The Power of Responsiblity – Driving Business Growth by Developing Responsibility Competence

The Power of Responsibility is a development project targeted at SMEs in Northern Ostrobothnia. The project strengthens companies’ responsibility-related competences and supports business renewal in a changing operating environment. Concretely, the project assesses the current state of corporate responsibility and seeks to identify development needs through this analysis. The aim is to increase companies’ capacity for change and their competence in matters related to responsibility.

In practice, we are developing a digital training path on the fundamentals of responsible business, accessible regardless of time and place. The purpose of the path is to support independent learning and provide tools for understanding ecological, social, and economic responsibility. In the hybrid training workshops, companies can actively develop their own responsibility practices from a business driven perspective. Additionally, we offer company specific expert services to participating businesses, assisting for example in responsibility strategy development, carbon footprint calculation, or managing public procurement requirements. The project also strengthens peer support among entrepreneurs by leveraging the extensive business networks of Northern Ostrobothnia. Blogs, podcasts, and company stories will make up to date responsibility information easily accessible.

The target group of the project includes all SMEs located in the following municipalities: Haapavesi, Siikalatva, Oulainen, Pyhäntä, Lumijoki, Kempele, Tyrnävä, Liminka, Muhos, Vaala, Hailuoto, Utajärvi, Oulu, Ii, Pudasjärvi, Taivalkoski, and Kuusamo. All SMEs within the project area—regardless of industry or size—may participate, provided they have the need and willingness to develop their operations to be more responsible from ecological, social, economic, and governance perspectives. A special target group consists of entrepreneurs working in or formerly active in the peat industry, as well as entrepreneurs whose operations have been affected by changes in peat production, and who are seeking new business opportunities and networks to support their activities. Another special target group is young entrepreneurs and young people planning to start or acquire a business.

As a result of the project, companies’ responsibility competences in the region will be strengthened, their readiness to meet tightening reporting and procurement requirements will improve, and business networks will become more integrated. The digital materials and training contents produced in the project will remain openly available, supporting companies even after the project concludes.
The project is implemented in collaboration between the Kerttu Saalasti Institute of the University of Oulu and the Federation of Entrepreneurs in Northern Ostrobothnia during the years 2025–2028. The main implementer of the project is the University of Oulu’s Kerttu Saalasti Institute.

The total budget of the project is €570,139, of which the EU contribution is €476,078. The funding has been granted by the Centre for Economic Development.