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 [email protected]
Centrum Balticum/ Turku process secretariatHelinä Yli-KnuutilaUBC Strategy workTurku process coordinationtel. +358 40 5097 139helina.yli-knuutila@centrumbalticum.orgwww.centrumbalticum.org
Contacts
Top Related