A newly completed study – commissioned by the Regional Council of Ostrobothnia and carried out by 4FRONT between September 2025 and March 2026 – introduces a concept for regulatory experimentation to support the development of renewable energy and green hydrogen in Ostrobothnia. The region is home to one of the strongest energy technology ecosystems in the Nordics, and the concept is designed to help turn this strong foundation into new business opportunities, innovation and future investments.
The concept sets out a structured, phased approach to enable more innovation-friendly regulation. It combines three interconnected elements: a regulatory policy platform, a market acceleration initiative, and, in the longer term, a regional experimentation zone. Rather than being implemented simultaneously, these elements are designed to build on each other, gradually creating the conditions for broader regulatory experimentation.
A central feature of the concept is close collaboration among companies, research organisations, public authorities and regional development actors. The study highlights the importance of continuous dialogue and joint learning between stakeholders, ensuring that regulatory challenges, market needs and opportunities for reform are identified and addressed together.
Developed through extensive collaboration with regional and national stakeholders, the concept reflects a strong ambition to strengthen the conditions for clean energy innovation and competitiveness. At the same time, it lays the groundwork for more innovation-friendly regulation and the development of regulatory sandboxes approach in Finland.
Final report and proposed concept: Regulatory experimentation for renewable
energy in Ostrobothnia
