Rahoitusinfo
What is ESF?
Finland receives EU subsidies from two structural funds: the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The main objectives of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) are to increase employment and to enhance regional competitiveness and vitality. The programmes are focused on improving employment especially in those regions of our country where the employment prospects are the weakest.
The main objective of the European Social Fund is to support employment and employment opportunities by developing skills and service structures. ESF funding can be used to promote equality, prevent social exclusion and to develop skills, work conditions and wellbeing at work or to create systems that facilitate the functioning of the labour market and activate people to participate and work.
You will find more information on the operations and general objectives of the structural funds here.
What kind of projects are eligible for funding?
In order for a project to receive ESF or ERDF funding it has to serve towards at least one of the goals of Finland’s structural funds programme “Sustainable Growth and Employment 2014–2020”.
The goals are described in the programme through specific areas of focus and aims. Among the central aims are:
- to advance innovation and creativity
- to develop jobs and businesses
- to support growth
- to strengthen skills and professional competencies
- to enhance social inclusion
Read more about the structural funds programme here.
Creative Expertise
The aim of the Creative Expertise theme package is to utilise creative expertise in companies and business in growth sectors and sectors facing structural change as well as in educational institutions and the public sector, improving the opportunities of the creative workforce to earn income through their work. Strengthening collaboration between actors in the field of arts and culture and actors in the growth sectors and sectors facing structural change is concurrently a key goal.
The funded projects serve to
- Increase creative expertise and education in Finland
- Advance cross-disciplinary activity
- Strengthen the creative economy and new growth sectors
- Support the development of intangible value creation
The funding authority for the Creative Expertise theme package is the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for Häme.
Skills for Inclusion
The Skills for Inclusion theme package is focused on the development of models that are based on active inclusion and support collaboration between operators engaged in cultural, library, sports and youth work and educational institutions in the field, with the goal of strengthening the study, employment and functional capacities of young people. This work is strongly connected to, for example, increased motivation to study and finding personal educational paths.
The funded projects serve to
- Promote inclusive activities and prevent social exclusion in Finland
- Raise the employment rate
- Improve wellbeing and productivity at work
- Enhance the inclusion of children and young people in information society
The funding authority for the Skills for Inclusion theme package is the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment for North Ostrobothnia.
