The population of North Ostrobothnia has been steadily growing since around the year 2000, and the average age of the region’s population is the youngest in all of Finland. North Ostrobothnia is a significant innovation region. The region offers high-quality education and expertise, for example in the IT and software industries, as well as metal and forest-based industries. The diverse natural landscape, ample natural resources, and expertise that characterise the region create further opportunities for development, in areas such as tourism and the bioeconomy.