THE HELSINKI-UUSIMAA REGIONAL PROGRAMME 2.0 - Vision Strategic Priorities Objectives and Measures - Uudenmaan liitto
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THE HELSINKI-UUSIMAA
REGIONAL PROGRAMME 2.0
Vision • Strategic Priorities • Objectives and Measures
Publications of the Helsinki-Uusimaa
Regional Council A 40 - 2018
Publications of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council A 40 - 2018
ISBN 978-952-448-489-3
ISSN 2342-3781
Translation: Tiina Sjelvgren
Layout: Anni Levonen
Illustrations: Raquel Benmergui
Helsinki 2018
Uudenmaan liitto // Nylands förbund
Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council
Esterinportti 2 B • 00240 Helsinki • Finland
+358 9 4767 411 • toimisto@uudenmaanliitto.fi • uudenmaanliitto.fi
2
THE HELSINKI-UUSIMAA
REGIONAL PROGRAMME 2.0
DESCRIPTION SHEET..................................................................................................................................................4
PREFACE............................................................................................................................................................................5
A REGION IN A STATE OF FLUX AND TRANSFORMATION...................................................................6
Drivers of change....................................................................................................................................................6
Population.................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Urbanisation.............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Jobs and economic activities..............................................................................................................................9
Strengths of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region................................................................................................11
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region in Europe..............................................................................................................12
Regional comparisons..................................................................................................................................... 13
VISION...............................................................................................................................................................................18
Helsinki Region 2050 – Cool & the most Vibrant region in Europe...........................................18
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES............................................................................................................................................19
Human Wellbeing and Competence.......................................................................................................... 20
Successful and Responsible Business....................................................................................................... 20
Climate-aware and Diverse Region............................................................................................................. 20
OBJECTIVES AND MEASURES ............................................................................................................................21
Human Wellbeing and Competence .......................................................................................................... 22
Objective 1: Competent Future Inhabitants....................................................................................... 23
Objective 2: Strength through International Connections......................................................... 25
Objective 3: Best Wellness Services, Active Inhabitants.............................................................26
Objective 4: Safety and Security through Solidarity.....................................................................28
Successful and Responsible Business .......................................................................................................29
Objective 5: Growth and Exports through New Technologies................................................ 30
Objective 6: Business from Circular Economy.................................................................................. 32
Objective 7: International Competence and Investments ..........................................................34
Objective 8: Vitality from Start-ups and SMEs...............................................................................36
Climate-aware and Diverse Region ............................................................................................................38
Objective 9: Carbon-neutral Helsinki-Uusimaa Region by 2035..............................................39
Objective 10: Safe and Sustainable Helsinki-Uusimaa Region...................................................42
Objective 11: Positive Experiences and Care from Nature...........................................................45
Objective 12: Easy and Reliable Mobility.............................................................................................46
MONITORING AND MEASURING......................................................................................................................49
Equality, equitability and inclusion as core values...............................................................................49
Phenomena to be monitored and indicators..........................................................................................50
PREMISES OF THE HELSINKI-UUSIMAA REGIONAL PROGRAMME............................................. 57
Regional government reform will change the national operating environment..................58
APPENDICES................................................................................................................................................................ 60
Appendix 1 – Smart Specialisation Strategy.......................................................................................... 60
Appendix 2 – Financial sources for implementation of the Programme..................................61
Appendix 3 – Summary of the Environmental Report......................................................................62
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................................63
3
DESCRIPTION SHEET
Title of publication
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 – Vision • Strategic Priorities • Objectives and Measures
Published by
Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council
Report authors
Liisa Hyttinen and Lauri Kuukasjärvi
Title of series and publication no. Year of publication
Publications of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council A 40 2018
ISBN ISSN
978-952-448-489-3 2342-3781
Language No. of pages
English 65
Abstract
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 was built in active cooperation between The Helsinki-Uusimaa
Regional Council and The Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Uusimaa (ELY),
along with municipalities, business life, universities, research institutes and organisations. The Programme includes a
vision for 2050 and strategic priorities for 2018–2021. And it provides a basis for the strategy work carried out as a
part of the health, social services and regional government reform project for the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region 2019.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council is responsible for the regional planning and development, in keeping
with the Act on Regional Development and the Land Use and Building Act. When building the Programme, the
strategic plans and priorities of the municipalities have been taken well into consideration. As a result, it is a
steering instrument for municipalities, the regional authorities and the Regional Council itself, and when the
programme was drawn up, its impact was also ascertained. That is why attention has also been drawn to the fact
that the Metropolitan Area and other Helsinki-Uusimaa Regions will use their own starting points to create vitality.
Naturally, different areas of the region differ considerably from each other, and consequently their attractiveness
and competitive assets are based on different strenghts. Therefore, it is very important for each area to recognise its
own strengths in order to retain or increase its attractiveness.
The vision is “Helsinki Region 2050 – Cool & the most Vibrant region in Europe”. The strategic priorities for the
Regional Programme are Human Wellbeing and Competence, Successful and Responsible Business, and Climate-
aware and Diverse Region. Each priority covers four objectives and each objective also includes measures to
implement the Programme. The objectives determined for each priority can be used to consolidate the wellbeing of
the inhabitants along with the success of the region, regardless of which scenario identified in the future analysis of
2016 seems to be most probable for the future.
