Government decides on the regional allocation of REACT-EU funding
On 29 April, the Government decided how to allocate the REACT-EU funding to regions. Close to EUR 255.4 million was allocated to the ongoing structural funds programme ‘Sustainable Growth and Jobs’ for 2014–2020. The REACT-EU funds will be used to help regions recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
All regions of Finland will receive funding which come from the EU and the national counterpart funding.
In line with the European Commission’s country-specific recommendations, funding will support SMEs, R&D activities, digital skills and the development of companies and their personnel’s ability to change.
On 24 March, Parliament approved the REACT-EU funding in its first supplementary budget for 2021. Now that the Government has decided how to allocate the funds, the ELY Centres and regional councils can start to distribute them in their regions. Similarly to all funding for the programming period 2014–2020, these funds should be used by the end of 2023.
Applications accepted by ELY Centres and regional councils
Companies can apply for REACT-EU-related development aid at ELY Centres. More detailed information is available at the website of the ELY Centres.
Organisations, including those involved in business development or research and training, as well as municipalities and other public sector entities may also apply for the REACT-EU funding, which is granted by regional councils and ELY Centres. More information is available on the website of Rakennerahastot.fi.
The same procedures and legislation that the current structural funds programme is subject to also applies to application, allocation, payment, monitoring and follow-up measures of the REACT-EU funding.
Allocation of REACT-EU funding (European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF)) by region (excluding technical support)
| ERDF + State (EUR) | ESF + State (EUR) | Total | |
| South Savo | 9,765,000 | 4,185,000 | 13,950,000 |
| North Karelia | 10,398,000 | 4,457,000 | 14,855,000 |
| North Savo | 13,436,000 | 5,760,000 | 19,196,000 |
| South Karelia | 4,382,000 | 1,879,000 | 6,261,000 |
| Kanta-Häme | 4,811,000 | 2,063,000 | 6,874,000 |
| Kymenlaakso | 5,306,000 | 2,273,000 | 7,579,000 |
| Päijät-Häme | 6,946,000 | 2,975,000 | 9,921,000 |
| Uusimaa | 33,786,000 | 14,479,000 | 48,265,000 |
| Southwest Finland | 11,316,000 | 4,851,000 | 16,167,000 |
| South Ostrobothnia | 6,504,000 | 2,788,000 | 9,292,000 |
| Central Finland | 9,494,000 | 4,069,000 | 13,563,000 |
| Pirkanmaa | 12,782,000 | 5,478,000 | 18,260,000 |
| Ostrobothnia | 4,517,000 | 1,935,000 | 6,452,000 |
| Satakunta | 6,927,000 | 2,970,000 | 9,897,000 |
| Central Ostrobothnia | 3,390,000 | 1,452,000 | 4,842,000 |
| Northern Ostrobothnia | 18,837,000 | 8,074,000 | 26,911,000 |
| Lapland | 11,380,000 | 4,877,000 | 16,257,000 |
| Kainuu | 4,771,000 | 2,044,000 | 6,815,000 |
| Regions in total | 178 748 000 | 76 609 000 | 255 357 000 |
Inquiries:
Tapani Kojonsaari, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7070
Kaisa Saarinen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7001
Call for applications on the Rakennerahastot.fi website (in Finnish)
More funding available to companies as part of the REACT-EU instrument (in Finnish)
Regulation on REACT-EU
More information on the funding programmes of the EU recovery instrument on the Ministry of Finance website (in Finnish)