Between the period of 18th – 19th of June in Jyväskylä, Finland, the international project meeting of CCIC project (Complex challenges innovative cities) took place, where Harghita County Council was also participating. This project’s goal is to foster the improvement of regional policies, to contribute to innovation in public sphere and to the efficient collaboration with local and regional authorities, with national institutions and other concerned parties in the 13 partner countries.
Jyväskylä is located in the lake district of Finland, approx. 270 kilometres north from Helsinki. A great part of paper products are produced here, in the factories of this region. Among the suppliers, we can found several big engineering companies, who also buy a large amount of chemical materials and additives. Besides, a lot of high-tech companies are constantly working on the innovation of paper industry in this region. Their focus is on licensing the new technologies and the newest paper manufacturing procedures. Owned to the used technological innovations, their position in the global paper market as suppliers and developers is strengthened. Jyväskylä region takes part in the national Forest Industry Future Cluster program as a centre of expertise, whose main goal is the development of silviculture and paper industry, as well as it aims to support the business growth of local SMEs. When making decisions, firstly they are taking into account the environment protection, then the other interests.
“For modernizing the public sphere and expanding its action spheres, the legal framework and financial background are necessary conditions but are not sufficient. There is need for models, knowledge, and other’s experiences in order to assure and provide a higher standard of public services for the population. The wood industry in Harghita County is significant and for strengthening its competitiveness, the authorities need to take responsibility for it”, as it was said by Mr. Zoltán András, project manager on behalf of Harghita County Council.
On the partner meeting the Lutakko Living Lab program was presented which is aimed at supporting the regional innovation, the constant development in the field of education. Within the program they are dealing with R+D activities collaborating with local, regional and international organizations, companies. Furthermore, they also presented the Citizens’ Jury method: with the help of this method the inhabitants are actively taking part in the decision making on several aspects of their own city. Hereby, the decision-makers are given the possibility to know the viewpoints of the population as well.
As it was outlined by Mr. Zoltán András, “Harghita County Council has already taken major steps toward establishing the social participatory decision-making in HarghitaCounty. In this regard the project provides a great opportunity to learn and use the modern consultation and communication tools.”
This method is considered innovative in Finland, because it is different than the methods used until now and Jyväskylä is the first city in Finland, which applied this method. There is a so-called citizen jury, whose task is to resolve the occurring difficult public issues. The members of the jury are elected from among the local citizens in order to accurately represent the local population. In Jyväskylä the Citizens’ Jury is composed of 24 persons, who for investigating, discussing and resolving a given problem are convoking a meeting three times at least. Besides, during these kinds of meetings they are also interrogating specialists and finally they are submitting the possible solutions and proposals for the decision makers. Consequently, the inhabitants are also actively helping the jury to make their decisions better.
The project participants of CCIC are collecting the international legal practices on social area and health as well. Another Finnish good practice is the E-family Coach cell-based intervention, which supports families in their daily lives, giving assistance for parents and children for solving problematic situations, such as childhood obesity, solitude and health protection. Within stress-management field, it helps finding a solution to manage conflicts as well. The program is aimed at supporting the increase of living standards, having also a community-building force.
In the course of CCIC project in this year it was organized a field trip to Warsaw, (Poland) and Eindhoven (Netherlands). At the moment the collection of Romanian and Sekler best practices is under progress.
“Although, while we take part in the project qualified as studying partners, we consider important to show the initiatives on our behalf also, which we can be proud of. For instance, the Sekler Product Movement is an outstanding example of the public sector’s innovative role taking.” - said Mr. Zoltán András.
In this project 14 partners from ten countries are taking part: Great Britain, Bulgaria, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Spain, Estonia, Poland and Romania. The Romanian partner is Hargita County Council.
Miercurea Ciuc, 21st of June 2013
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