Open-minded partnerships, operating models and science, as well as art and technology are the cross-cutting
themes of the Programme. It includes a comparison of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and some other European
regions (Stockholm County, the Capital Region of Denmark, Hamburg and North Holland). Among others, social
wellbeing, financial competitiveness and innovations are being compared. It also includes the priorities and key
measures of the Regional Smart Specialisation Strategy. By focusing funds on excellence, the competitiveness of
the region can be improved of considerably. Furthermore, the Smart Specialisation Strategy is closely linked to the
Europe 2020 strategy and to those policy and financial instruments supporting it.
The Programme is carried out with the help of a more detailed, and annual Regional Implementation Plan. The
Implementation Plan is a tool to channel European structural funding, and national funding allocated to the region.
Keywords
Regionl development, Helsinki-Uusimaa, Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, Strategic planning, Vision, Goals, Actions,
Climate smart, Versatile, Region, Success, Responsibility, Business, Wellbeing, Inhabitants, Measurement, Follow-up
Övriga uppgifter
A pdf version of the publication can be found on our website: www.uudenmaanliitto.fi/julkaisut.
The publication is published both in Finnish and in Swedish.
4 The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0
PREFACE
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 the descriptions of the three priorities and twelve
covers a period from 2018 to 2021. It was drawn objectives. Each objective also includes measures
up in keeping with the Act on Regional Develop- to implement the Programme. In the course of the
ment and Administration of Structural Fund multi-step cooperation process, various parties
Operations (7/2014) and guidelines issued by the also raised points that deserve attention as part of
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. regional development efforts.
The Programme is intended to steer development The European Union is changing, and prepara-
of the entire region and allocation of resources tions of programmes for the next funding period
to different parts of the region and for various are ongoing. It is important for the Helsinki-Uusi-
purposes. Covering the entire region, it is a joint maa Region to embark on a systematic effort to
programme carried out through measures taken by influence the themes and contents of various EU
various parties. The region’s robust growth must programmes, in order to ensure that these can still
be directed on the basis of a shared vision and in be used to further benefit regional development.
an economically, ecologically, socially and cultur- The focus of regional development on urban
ally sustainable manner. areas has been raised to the forefront, in particular
While the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Pro- on the initiative of the City of Helsinki. While the
gramme is intended to help discharge the region’s Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme was being
current functions, it also involves an element drawn up, it was concluded that urban develop-
of preparation for changes being introduced by ment policy is important for the entire region; in
the forthcoming regional government reform. It addition to the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and
provides a basis for the strategy work carried out the so-called KUUMA municipalities girdling the
as a part of the health, social services and regional Metropolitan Area, it also has a bearing on condi-
government reform project for the Helsinki- tions for development and success in the eastern
Uusimaa Region 2019. and western parts of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region.
The Programme was built in active cooperation Economic and population growth places
with local authorities, higher education institutions, emphasis on continuous monitoring of challenges
NGOs and public authorities. Its foundation was in involved in mobility, transport and logistics. The
the future analysis for the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, ease and comfort of the movement of people
which was conducted during 2016 to identify the and goods are important, not only in terms of
region’s key general change factors and create economic development and quality of life, but also
alternative scenarios for the future. In the end, the from the perspectives of the environment and
Programme came down to three strategic priori- wellbeing.
ties, each covering four objectives. Regional identity is highlighted as part of areas
These strategic priorities – Human Wellbeing such as tourism development. During the process
and Competence, Successful and Responsible Busi- of drafting the Programme, it was noted that the
ness, and Climate-aware and Diverse Region – form Helsinki-Uusimaa Region encompasses several
the framework for the Programme. While these are identities linked to a specific city district, municipal-
the key areas of the region’s future, they are also ity or village, language, archipelago or geographical
global sustainable development goals. location. The region would do well to diversify its
Preparation of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional efforts relating to regional identity with a view
Programme 2.0 involved diverse discussions of key to communicating a more distinct identity for the
current and future phenomena including the most forthcoming new regional government.
relevant of these as part of development policies,
objectives and measures for the years to come. Ossi Savolainen
The Programme’s core contents are covered in Regional Mayor
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 5
A REGION IN A STATE OF FLUX AND
TRANSFORMATION
Drivers of change measures. This will have both direct and indirect
effects on economic development. Heat, scarcity
Globalisation, climate change, digitalisation of food and lack of water, storms, heavy rains and
and demographic changes are drivers ushering floods will result in major costs and climate refu-
advanced societies at an accelerating pace towards gees around the world. Measures taken to mitigate
transformation of the economy and work. This and adapt to climate change have a bearing on
period of transformation is also increasing insecuri- transport, energy production, food, community
ties in many different sectors both in Finland and structures, construction and material efficiency.
around the world. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region can achieve posi-
Globalisation has transformed the political tive economic and employment effects by making
and decision-making environment. States and use of new intelligent environmental solutions
regions are now operating in a path-dependent and technologies. Climate-awareness changes
world, where their decisions are also influenced consumer habits while also steering how the
by remote global players. Goods and services, markets function. However, it is as yet difficult to
manufacturing and people, as well as capital and foresee all the effects that the post-fossil economy
processes are moving in an almost unlimited will have on the economy and work. Domestically,
manner, which has diminished the opportunities for global warming may improve growth conditions
states and regions to influence and steer politics. in agriculture and forestry. Then again, extreme
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is one of the 272 weather phenomena and alien species may weaken
regional players in Europe that also operate at a production conditions. First and foremost, climate
global level. As the largest region in Finland, the change boils down to the future of humanity and
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region should play an active nature.
