New Economic Development Centres to promote regional vibrancy

“Ten Economic Development Centres will start operations on 1 January 2026. The reform on regional state administration will create comprehensive and cost-effective state administration services in regions to promote sustainable growth, competitiveness and attractiveness,” Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto said at a press conference on the launch of the Centres.

The establishment of Economic Development Centres is part of the reform of regional state administration included in the Programme of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo’s Government. At the same time, the operations of 15 Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) will end.

The new Economic Development Centres will continue the work of their predecessor, the ELY Centres, without interruption but with broader shoulders and closer cooperation."

“The expectations on the Economic Development Centres are high. The aim of the Centres is to provide more support for the vibrancy of regions than before. Cooperation with other regional operators is essential for achieving this goal,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto.

“One way to increase dynamism in regions is through new investments, which in turn create jobs. More efficient permit procedures facilitate investments. The Government plans to provide new tools and funding for the Economic Development Centres to accelerate growth and investments in a cost-effective way,” Puisto added.

Preparations for the launch of the Centres will continue under the leadership of the Directors General who assumed their responsibilities on 1 December 2025. Information on some of the new tools of the Centres has been published earlier this year. For example, through a new financing instrument, the Economic Development Centres will be able to allocate funding under the Act on Research and Development Funding to R&D activities of SMEs in order to leverage them onto a growth path.

As part of the Government’s growth and employment package, the Centres could distribute support for clean transition investments of SMEs, especially for projects related to the introduction of new technologies that improve energy and material efficiency. Through reallocation of funds from the ‘Innovation and Skills in Finland’ programme, the Economic Development Centres will receive an appropriation for investments that support the defence industry and military mobility.

In addition, emphasis will be placed on regional collaboration concerning the promotion of investments and on improving the situational picture of investment projects.

Economic Development Centres to promote regional vitality across sectors and in cooperation

The Economic Development Centres will strengthen regional dynamism by promoting the reform and competitiveness of business, the operating conditions for entrepreneurship, the profitability and sustainable growth of food production and other industries, security, employment, security of supply, as well as the wellbeing of residents and the good state of the environment.

Knowledge of regional strengths and close cooperation with both local operators and other regions will be key to the successful performance of the Centres. Competent and committed staff will be the most important resource of the Economic Development Centres.

The Centres will be regional state administration authorities within the branch of government of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Apart from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Centres will be guided by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of the Environment, the Finnish Food Authority and the Finnish Transport infrastructure Agency.

Personnel transfers to Economic Development Centres

As a result of the reform on regional state administration, most of the personnel of the ELY Centres will be transferred to the Economic Development Centres. Most of the employees who were responsible for environmental tasks at ELY Centres will be transferred to the Finnish Supervisory Agency, which will launch operations at the same time. Meanwhile, those in charge of public transport matters at ELY Centres will be transferred to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom. A total of nearly 2,000 employees will be transferred to the new Centres.

Inquiries:
Lars Aikala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 50 401 6410 
Päivi Blinnikka, Project Manager for the Implementation Project on the Economic Development Centres, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 311
Ari Niiranen, Director General, Economic Development Centre of Eastern Finland, tel.  +358 50 305 4998