Europe Day is annually celebrated on May 9th. In 2022, we will spend the day in Kajaani in an...
Regional Council of Kainuu
Your Regional Development Partner
Kainuu region consists of 8 municipalities. The size of our region is comparable to Belgium. However, the population density in Kainuu is only as much as 3,6 inhabitants per km2, when in Belgium the number is more than ten times higher.
Our distance from the Finnish capital Helsinki is 568 km, and approximately 2 000 km from Brussels. However, the distance from Saint Petersburg is about 500 km.
The Regional Council of Kainuu is here to promote the vitality and sustainable development of Kainuu region and the well-being of its inhabitants. We are responsible for the general development of the region and the regional land use planning. Our organisation promotes the livelihoods of Kainuu region through its role as the funding authority for EU programmes.
Co-operation within the region, on national and international levels is important for us.
Kainuu is full of opportunities and we want to be your development partner. Please don’t hesitate to contact us in case you see any possibilities for cooperation with us!
If you can’t find what you’re looking for on our site, please tell us and we’ll try our best to improve the situation. We are here for you!
Kainuu region is a Northern combination of vitality, peace of nature, state-of-the-art technology and smooth everyday life. New know-how and business are currently emerging especially around the wood industry, ICT, tourism, bioeconomy, circular economy and the creative industries. Kainuu’s economic growth and the well-being of its residents are supported by the sustainable use of natural resources and smart technologies.
In the future, Kainuu needs a wide range of new experts. Whether you are looking for a job or new business opportunities for your company. Come and create your own dream in Kainuu, the center of Finland!
Latest News in English
NABL (Northern Axis Barents Link) Project is Coming to End
The project final meeting in Narvik focused on Arctic logistics solutions and the wind power potential On April 20-21,...
Open Call for Experimental Funding to Develop Cultural Activities
The Kulttuuri-Kainuu project is opening a call for funding aimed at the cultural actors and municipalities in Kainuu. The...
Webinar “Smart Specialization and Digital Transformation as a Part of Upcoming Call for Proposals”
The EU regional and structural policy programme “Innovation and Skills in Finland” 2021−2027 has been launched. The Regional Council...
Regional Council of Kainuu Supporting Ukraine
The regional board of Kainuu has unanimously and unequivocally condemned the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine and decided to...
28 Participants from 15 Countries Attended More Than 100 Meetings at the International Sales Workshop of Arctic Lakeland
The first virtual sales event arranged by the Arctic Lakeland Kainuu tourism area on 23rd February attracted almost 30...
Some of our Ongoing Processes
Kainuu Programme
The Regional programmes direct funding to the most important development measures.
The Regional programmes usually are updated every four years.
The Kainuu Programme update process has been started in 2020.
Updating the Regional Plan for Windpower Construction
Where can new wind farms be established in Kainuu? The preparation of a new phased regional plan for wind power has been launched. Revising the current plan has become topical, as the rapidly evolving industry allows for new perspectives and new potential areas for wind power production.
The Climate and Environmental Strategy
What does the environmentally responsible Kainuu look like? The regional environmental and climate goals are currently being updated in the project "Climatewise and Environmentally Responsible Kainuu" project, to be later incorporated into the regional plan and program. Check out the project site!
What's Special About Kainuu Region?
Destination: Kainuu!
Come and explore the possibilities of Kainuu, whether you are looking for a new home, for leisure activities, health services, schools or if you want to start your own business here.
Kainuu region offers you four distinctive seasons, sound of silence and space to breathe, but there's so much more to it. Whether you want peace and silence, fun with the family or experiential activities, in Kainuu you will find it. We have experiences for every taste and season!
Kainuu Facts and Figures
Are you looking for information about Kainuu? You'll find several kinds of statistics and infographs on a dedicated section of our web pages. There you'll find information related to population, migration, our key industries, employment, transport, education as well as the state of the environment in Kainuu. On the Information Services section, you can also get acquainted with the current plans, studies and reports published by the Regional Council of Kainuu.
At the moment, most of the documents are only for Finnish, but we're working on some English materials!
Pentti Malinen
At the office of Regional Council, we are the developers, planners as well as the advocates for Kainuu region. Our skilled and enthusiastic staff is a team with which we promote the vitality and success of Kainuu as instructed by our regional, political decision-makers. I find the potential of our region excellent. As the regional Mayor, I want to put myself out there for Kainuu and communicate about the region’s will to develop, about our hopes and our success stories. On our web sites you will find the core issues about our activities and a description of Kainuu as a region, as well as its attractions that we are proud of.
Pentti Malinen, Regional Director