role to work for the benefit of its own future and We have competence in new technologies,
for the whole of Finland. However, democracy, which is also being applied through smart speciali-
national sovereignty and globalisation are factors sation. Examples include digitalisation, automation,
that are often challenging to reconcile. In addition, robotisation, artificial intelligence, machine learn-
nationalism and populism may slow down the ing, augmented reality, virtual reality, the Internet
progress of globalisation. of Things (IoT), and blockchain technology. Techno-
Mitigation of and adaptation to climate logical developments are fracturing economic logic
change are steered through political decisions and from ownership to taxation, as well as the ways
6 The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0
and operating models of working. New ways of The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is a strongly inter-
working are changing revenue-generation models national region. Its bilingualism opens up windows
and contractual practices in the world of work. As to Nordic cooperation while consolidating our in-
old occupations disappear, the future will also see ternational character. In addition, strengthening the
the emergence of completely new occupations and use of English will contribute to implementation
sectors. The shifting foundations of the economy of the Programme’s objectives and measures. As
and work will influence people’s wellbeing and, immigrants are typically young adults, immigration
on a broader scale, the whole of society’s welfare mitigates the deteriorating demographic depend-
model and its structures. Even though these ency ratio. Non-native speakers3 account for 12%
changes are considered to be inevitable in debates, of the population of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region,
the Nordic social model has – at least in the which is home to 56% of Finland’s non-native
past – turned out to be very adaptable to changing speakers. The relative proportion of non-native
circumstances. Segregation of the labour market speakers is highest in the Helsinki Metropolitan
has not been as pronounced here as elsewhere in Area (15%) and lowest in the Western Uusimaa
Europe. Region (4.5%).
Demographic change, including the ageing Regardless of immigration, the ageing popula-
population, will dramatically alter the dynamics of tion and deteriorating dependency ratio will
culture and the economy in the future. The demo- continue to present challenges for the Helsinki-
graphic dependency ratio1 will inevitably decline Uusimaa Region in the years to come. The most
both in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and in Finland significant changes will be faced by the Western
as a whole, as the native-born population grows and Eastern Uusimaa Regions (Table 1), whereas
older. The economic dependency ratio2, in turn, the population structure is better in the Helsinki
will have a significant impact on economic balance, Metropolitan Area and its surrounding suburban
including the sustainability gap. The demographic municipalities, known as the KUUMA region. The
and economic dependency ratios are not independ- younger population structure in the Metropolitan
ent of each other: if the demographic dependency Area decreases the average age of the entire
ratio is poor or challenging, it is very likely that its region. Nevertheless, the dependency ratio will
economic counterpart is also the same. also present a problem for the Metropolitan Area
in the future.
Table 1: Proportion of the population aged 65 and over (%).
2016 2040
Helsinki Metropolitan Area 15.8 20.6
Suburban KUUMA region 17.0 25.4
Western Uusimaa Region 23.3 31.7
Eastern Uusimaa Region 21.4 28.7
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region 16.8 22.5
Whole country 20.9 26.3
1 The demographic – i.e. population-based – dependency ratio measures the total number of children and those aged 65 or
over in proportion to the working-age population.
2 The economic dependency ratio measures the number of employed people in proportion to those not in employment.
3 ‘Non-native speakers’ refer to those whose native language is not Finnish, Swedish or Saami.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 7
Population
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region comprises 26 mu-
nicipalities and it is home to a total of 1.64 million The Helsinki-Uusimaa Land Use Plan
people. A skilled population inhabits a high-quality 2050 is an overall regional land use
living environment in a region that also has 300 plan being prepared by the Helsinki-
kilometres of coastline with harbours and the Uusimaa Regional Council for the
only internationally significant airport in Finland. entire Helsinki-Uusimaa Region.
The region is of high national significance – more The plan consists of a strategic
than one third of Finland’s gross domestic product structural plan and more detailed
is generated here. Although the phrase is trite, sub-regional land use plans. The
the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region truly is the entire Helsinki-Uusimaa Land Use Plan is
country’s economic engine and logistical link to due to be adopted in 2019.
international markets.
One in three Finns hails from the Helsinki-
Uusimaa Region. In 2016, the region’s population
increased by 18,000 inhabitants. Out of the new alternative population projections for 2050. Table
inhabitants, 77% were non-native speakers. In 2016, 2 below outlines three of these projections, i.e.
15,700 people moved to the Helsinki-Uusimaa the most divergent growth models4, which were
Region from abroad while another 9,700 left the chosen for structural modelling efforts to provide
region to move abroad, amounting to a net im- some background for the Helsinki-Uusimaa Land
migration of 6,000 people to the Helsinki-Uusimaa Use Plan 2050.
Region. Speakers of Finnish and Swedish accounted
for 2,800 and 500, respectively, of all immigrants.
Urbanisation
In practical terms, all Finnish speakers and some
Swedish speakers are returnees. The Helsinki- The City of Helsinki and its surroundings form one
Uusimaa Region is also the most densely populated of the fastest-growing urban areas in Europe. The
region in Finland, with population density on a par Helsinki Metropolitan Area and the central parts of
with the European average. Its largest municipality the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region are growing through
is Helsinki with over half a million people, while both natural population growth and positive net
the smallest municipalities have about 2,000 migration. Conversely, natural population growth
inhabitants. has stagnated in the Eastern and Western Uusimaa
According to the latest Statistics Finland Regions. The Metropolitan Area is the destination
forecast, the population of the Helsinki-Uusimaa for 90% of growth in the entire Helsinki-Uusimaa
Region will be 1,726,000 in 2022 and as much as Region. The standing of the region’s rural areas can
1,914,000 in 2040. In 2017, the Helsinki-Uusimaa be improved by intensifying interactions between
Regional Council published a study dealing with urban and rural areas and tapping into the re-
various regional economic scenarios and population sources of both.
and job projections. The study puts forward five
Table 2: Population projections for the three growth models chosen for structural modelling as part of the Helsinki-
Uusimaa Land Use Plan 2050.
