths are efficiently brought into play. The Regional Centre Programme strengthens networks between urban regions nationally and internationally.

Description

The Regional Centre Programme is implemented as part of the Government's urban policy strategy and provincial development. The objective is to strengthen the network of regional centres covering all provinces through the development of the strengths and expertise, the basis and structures, and the specialisation and cooperative models of regional centres.

The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for the national coordination of the Regional Centre Programme. Municipalities taking part in the programme decide jointly on management and coordination of the programme for their region.

The government assigns basic finance for management of programmes, coordination of functions and the setting in motion of measures for implementing the programme.

Programme period 2001-2006

Results of programme period I of the Regional Centre Programme:

urban area actors are more conscious than before of the responsibility for generating vitality in their region.
municipalities taking part in the programme have increased their goal-orientated cooperation
municipalities have intensified their strategic cooperation especially in business politics and service development
municipalities have strengthened the regional cooperation base by reciprocal agreement and have organised and renewed cooperation structures
private and public sector actors have made the expertise base more effective with their strengthening cooperation networks.

Programme period 2007-2010

The Regional Centre Programme concentrates on strengthening vitality and competitiveness and cultivating social capital in urban regions.

Focuses are:

company orientated development and implementation of business and specialisation strategies
strengthening of the urban region expertise base especially in fields of specialisation
development of an attractive operating and innovation environment
generating of new modes of operation for innovative activity
public and private sector partnership on various administrative levels.

Contact info

Ministry of the Interior / Department for Development of Regions and Public Administration
PO Box 26
FI-00023 Government
Finland
http://www.intermin.fi
Mrs. Ulla-Maija Laiho (Project Manager), tel. +358 9 160 43430

Publication date

01/03/2001

Article info
Organisation: Ministry of the Interior

Links

RCP website Aluekeskusohjelmat 2001-2006 Evalution report in Finnish

Document type

policy

Themes

Urban Policy

Keywords

Social inclusion & integration, Economy knowledge & employment