Turku process and role of local and regional authorities in promoting cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region

Mikko Lohikoski 21.3.2012, St. Petersburg

Turku – The Oldest City in Finland•Turku is Finland’s historical centre for culture and education

• The oldest city in Finland (1229)• The first university in Finland,

Turun Akatemia (1640)

•The City of Higher Education• Turku University and Åbo Akademi

University• 35 000 university and higher

education students• Turku University is a top-level

research university, world rank 2011.¹

Sources: ¹ University of Jiao Tong 2006, ² Ministry of Education 2006

Economical center in the region

• Five leading fields are: The bio field ICT The Maritime industry Logistics Tourism

The Central Position of the City of Turku

Active cooperation partner in the Baltic Sea Region•St. Petersburg

• Twin city to Turku since 1953• A special Turku Centre to be established in order to promote

trade and network building between actors in SouthwestFinland - St. Petersburg and Northwest Russia

•Union of the Baltic Cities - UBC• Regional organization of more than 100 cities in the Baltic Sea Region. • Platform for mutual cooperation and ex-change• Turku has positions of UBC Vice-president and Strategy Coordinator• UBC is working through active networking, and based on the principle of

sustainable urban development• Promotion of the Baltic Sea Region as a dynamic, competitive and

prosperous region

Turku processPromoting effective cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region

•Partners• Cities of St. Petersburg, Hamburg and Turku/Region of Southwest

Finland• The European Commission/ DG REGIO• Leningrad oblast, Kaliningrad

•Ways of working• Bringing partners together across the border• Informal and active-orientated• Round tables, forums, common initiatives

•Shared key interests• Common action for common challenges• Environment, Innovative enterprises, Labour Market

Shared project initiatives•Environment: Water cycle and Agriculture

• Focus on Waste Prevention• Waste water Management e.g. education and training in Vodokanal• Hazardous waste Management• Agriculture/Manure e.g. Handling of manure as a energy resource• Public awareness e.g. training, web, publications

•Innovative Enterprise: Exchange on Energy Saving• Network of Knowledge and Scientific collaboration• Linking Russian and European technology platforms• Increase of energy efficiency, cost-reduction

•Labour Market: Competence correspondence, monitoring• Transition from education to working life• Harmonizing certificates and education contents• Labour market monitoring: changing good practices• Activities in social dialog

City of TurkuMikko LohikoskiDirector of External AffairsUBC Strategy CoordinatorTurku process coordinatortel. +358 50 5590 238mikko.lohikoski@turku.fiwww.turku.fiwww.turkuprocess.fi

Centrum Balticum/ Turku process secretariatHelinä Yli-KnuutilaUBC Strategy workTurku process coordinationtel. +358 40 5097 139helina.yli-knuutila@centrumbalticum.orgwww.centrumbalticum.org

Contacts