Concentrated
Helsinki-Uusimaa Centralised growth Polycentric growth
2015 decentralised growth
Region’s population 2050 2050
2050
Population 1,620,000 2,177,000 2,164,000 2,070,000
4 Based on an expert assessment, the projections selected for developing the structural model were ‘Strong centralised growth’, ‘Strong growth at
all centres’ and ‘Moderate decentralised growth’. The ‘Strong decentralised growth’ alternative was considered unrealistic, because a decentralised
structure does not create conditions for sustained strong growth. As the ‘Moderate centralised growth’ projection only differs from its strong
alternative in terms of overall volumes, it was excluded from the analysis. The ‘No growth’ alternative was also not included in the analysis.
8 The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0
Urbanisation is a fact, not a choice. Worldwide, of housing estates. Homelessness, disadvantage,
1.3 million people move to cities every day. social exclusion and segregation of residential
Urbanisation has positive and desirable effects on areas are issues that the largest cities of the
many different routine and everyday aspects of Helsinki-Uusimaa Region need to fight in coopera-
people’s lives in both social and economic sectors. tion with all parties, including active residents.
On the flipside, urbanisation also involves its own
sore points. Rapid urbanisation may bring about
Jobs and economic activities
problems relating to areas such as housing and
mobility, which tend to affect low-income inhabit- People move to the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region due
ants in particular. Cities have traditionally seen to jobs and diverse educational provision. The
poverty and social exclusion, but disadvantage has region accounts for 34% of all jobs in Finland. The
also taken on new forms in growing cities. Un- region is also characterised by competence-inten-
documented migrants and beggars are increasing sive services, as 82% of jobs are in the trade and
phenomena in our urban areas. services sectors. About 99% of places of business
While the City of Helsinki has managed to halve have less than 50 employees, while enterprises
the number of homeless people from 1990 to with less than 10 employees and large companies
2016, there were still about 3,500 homeless peo- with over 250 employees generate just below
ple in 20165. The prevalence of low income6 in the 20% and slightly over 30% of total net turnover,
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is highest in the City of respectively. However, the regional economic struc-
Helsinki, with 72,872 low-income residents in 20157. ture forms a diverse whole. Its growth is enabled
Another problem that may affect growing urban by transnational companies, its service-intensive
areas is segregation of residential areas and the economic structure, vibrant R&D activities, a high
resulting perception of insecurity among residents level of education, and new start-up enterprises.
Low-income rates 1995–2015 Homeless population per 1,000 residents
%
16 14
14 12
12
10
10
8
8
Henkilöä
Personer
6
6
4
4
2
2
0 0
Helsinki Espoo Vantaa Rest of the Helsinki- Helsinki Espoo Vantaa Rest of the Helsinki-
Uusimaa Region Uusimaa Region
Figure 1: Low-income rates in the three largest cities in Figure 2: Homeless population per 1,000 residents in
the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region (Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo) the three largest cities in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region
from 1995 to 2015 (Source: THL 2017c). (Helsinki, Vantaa and Espoo) from 1990 to 2016
(Source: THL 2017a).
5 In 2016, the average number of homeless people in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region was 378, while the figures for the
Cities of Espoo and Vantaa amounted to 577 and 285, respectively.
6 Low-income earners refer to those whose household’s total disposable cash income per consumption unit is lower than
60% of the equivalent median income of all Finnish households.
7 In 2016, there were 45,092 low-income people in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, while the figures for the Cities of Espoo
and Vantaa amounted to 22,394 and 18,456, respectively.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 9On average, information and communications, Figure 3 below describes the sectoral profile of
financing and education, as well as research and the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region in 2014.
innovation account for a clearly higher proportion Figure 4 describes the 13 largest sectors
of jobs than elsewhere in Finland. Furthermore, measured in terms of headcount and their percent-
arts and entertainment jobs are also strongly age shares of jobs in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region.
concentrated in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region. The sectors included in the figure account for over
60% of the region’s jobs.
Uudenmaan toimialaprofiili 2014
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region sectoral profile 2014
38,6 % 18,0 % 14,0 % 13,8 % 8,7 % 6,4 %
0,7 %
Other palvelut
Muut services Competence-intensive
Osaamisintensiiviset Health and ja
Sosiaali- social Trade
Kauppa Teollisuus
Manufacturing Rakentaminen
Construction Natural resources
Luonnonvara-ala
services
palvelut services
terveyspalvelut
Lähde: Toimiala Online, Tilastokeskus, Työlliset ja työpaikat
Source: Toimiala Online, Tilastokeskus, Työlliset ja työpaikat [Sector Online,
Statistics Finland: Employment and jobs]
Figure 3: Sectoral profile in 2014.
