NPO HELSINKI-TALLINN EUREGIO, Promoting mobility between regions Harjumaa (Tallinn, Estonia) and Uusimaa (Helsinki, Finland) Merle Krigul Secretary General Open Days, October 11, 2007

HELSINKI-TALLINN EUREGIO Baltic Sea

ECONOMY GDP growth in Estonia in 2006 being 10,8% and 2,9% in Finland. GDP growth in Estonia in 2006 being 10,8% and 2,9% in Finland. Tallinn region has its advantages here. There is no tax on enterprises in Estonia and taxation of manpower in 2006 was 23%, 2007 it is 22%. Flat tax system. Tallinn region has its advantages here. There is no tax on enterprises in Estonia and taxation of manpower in 2006 was 23%, 2007 it is 22%. Flat tax system. The corporate tax in Finland was 29 % and individual income tax is progressive (30,7%) The corporate tax in Finland was 29 % and individual income tax is progressive (30,7%)

COMMON PROBLEMS VERY SMALL COUNTRIES – LOW VISIBILITY VERY SMALL COUNTRIES – LOW VISIBILITY FAR FROM THE EU CENTERS – HIGH TRANSPORTATION COSTS FAR FROM THE EU CENTERS – HIGH TRANSPORTATION COSTS COLD – HIGH HEATING AND PRODUCTION COSTS COLD – HIGH HEATING AND PRODUCTION COSTS AGING POPULATION – HIGH SOCIAL COSTS AGING POPULATION – HIGH SOCIAL COSTS LACK OF PEOPLE – HIGH TAXATION COSTS LACK OF PEOPLE – HIGH TAXATION COSTS HIGH EXPECTANCY ON LIFE QUALITY – ALL COSTS HIGH EXPECTANCY ON LIFE QUALITY – ALL COSTS POPULATION IS CONCENTRATED IN THE CAPITAL REGIONS, LOW DENSITY OF PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS – LACK OF WORKING FORCE POPULATION IS CONCENTRATED IN THE CAPITAL REGIONS, LOW DENSITY OF PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS – LACK OF WORKING FORCE MARINE ENVIRONMENT – THE GULF OF FINLAND/Baltic sea - IS OF GREATEST CONCERN due to oil transit and pollution from industries MARINE ENVIRONMENT – THE GULF OF FINLAND/Baltic sea - IS OF GREATEST CONCERN due to oil transit and pollution from industries WE ARE A VERY EXPENSIVE REGION!

STRENGTHS WELL DEVELOPED ICT SECTOR WELL DEVELOPED ICT SECTOR WELL EDUCATED WORKING FORCE WELL EDUCATED WORKING FORCE GOOD LANGUAGE SKILLS GOOD LANGUAGE SKILLS HIGH LEVEL OF SOCIAL SECURITY HIGH LEVEL OF SOCIAL SECURITY SIMILAR CULTURAL BACKGROUND SIMILAR CULTURAL BACKGROUND VERY HIGH INNOVATION CAPACITY VERY HIGH INNOVATION CAPACITY

COOPERATION IS ONE OF SOLUTIONS BRANDING OF THE WHOLE BALTIC SEA REGION IS OF GREAT ATTENTION THESE YEARS BRANDING OF THE WHOLE BALTIC SEA REGION IS OF GREAT ATTENTION THESE YEARS MAKING OURSELVES VISIBLE AND ATTRACTIVE FOR PEOPLE – TALENTED AND SKILLED WORKERS, INVESTORS, STUDENTS, TOURISTS – IS EASIER TOGETHER MAKING OURSELVES VISIBLE AND ATTRACTIVE FOR PEOPLE – TALENTED AND SKILLED WORKERS, INVESTORS, STUDENTS, TOURISTS – IS EASIER TOGETHER WE HAVE COMMON GOAL – TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE IN THE REGION AND TO ATTRACT MORE SKILLED PEOPLE TO COME AND LIVE HERE WE HAVE COMMON GOAL – TO KEEP OUR PEOPLE IN THE REGION AND TO ATTRACT MORE SKILLED PEOPLE TO COME AND LIVE HERE

EUREGIO PARTNERS: Helsinki City ( Uusimaa Regional Council ( Tallinn City ( Estonian Republic ( represented by Harju County Government ( Union of Harju County Municipalities (

