‘Planning for Structural Change – SMEs and resilient rural regions’

The webinar will raise new views and research results on SMEs’ resilience in rural regions. How the growth and internationalization can be supported by different regional policy instruments? What we can learn form and how we can advance the Triple Helix model?

Presentations
Matti Muhos, Director, Kerttu Saalasti Institute, University of Oulu – Opening
John Hobbs, Senior Lecturer Economics, Munster Technological University (MTU), Ireland – Co-learning in FOUNDATION
Marjo Kolehmainen, CEO, Federation of Finnish Enterprises Northern Ostrobothnia
Tiina Rajala, Development Director, Council of Oulu Region
Jaakko Simonen, Associate professor, Department of Economics, Accounting and Finance in Oulu Business School, University of Oulu

Panel discussion: Strengthening the competitiveness of SMEs in rural regions - Triple-helix collaboration in rural regions
Grounding for the discussion: Ossi Kotavaara, Research director, Regional Excellence (REx), Kerttu Saalasti Institute, University of Oulu – FOUNDATION regional analysis

Panelists
Janne Hietaniemi, Project Manager, International affairs, NIHAK ry
Ville Isoherranen, ‎Director, School of Engineering and Natural Resources, Oulu University of Applied Sciences
Tapio Koivu, Vice Rector for Education, the University of Oulu
Tiina Rajala, Development Director, Council of Oulu Region
Tiina Suutari, Group Leader, Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment, Northern Ostrobotnia

FOUNDATION regional analysis of growing and international SMEs at Nivala-Haapajärvi sub-region gives a grounding for the discussion. What kind of message we would wish to transfer for regional policy developers? How research, development, and innovation (RDI) activities, (location-free) education, and structural funds instruments could better support the competitiveness of SMEs in rural regions?

The webinar is arranged by Regional Excellence (REx) research group on Thursday 10.6.2021 at 12-14 EET (11-13 CET) as a part of FOUNDATION-project, funded by Interreg Europe.
The seminar will be online or hybrid. Please register via this link