Largest sectors in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region in terms of employment
Uudenmaan työllistävimmät toimialat 2014
Social work palvelut
Sosiaalihuollon activities
HumanTerveyspalvelut
health activities
Education
Koulutus
Construction
Rakentaminen
Retail trade
Vähittäiskauppa
Wholesale trade
Tukkukauppa
Public hallinto
Julkinen administration and defence
ja maanpuolustus
Computer programming,
Ohjelmistot, consultancy
konsultointi and liittyvä
ja siihen related toiminta
activities
Food and beverage service activities
Ravitsemistoiminta
Services to buildings and landscape
Kiinteistön- activities
ja maisemanhoito
Land transport and transport
Maaliikenne via pipelines
ja putkijohtokuljetus
Employment activities
Työllistämistoiminta
Architectural and engineering
Arkkitehti- activities
ja insinööripalvelut
0% 2% 4% 6% 8%
Source: Toimiala Online,
Lähde:Tilastokeskus, Työlliset
Toimiala Online, ja työpaikat Työlliset
Tilastokeskus, [Sector Online, Statistics
ja työpaikat
Finland: Employment and jobs]
Figure 4: Proportions of jobs in the 13 largest sectors in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region in 2014.
10 The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0Strengths of the Helsinki-Uusimaa
Region
The relative strengths of the Helsinki-Uusimaa
Region boil down to the following three themes:
accessibility, attractiveness and availability of
skilled labour. These strengths apply at both
national and international levels. The international
dimension needs to be taken into account in all
regional development efforts, in order to guaran-
tee the best conditions for success for companies,
workers and other parties operating in the Helsinki-
Uusimaa Region. The region is the most attractive
market area in Finland, with the best international
and national accessibility and the highest availabil-
ity of skilled labour in the country.
In terms of accessibility, the Helsinki-Uusimaa
Region is in a league of its own in Finland,
especially with regard to its air, sea, rail and road
connections. Internationally, however, there is still
plenty of room for improvement in the region’s
accessibility. The region is host to the Port of
Helsinki, which is the busiest passenger port in the and find the right partners in different sectors, and
world, along with Dover in Britain. The number of to start realising its strengths in order to retain
passengers passing through the Port of Helsinki or increase its attractiveness. Living bilingualism
this year is estimated to reach almost twelve mil- is characteristic of the eastern and western parts
lion. Measured in terms of foreign freight tonnes, of the region, among others. Likewise, linguistic
the busiest port in Finland is Kilpilahti Harbour in diversity strengthens the attractiveness and
Porvoo. Air passengers rank Helsinki-Vantaa Airport competitiveness of the Metropolitan Area.
as the second best airport in Northern Europe and The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is still more than
it accounts for 90% of international air transport the sum of its parts. Comparisons with other Finn-
in Finland. Traffic between Helsinki and Tallinn ish regions do not do justice to the uniqueness of
is increasing considerably faster than between the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region. Instead, the region’s
Stockholm and Helsinki. attractiveness and economic resources should
In terms of attractiveness and demand be compared with other medium-sized statistical
potential, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is likewise regions in the European Union8. When compared
the strongest region in Finland, while the Helsinki with these, the draw factors characteristic of the
Metropolitan Area is the country’s most significant Helsinki-Uusimaa Region include safety, diverse
market area. Moving forward, it is important for natural sites, and water areas – especially from
the Metropolitan Area and other areas in the the perspectives of living, tourism and recreational
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region to build their vitality uses. Its unique natural sites range from local for-
based on their own strengths. Different areas of ests to National Parks and from valuable cultural
the region differ considerably from each other, heritage sites to natural archipelago sites and
and their attractiveness and competitive assets world heritage sites. Thanks to good connections,
are based on different types of strengths. It is these sites are within easy reach for inhabitants
important for each area to recognise its strengths and tourists.
8 In this context, the EU statistical region refers to NUTS 2 regions. The NUTS classification of regions (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for
Statistics) is used in statistics submitted to Eurostat, the Statistics Office of the European Union. NUTS level 2 corresponds to the national division into
major regions.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 11Due to the availability of skilled labour, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region in Europe
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is the most attractive
region in Finland for companies requiring highly In the European frame of reference, Nordic identity
skilled employees, or labour in general, as the and values comprise one of Finland’s showcases.
region has the highest proportion of tertiary Nordic cooperation is especially carried out in
education graduates in the labour force9 in Finland, political, economic and cultural spheres, while it
while supply is also highest in quantitative terms. forms a key part of European and international
The region’s largest universities – the University cooperation.
of Helsinki and Aalto University – represent a The international dimension is also visible in the
major resource for the region. Their operations are Helsinki-Uusimaa Region’s world of work and mar-
complemented by the strategic alliance between kets, where global networks play an increasingly
three universities of applied sciences (Laurea, significant and pronounced role. As part of regional
Haaga-Helia and Metropolia), as well as other development efforts, it is important to create a
higher education institutions operating in the framework to promote the internationalisation of
region. The University of Helsinki has constantly the region’s companies, higher education institu-
been ranked among the top one hundred universi- tions and research institutes. International partners
ties in international university rankings. Specialised and networks are success factors that may improve
in engineering, business and arts, Aalto University the credibility of the region’s growth enterprises in
is rising in the rankings due to factors such as its global markets, among other things.
increasing industry links. Aalto University is among As an international investment destination, the
the new universities at the top in international Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is the best medium-sized
terms, while the Times Higher Education magazine region in Europe. The region also ranks among the
has ranked it in the cluster of innovative technol- top of a wide range of international comparisons
ogy challengers. Another strong player in the measuring characteristics relating to wellbeing,
region is VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland competitiveness, competence potential and
Ltd. It is a multidisciplinary research and product innovation. However, we have not been able to
development partner valued by Finnish high-tech make full use of these excellent strengths. The
companies, forming an essential part of Finland’s Helsinki-Uusimaa Region has more international
national innovation system with its expertise and experts than the rest of Finland, but there is still
capacity for extensive international cooperation. plenty of work to be done when compared with
With a very high standard in international terms, its reference regions, i.e. medium-sized European
the scientific universities and universities of applied statistical regions. Its economic development is
sciences in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region have a lagging behind many regions that have performed
significant impact on regional development. worse in comparisons, while we have not been able
This impact can be improved in the Helsinki- to attract companies, skilled labour or investments
Uusimaa Region by increasing coordination and to the same extent as others.
