National urban policy and framework for URBACT URBACT Info Day 5 Nov 2014 Olli Voutilainen Cities are innovators and accelerators of growth Importance of cities in creating growth is a long-standing emphasis of Finland s urban policy also visible in the Government programme The role of urban regions is highlighted in the current situation, in which new sources of growth are called for Cities are fruitful ground to create different kind of organisational and concept innovations and to show example as first movers
Current Government active in relation to cities Government programme on growth agreements ( city deals ): Contract-based urban development policy will be continued in which state, universities, cities and public development companies agree on (joint) longstanding actions for development. This policy is conducted in major urban regions in the whole Finland. Growth Agreements in a nutshell Growth agreements are an instrument for urban policy which make stronger the partnership between the Government and the major cities. Main goal is jointly identify and priorise the action points which generate growth, and take those actions forward together by both parties, cities and the state.
Growth agreements have been made with major cities City Deals made between the 12 major cities and the central Government. Actions on 1) competitiveness and resilience, 2) landuse, housing and transportation and 3) social sustainability. Innovative Cities scheme (INKA) supports the implementation of the growth agreements Contents and shared themes are Innovative public procurement in cities Re-development of railway station areas as urban spaces Development of university campuses EU funding for Sustainable urban development has been linked to growth agreements in relevant cities, aiming at better impact EU-driven urban development tools actively utilised in Finland EU-instruments even more important when national funding gets smaller in numbers The influx of ideas and innovations on urban development from outside is truly valuable; especially URBACT EU Urban Agenda in preparation puts cities role higher in importance; Finland s active contributions in place
Sustainable urban development / Six Cities Strategy / 6-Aika EU Sustainable urban development funding is channeled to six cities ITI strategy (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Tampere, Turku, Oulu) Joint themes of the cities are 1) open innovation platforms, 2) utilisation of open data and 3) open participation Open calls for projects expected in 2015 Six Cities Strategy has attracted some positive international attention URBACT programme could link to Six Cities by feeding good practices in the relevant themes and creating ideas of actions/projects to be implemented Some further EU tools for urban development Urban Development Network: Kaupunkikehittämisen erillisrahoitusta (5 %) saavien kaupunkien ja innovatiiviset kaupunkitoimet rahoitusta saavien kaupunkien EU-tasoinen verkosto perusteilla ITI-kehittämiseen ja sen haasteisiin liittyvä kokemustenvaihto / innovatiivisten toimien toteuttamiseen liittyvä kokemustenvaihto Innovative Urban Actions: Väline uusien kaupunkiratkaisujen testaamiseen, komissio vetää kokonaisuutta Yhteensä rahoitusta 330 Meur, yhden hankkeen max. rahoitus 5 Meur kolmelle vuodelle (tukiosuus jopa 80 %), hakijoina kaupungit väh. 50 000 as. Smart Cities and Communities kumppanuusaloite ja Horisonttitutkimusohjelman lighthouse-rahoitus
URBACT connecting cities Transfer of good practices and experiences and capacity building in urban issues Creation of knowledge and solutions to urban challenges and problems Mode of operation thematic networks in which 8-12 cities, funded by appr. 700 000 euro / network Always cities from different parts of Europe 9 Finland has 4 cities in 7 networks Helsinki C.T.U.R-verkostossa (Risteilysatamakaupunkien vetovoiman kehittäminen) Jyväskylä Creative Clusters verkostossa (Luovuuus ja kulttuuri pienten ja keskisuurten kaupunkien talouden moottorina) Pori SURE-verkostossa (Paikallistalouksien monipuolistaminen elvyttämällä heikosti kehittyviä kaupunginosia innovatiivisilla sosioekonomisilla tavoilla) Pori (Prizztech) N.O.S.E.-verkostossa (Urbaanit sosiaalisten yritysten hautomot) Pori Place-making pilottiverkostossa (kaupunginosien elävöittäminen) Tampere EUniversities-verkostossa (Seuraavan sukupolven kumppanuudet kaupunkien ja yliopistojen välillä) (Delft) Tampere My Generation at work verkostossa (Nuorten työllistyvyyden vahvistaminen yrittäjyyden kautta) (Rotterdam) 10
URBACT III how the programme is expected to be renewed Thematically more focused and more user-friendly, less administrative tasks More strategic approach and more oriented to the paths leading to actions in cities Total funding will grow (more description on Melody s presentation) Some novelties of URBACT III URBACT III will have 3 kinds of networks, some of them more orientation to the focus on implementation Capacity building for policy makers, decision makers and others will be increased (e.g. national training and citytailored advice) Connections to national urban policies will be reinforced (e.g. National Contact Points and national benchmarking events)
Value added of URBACT from the Finnish point of view Thematic experts bringing top-end knowledge and professional facilitation to the networks Pole managers as providers of synthetic knowledge on a certain theme (example: Cities and resilience) Systematic ways of importing solutions from abroad in a multilateral network Window for marketing city s own proven practices abroad and establishing (more permanent) links of exchange 13 Enemmän: www.urbact.eu