Linking green & digital policies in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region Venla Virkamäki Advanced Technology Policies for Green and Circular Industry –webinar, 10.2.2021 Senior Adviser, EU-Affairs Helsinki-Uusimaa in a Nutshell • Helsinki-Uusimaa consists of 26 municipalities, including the Finnish capital Helsinki; with 1,7 million inhabitants • Several world-class research institutes & universities, active development companies and over 100 000 companies - The region has the highest percentage of R&D in Finland • Scores high in digital economy indexes and in smart city comparisons • The engine for economic growth in Finland Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council Developer of the Region • Joint regional authority, mandated in law • Regional and land-use planning, promotion of local and regional interests, long term regional development goals and conditions for sustainable development • Receives its funding from the 26 member municipalities • Budget 8,7 Million € • Vision: “Helsinki Region 2050 – Cool & the Most Vibrant Region in Europe” Our policies are based on national targets • Government program of Finland (2019): • Carbon neutral Finland by 2035 • Finland is a forerunner in circular economy • Finland is a forerunner in developing and introducing new solutions enabled by digitalisation and technological advances • Strategic programme to promote circular economy (2021) “We carry out regional circular economy ecosystem experiments, in which digital platforms are developed, piloted and scaled up into national and European operating models. Finland can be a pioneer and start developing and coordinating a European data sharing architecture applicable to the circular economy” Policy tools enabling digital green transition Climate Neutral Helsinki-Uusimaa 2035 Roadmap Recovery plan for the Helsinki-Uusimaa 2020- 2023 • The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region has four focus areas for green recovery: 1. Accessibility 2. Helsinki-Uusimaa as forerunner in carbon neutrality and circular economy 3. Strengthening digitalisation and sustainability 4. Emphasising international ecosystems, competence and research, development, and innovation activities The smart specialisation strategy of the Resource Wise Helsinki-Uusimaa • As a regional innovation strategy, a significant policy tool for sustainable and green growth based on innovation and digitalization • steers funding and mobilizes investments • strengthens innovation ecosystems and clusters • used in interregional and international cooperation • 3 strategic priorities: • Climate Neutrality • Citizens’ City • Industrial Modernisation (=digital transformation) Bridging digitalisation and circular economy effective digital tools collection to close the systems in the dense urban material structure loops circularity and compentence Cities as digitalisation in and construction, piloting strong textile and platforms RDI sector plastic sector Circular Valley of the Helsinki Uusimaa Region – Promoting circularity via circular hubs Key messages • In the region important are: • Orchestrating the ecosystem (together with the stakeholders) • search for suitable partners • pooling of different areas of competence • Regional Council can act as an orchestrator • Case Circular Valley (strengthen the regional ecosystem and bridging the gaps) • The Role of Development companies important in search of new innovations and fostering local hubs and networks • City as a service –platforms for piloting Thank you! Venla Virkamäki [email protected].