interaction between complementary scientific The European Union’s answer to these chal-
universities and universities of applied sciences as lenges is smart specialisation, which commits
well as research institutes. With the introduction regions to identifying their own strengths and
of the Open Innovation, Open Science and Open to allocating resources to development of them.
the World (EU 3Os) strategy, adopted by EU and Investment in strengths brings forth new innova-
OECD countries, the international incentive and tions, business activities and competitiveness.
evaluation system for higher education and re- Public funding is partially allocated on the basis
search is being revised. As a result of new criteria, of smart specialisation. The strengths selected for
more emphasis will be placed on the societal smart specialisation in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region
impact of publicly funded research. include ‘Urban Cleantech’, ‘Health & Wellness’,
‘Digitalising Industry’, and ‘Citizen City’.
9 Holders of university Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees account for 44% of the labour force in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region.
12 The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0Regional comparisons
Regional success is traditionally measured in terms international comparisons. The goals focus on
of both population growth and gross domestic human, environmental and economic aspects.
product (GDP). Alongside these, the European The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is compared with
Commission has prepared comparisons of regional other medium-sized European metropolises with
competitiveness (Regional Competitiveness Index, similar resources and challenges. Without more
RCI), innovation performance (Regional Innova- in-depth analysis, however, composite indices do
tion Scoreboard, RIS), and social progress (Social not provide a sufficient picture of the reference
Progress Index, SPI) for the EU’s statistical regions. regions. It is also important to look behind the
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region ranks among the indices and see our own strengths, which we need
top in all of these comparisons. These indices to maintain and consolidate, while identifying areas
are linked to the 17 Sustainable Development where we still have to improve. Figure 5 shows the
Goals adopted by the UN General Assembly in Helsinki-Uusimaa Region’s key European reference
2015, which form a widely accepted basis for regions.
Helsinki-Uusimaa
Stockholm Region
County
Capital Region of
Denmark (incl.
Copenhagen)
North Holland
(incl. Amsterdam) Hamburg
© ESRI – Maps & Data for ArcGIS
Figure 5: The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region’s primary European reference regions are Stockholm County, the Capital Region
of Denmark (incl. Copenhagen), North Holland (incl. Amsterdam), and Hamburg. All these have been classified among
the 275 statistical regions of the European Union.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 13Domestic product and purchasing power
In terms of population, the largest of the reference
regions is North Holland, which is home to 2.7 mil-
lion people. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, in turn, is
the smallest with a population of 1.6 million.
Measured by GDP per capita in purchasing
power standards (PPS) as an indicator of economic
opportunities, all the reference regions fall among
the wealthiest in Europe, with Hamburg taking
the top spot. As the ‘poorest’ of the group, the
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region nevertheless ranks 21st
among the EU’s statistical regions, with GDP
per capita 50% above the EU average. However,
Finland’s relatively high price level eats into the
purchasing power of the region’s inhabitants.
Purchasing power of inhabitants in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and its
reference
Uudenmaan ja sen regions asukkaiden ostovoima
verrokkialueiden
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000 HELSINKI-UUSIMAA
UUSIMAA REGION
Capital
TanskanRegion of Denmark (incl.
Pääkaupunkiseutu
Copenhagen)
(Kööpenhamina)
10000
PohjoisHolland
North Hollanti(incl.
(Amsterdam)
Amsterdam)
Tukholman County
Stockholm lääni
5000
Hampuri
Hamburg
0
Per capita
Tulot income
asukasta 2014
kohden 2014 Purchasingasukasta
Ostovoima power standard per
kohden 2014
inhabitant 2014 Lähde: Tilastokeskus, Eurostatin avaintaulukot
Source: Tilastokeskus, Eurostatin avaintaulukot [Statistics Finland, Eurostat main tables]
Figure 6: Net disposable income of inhabitants of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and purchasing power standard (PPS)
per inhabitant in 2014.
14 The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0Competitiveness Innovation and smart specialisation
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region ranks 11th in the Euro- While the European Regional Innovation Score-
pean Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI), placing board (RIS) still ranks the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region
third among the five reference regions mentioned among innovation leaders, it is of great concern
above. Our greatest strengths include basic that our performance has declined in almost all
education, higher education and lifelong learn- surveys carried out since 2008. A recent OECD
ing, innovation, and technological readiness. report suggests that economic cuts have under-
The region’s areas for improvement concentrate mined Finland’s pioneering status. Consequently,
especially around labour market efficiency and national innovation policy should be revised while
business sophistication. However, the areas where focusing especially on promoting applied research
we are lagging behind the most are market size and cooperation between companies, higher
and transport infrastructure. The market would education institutions and research organisations
be enlarged by a fixed connection to continental in innovation activities. A good example of this is
Europe, which would also increase the intensity of the Espoo Innovation Garden ecosystem, which
rail transport. has been recognised in the European Union and in
the iCapital (Innovation Capital) competition as a
successful model of co-configuration by different
parties across sectoral borders. One of the great-
est challenges for Finland is to translate research
results and new ideas into saleable end products
destined for international markets.
