New international collaboration strengthens entrepreneurship in rural Ostrobothnia

In addition to external support, the accelerator seeks to offer participants opportunities to network with mentors, entrepreneurs, and other like-minded individuals. The community being built will provide a space to discuss ideas, develop them collaboratively, and test them at an early stage, while also fostering long-term cooperation and networks.

The project’s objectives are based on the idea that companies operating in rural areas face different challenges and opportunities compared to those in urban environments. Long distances to networks, funding channels, and international connections can slow growth, even though many successful companies originate from smaller municipalities.

The project activities take these rural characteristics into account. A key focus is on building a strong sense of community and promoting collaboration between entrepreneurs, experts, and public sector actors.

In Ostrobothnia, the project is implemented by Centria University of Applied Sciences and Nykarleby Innovation Center in cooperation with Swedish partners.

What does the project involve in practice?

Companies and teams participating in the pilot phase will have the opportunity to develop their business ideas with the support of experts and to build broad collaborative relationships with various stakeholders. Workshops will cover key topics in entrepreneurship, from ideation and concept development to financing.

As the pilots are carried out in both Finland and Sweden, participants will also gain valuable international networks across the Gulf of Bothnia. In addition, the project includes a mentoring programme to support business growth and internationalisation.

The project works closely with municipalities and regional actors, aiming to highlight rural entrepreneurship, strengthen local support structures, and promote an innovation-friendly mindset across the region.

“We are excited to build and test this new rural development model together with our Swedish partners. We hope that everyone interested – companies, aspiring entrepreneurs, idea creators, and anyone interested in participating in the accelerator pilots or becoming part of the Northborne community – will get in touch with us,” says Project Manager Katja Jankens from Centria.

Another objective of the project is to strengthen understanding of the role of entrepreneurship in regional development. Collaboration between companies, municipalities, and other stakeholders will create new operating models and support the emergence of an innovation-friendly atmosphere in rural areas.

The long-term goal is to develop a model that continues beyond the project’s duration and can serve as an example for other regions.

“We want to highlight the immense potential of rural areas. Innovation is often discussed from an urban perspective, but there is also strong entrepreneurship and a drive for development in rural regions,” says Cecilia Nordlund, Head of Business Development at the Swedish organisation Bizmaker.

The Northborne – Accelerating Bold Futures from Remote Beginnings project is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Aurora programme. Additional funding is provided by Region Västernorrland. Project partners include Centria University of Applied Sciences, Bizmaker, Coompanion, and Nykarleby Innovation Center.