ERRIN is pleased to welcome the Regional Council of South Karelia as one of its new members for 2026.

The Regional Council of South Karelia is a regional development authority based in South-East Finland, on the EU's external border. Regional councils in Finland carry two main functions: regional development and regional land use planning, and serve as the authorities responsible for Smart Specialisation Strategy. The office of the Regional Council of South Karelia works for the benefit of the region, its municipalities and its people.

Smart Specialisation in South Karelia

South Karelia is a region with a strong manufacturing tradition, where large-scale industries play a central role in the regional economy. Its Smart Specialisation Strategy is embedded in the broader regional strategy and sets out three priority areas for 2026–2029: clean energy solutions, industrial bio and circular economy, and comprehensive security.

Three priorities driving regional innovation

In clean energy, South Karelia focuses on developing technologies for electrification and hydrogen value chains, while also addressing societal dimensions such as new consumption patterns and the role of communities as active energy actors.

In the bioeconomy and circular economy domain, the region invests in next-generation biomaterials, industrial symbioses, and resource-efficient systems, with the ambition of establishing an internationally recognised bioeconomy cluster.

Comprehensive security has emerged as a cross-cutting priority, driven by growing demand for resilience, preparedness, and dual-use solutions. Human well-being and societal resilience are recognised as essential components of regional competitiveness and security, with a focus on supporting industries in adapting to new market opportunities.

The Smart Specialisation work is coordinated through a regional, multistakeholder RDI Growth group.

Joining ERRIN strengthens South Karelia’s connections to European innovation ecosystems and enables us to more effectively channel our regional strengths into impactful EU cooperation. We look forward to building strong project partnerships and contributing to solutions that enhance regional resilience, particularly in eastern border regions. 

Kirsi Vainio, Development Director, Regional Council of South Karelia

 

Welcome, Regional Council of South Karelia!