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region’s competitiveness in 2016 compared with international
reference regions
HELSINKI-UUSIMAA Capital Region of Denmark North Holland Stockholm Hamburg
Uudenmaan
(incl. Copenhagen) kilpailukyky
(incl.suhteessa
Amsterdam) kansainvälisiin
County verrokkialueisiin 2016
REGION
120
100
80
60
40
UUSIMAA
Tanskan Pääkaupunkiseu
20
Pohjois Hollanti (Amster
0 Tukholman lääni
ns
g
16
y
e
th
n
y
ze
ss
n
n
in
Hampuri
ilit
nc
ur
tio
tio
tio
tio
ne
al
20
Si
rn
ct
cie
ab
He
ca
ica
va
itu
di
a
t
ru
ss
ke
Le
St
u
Effi
no
a
st
st
st
Re
Ed
ne
ar
hi
g
In
In
ic
fra
on
M
ive
t
op
al
om
sic
ke
In
gic
l
tit
sS
fe
Ba
ar
on
Li
o
pe
M
es
ec
ol
d
m
in
ur
hn
ro
an
Co
s
bo
ac
Bu
c
n
Te
io
La
M
at
uc
Ed
er
gh
Hi
Source: European Regional
Lähde: Competitiveness
European Index 2016Index 2016
Regional Competitiveness
Figure 7: Results of the European Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI) in 2016.
Uudenmaan sosiaalinen kehittyneisyys
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programmesuhteessa
2.0 kansainvälisiin verrokkialueisiin 2016 15
120Social wellbeing
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is implementing The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region offers some of the
a Smart Specialisation Strategy geared towards world’s best opportunities for a good life. This
helping regional strengths to achieve success by is revealed by the Social Progress Index (SPI)
means of financial instruments, and advocacy and measuring regional wellbeing, which ranks the
lobbying efforts relating to international regional Helsinki-Uusimaa
Uudenmaan kilpailukyky Region seventh
suhteessa kansainvälisiin among the 2722016
verrokkialueisiin
development. The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region will EU statistical regions compared in terms of wellbe-
120
be shaped into a region where smart solutions ing. Of the reference regions, the Capital Region of
are tested
100 in real-life environments. The region Denmark is ahead of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region.
invests in a model where it is being developed Furthermore, Finland ranks at the very top of the
80
in cooperation between the public, research and index in a global comparison.
private60sectors, while also working together with The index indicates that inhabitants of the
regional inhabitants. Helsinki’s Kalasatama district Helsinki-Uusimaa Region have confidence in their
40
is a successful pilot of this type of activity that personal rights, and they can also make personal UUSIMAA
Tanskan Pääkaupunkiseutu
has attracted
20 a great deal of international atten- choices and access knowledge and advanced
Pohjois Hollanti (Amsterda
tion. The intention is to expand corresponding education. When compared with the reference
0
experiments to be carried out in real-life residential regions, the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region also boasts Tukholman lääni
Hampuri
environments throughout the region. There are an attractive environment. These factors are our
also sizeable investments in basic research, which strengths. There is still room for improvement
is a prerequisite for producing innovations. in terms of satisfaction with housing, perceived
access to healthcare, and completion of secondary
education.
Lähde: European Regional Competitiveness Index 2016
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region’s social progress in 2016 compared with international
reference regions
HELSINKI-UUSIMAA Capital Region of Denmark North Holland Stockholm Hamburg
(incl. Copenhagen) (incl. Amsterdam) County
REGION Uudenmaan sosiaalinen kehittyneisyys suhteessa kansainvälisiin verrokkialueisiin 2016
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
n
y
ns
e
r
y
e
ts
ce
n
n
lit
tio
te
et
ar
dg
sio
tio
igh
tio
oi
ua
el
af
lC
ta
UUSIMAA
le
ca
Ch
clu
ica
Sh
lR
lQ
lS
ni
ow
ica
u
In
Sa
d
un
Ed
na
na
ta
ed
Kn
an
d
m
so
so
en
d
d
an
M
an
m
m
sic
ce
r
r
nm
Pe
Tanskan Pääkaupunkiseutu (Kööpe
Pe
do
Co
ce
sic
an
Ba
er
iro
an
ee
Ba
at
v
d
o
Ad
v
an
er
W
Fr
st
En
d
l
an
o
To
l
es
n
na
st
io
Pohjois Hollanti (Amsterdam)
c
on
so
at
Ac
es
iti
m
r
c
Pe
Ac
tr
r
fo
Nu
In
Tukholman lääni
o
st
es
c
Ac
Hampuri
Lähde: The
Source: The European Union Regional European
Social Progress Union Regional Social Progress Index 2016
Index 2016
Figure 8: Results of the European Union Regional Social Progress Index (SPI) in 2016.
16 The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0The number of young people aged 15 to 24 Solutions to this problem have been sought in
who are not in employment, education or training the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region by means such as a
(NEETs)10 in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region is the project to ensure the educational guarantee, led
second highest among the reference regions. by the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council. The
As a result, NEETs will be added on top of SPI project worked with regional education providers
indicators when examining the status and progress to develop means to reform the education, training
of social wellbeing within the Helsinki-Uusimaa and healthcare and social welfare systems in ways
Region during the programming period. Figures 9 that would help young people complete vocational
and 10 show the percentage shares of male and upper secondary programmes.
female NEETs in the corresponding age group in all
reference regions from 2007 through to 2016.
NEET (males aged 15 to 24)
Hamburg Helsinki-Uusimaa Capital Region of Denmark North Holland Stockholm County
Region
Figure 9: Proportion of male NEETs aged 15 to 24 in the corresponding age group as a whole in the
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region and its reference regions from 2007 through to 2016 (Eurostat 2017).
NEET (females aged 15 to 24)
Hamburg Helsinki-Uusimaa Capital Region of Denmark North Holland Stockholm County
Region
Figure 10: Proportion of female NEETs aged 15 to 24 in the corresponding age group as a whole in the Helsinki-
Uusimaa Region and its reference regions from 2007 through to 2016 (Eurostat 2017).
10 A NEET refers to a young person aged 15 to 24 who is not in employment, education or training. However, NEET is a challenging concept,
because it includes parents caring for their children at home, as well as young people preparing for entrance examinations and waiting for the
beginning of their national service.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 17VISION
Helsinki Region 2050 – Cool & the most Vibrant region in Europe
Why would we like the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region to seamless team play. The region will be buzzing
be the coolest and most vibrant region in Europe with life amidst urban pulse and the peace and
in 2050? quiet of the countryside. We will always be awake,
seizing on new opportunities and innovations with
That’s because it means that it will be cool to live confidence and curiosity. We will be ready to help
in the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region, where everything each other and come up with new ways to ensure
works. We will use coolness to attract tourists that no inhabitant of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region
to enjoy cool and less sweaty summer days in is left to their own devices. The vision ‘Helsinki Re-
the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region. Instead of allowing gion 2050 – Cool and the Most Vibrant Region in
the climate to warm up, we will have managed Europe’ applies to the entire region. In international
to join forces to respond to climate change and terms, Helsinki is the most well-known city in the
successfully entered an era of climate-awareness region, which means that it is natural to use it as
and carbon-neutrality. Vibrancy stems from active, the flagship of our international marketing efforts.
energetic and enterprising inhabitants. We will
pioneer technological development and several That’s why we want to be the most vibrant and
future fields, which require vibrant brains and coolest region in Europe in 2050.
18 The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
The strategic priorities of the Helsinki-Uusimaa carried out in 2016 as a basis for the Regional
Regional Programme (Figure 11) are Human Programme the future seems to be taking.
Wellbeing and Competence, Successful and Open-minded Partnerships and Operating
Responsible Business, and Climate-aware and Models and Science, Art and Technology form
Diverse Region. The objectives determined for each the Programme’s cross-cutting themes. These
priority can be used to consolidate the wellbeing themes feature prominently in the descriptions
of the inhabitants of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region of objectives included under each priority and in
and the success of the region, regardless of which the measures through which the objectives will
of the scenarios identified in the future analysis be implemented.
nerships and Op
Pa r t era
ed tin
m ind gM
n- od
pe
el
O
s
Human Successful and
Wellbeing and Responsible
Competence Business
Climate-aware
and Diverse
Region
Scie y
n c e, A log
rt a nd Te chno
Figure 11: Strategic priorities for 2018–2021.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 19Successful and
Responsible Business
This priority is based on vital and responsible
business activities. New technologies are used to
pursue sustainable growth and exports. Interna-
tional competence and investments are seen to be
highly important in terms of regional success. One
of the primary objectives of the Helsinki-Uusimaa
Regional Programme is to attract more interna-
tional experts and investments to the region during
Human Wellbeing and the programming period. Smooth, easily acces-
Competence sible and reliable public services and high-quality
infrastructure form the basis for business activities
Inhabitants of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Region are ac- and people’s lives.
tive participants, whose involvement is supported
by the Regional Programme. Human wellbeing
is built on knowledge and skills that competent,
open-minded and well-educated inhabitants of the
Climate-aware and
Helsinki-Uusimaa Region will require in the future.
Diverse Region
It is also important to understand global diversity
as a strength by increasing diverse services, such as The Helsinki-Uusimaa Region aims to become a
English-language daycare centres and schools and carbon-neutral region. Natural assets, biodiversity
employment services for immigrants. The largest and positive experiences, complete with nature
region in Finland must have the best standard of conservation, form part of a diverse region. Keeping
wellness services, while inhabitants need to play an the region safe and sustainable is key in terms of
active role in promoting their own wellbeing. From basic needs, quality of life and regional attractive-
the perspective of regional inhabitants, it is very ness. Furthermore, mobility and transport – both
important to reinforce and maintain their sense of domestic and international connections – will also
security by means such as community spirit. be addressed.
20 The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0OBJECTIVES AND MEASURES
The work to formulate the objectives and meas-
ures of the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme
was steered by the outcomes of the Future
Analysis completed in 2016. In the sub-chapters
below, the objectives and measures of each priority
are described in detail. Figure 12 shows the objec-
tives of each priority, forming the framework of the
Programme.
Vision: Helsinki Region 2050 – Cool & the most Vibrant region in Europe
Strategic Priority
Human Successful and Climate-aware
Wellbeing and Responsible and Diverse
Competence Business Region
• Competent Future • Growth and Exports • Carbon-neutral Helsinki-
Objectives 2018-2021
Inhabitants through New Uusimaa Region by 2035
• Strength through Technologies • Safe and Sustainable
International • Business from Circular Helsinki-Uusimaa Region
Connections Economy • Positive Experiences and
• Best Wellness Services, • International Care from Nature
Active Inhabitants Competence and • Easy and Reliable
• Safety and Security Investments Mobility
through Solidarity • Vitality from Start-ups
and SMEs
Figure 12: Vision, strategic priorities and objectives.
The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Programme 2.0 21You can also read
