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:
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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 Southwest
Finland - St. Petersburg and Northwest Russia
• Union of the Baltic Cities - UBC
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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 process
Promoting 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
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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
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Transition from education to working life
Harmonizing certificates and education contents
Labour market monitoring: changing good practices
Activities in social dialog
Contacts
City of Turku
Mikko Lohikoski
Director of External Affairs
UBC Strategy Coordinator
Turku process coordinator
tel. +358 50 5590 238
[email protected]
www.turku.fi
www.turkuprocess.fi
Centrum Balticum/ Turku process secretariat
Helinä Yli-Knuutila
UBC Strategy work
Turku process coordination
tel. +358 40 5097 139
[email protected]
www.centrumbalticum.org