ROLE The Helsinki-Tallinn Euregios role is to promote co-operation inside the region and enhance regional integration by: being a cross-border, triple helix driven tool; being a cross-border, triple helix driven tool; aiming to strengthen the cross-border regional knowledge based economic and political development; aiming to strengthen the cross-border regional knowledge based economic and political development; development of a united multi-cluster innovation region of high competitiveness development of a united multi-cluster innovation region of high competitiveness

PRIORITIES AND ACTIVITIES Sustainable regional planning: Sustainable regional planning: contribute to the development of sustainable region in the context of regional and city planning, waste management and recycling and energy saving. contribute to the development of sustainable region in the context of regional and city planning, waste management and recycling and energy saving. Creation of common business environment: Creation of common business environment: a borderless region with common well-functioning labour market. The priority concentrates on regional competitiveness including mutually beneficial environment and mutual access for businesses and investments, initiating cooperation with common industrial base in Helsinki and Tallinn. a borderless region with common well-functioning labour market. The priority concentrates on regional competitiveness including mutually beneficial environment and mutual access for businesses and investments, initiating cooperation with common industrial base in Helsinki and Tallinn. Promotion of human resources: Promotion of human resources: Development of Twin-region of arts and sciences via knowledge arena – cooperation between universities, research institutions, technology parks, inkubators etc, all in triple helix model Development of Twin-region of arts and sciences via knowledge arena – cooperation between universities, research institutions, technology parks, inkubators etc, all in triple helix model

MEASURES Euregio Forum, promoting the dialogue between political decision makers and Knowledge Arena Forum for developing arts and science networks. Euregio Forum, promoting the dialogue between political decision makers and Knowledge Arena Forum for developing arts and science networks. Networking, information exchange, triple-helix round tables, workshops, seminars, conferences and projects and fora; Networking, information exchange, triple-helix round tables, workshops, seminars, conferences and projects and fora; Facilitation of common contacts and projects between the municipalities, universities and research institutes, and the business sector; Facilitation of common contacts and projects between the municipalities, universities and research institutes, and the business sector; Exchanges of personnel, trainings, research related activities; Exchanges of personnel, trainings, research related activities; Introduce business opportunities in both countries (legislation, taxing, and business culture) and enhance personal contacts between enterprises and organisations; Introduce business opportunities in both countries (legislation, taxing, and business culture) and enhance personal contacts between enterprises and organisations; Active participation in joint activities between embassies, culture, business and research organisations Active participation in joint activities between embassies, culture, business and research organisations

CLUSTER BUILDING AS ONE SOLUTION Elderly care is an area that have prerequisites for emergence of clusters in the areas of elderly care and recreation, between Tallinn University and Laurea Polytechnics and other universities and spinno enterprises. Elderly care is an area that have prerequisites for emergence of clusters in the areas of elderly care and recreation, between Tallinn University and Laurea Polytechnics and other universities and spinno enterprises. Art, media and design: strong prerequisites for emergence of a visual media cluster using Estonian dynamic business environment; Art, media and design: strong prerequisites for emergence of a visual media cluster using Estonian dynamic business environment; Maritime industries Maritime industries Universities/doctoral studies Universities/doctoral studies High tech/ICT services High tech/ICT services The idea is to use specialists on both sides of the Gulf of Finland.

Example of using the triple helix model Wellness/welfare seminar: Wellness/welfare seminar: Place – Helsinki, speakers – Tallinn and Helsinki, participants – representatives of local authorities, universities, knowlege businesses; aim – to enhance cross-use of people and services Place – Helsinki, speakers – Tallinn and Helsinki, participants – representatives of local authorities, universities, knowlege businesses; aim – to enhance cross-use of people and services Philosophy: Aging population presents new demands for social system – elderly need new types of services. Finnish and Estonian businesses with academic background introduced ideas and new services. Philosophy: Aging population presents new demands for social system – elderly need new types of services. Finnish and Estonian businesses with academic background introduced ideas and new services.

THANK YOU! Additional information: Merle Krigul Secretary General Helsinki-Tallinn Euregio Tatari 23/ , Tallinn ESTONIA Phone: Homepage: