The operations of 15 Centres for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centres) will end operation from January 1, 2026 and 10 new Economic Development Centres (EDC) will start operation at the same time, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment on Tuesday.
The four-party alliance government led by conservative Kansallinen Kokoomus (National Coalition Party-NCP) brought the reform in the regional state administration as part of its austerity measures.
“Ten Economic Development Centres will start operations on 1 January 2026. The reform on regional state administration will create comprehensive and cost-effective state administration services in regions to promote sustainable growth, competitiveness and attractiveness,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto at a press conference on the launch of the Centres.
The new EDC will continue the work of their predecessor, the ELY Centres, without interruption but with more resources and closer cooperation, said the government.
Preparations for the launch of the Centres will continue under the leadership of the Directors General who assumed their responsibilities on 1 December 2025.
The Economic Development Centres will be able to allocate funding under the Act on Research and Development Funding to R&D activities of SMEs in order to leverage them onto a growth path.
The Centres will be regional state administration authorities within the branch of government of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
Apart from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Centres will be guided by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of the Environment, the Finnish Food Authority and the Finnish Transport infrastructure Agency.
As a result of the reform on regional state administration, most of the personnel of the ELY Centres will be transferred to the Economic Development Centres.
Most of the employees who were responsible for environmental tasks at ELY Centres will be transferred to the Finnish Supervisory Agency, which will launch operations at the same time.
Meanwhile, those in charge of public transport matters at ELY Centres will be transferred to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom.
A total of nearly 2,000 employees will be transferred to the new Centres.
- ELY Centres
- Closed
- EDC to start operations
- January
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
