The background of the project consists of the geopolitical challenges and opportunities facing the energy industry, as well as the need to decarbonize energy production. This project seeks solutions and alternatives to identify business opportunities for the hydrogen economy of North Karelia in a changing operational environment, including downstream processing opportunities. The main objective of the project is to identify business opportunities for hydrogen economy (including green/clean transition, and bioeconomy) to enable sustainable growth in the region. The main objective is further specified by the following sub-objectives: - Identification, documentation, and strategic decision-making regarding the opportunities of hydrogen economy businesses. These efforts aim to encourage local and external companies and investors to seize the identified opportunities. - Networking is researched, selected, and established with the involvement of local experts. - Increased awareness of the opportunities and strengths offered by the region in Finland and target markets. - Preparation of the North Karelia energy cluster, including clean bio-transition, formulation of an action plan, initiation of activities, and establishment of value networks. The project implementation is divided into five work packages (WPs): WP1 CO2 capture and utilization as a business opportunity: This work package investigates carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and the business opportunities of technical carbon sinks, as well as the establishment of production facilities for carbon-negative concrete based on CO2 utilization in Joensuu. External experts will be utilized for these studies. Additionally, investments and new business initiatives related to CO2 capture and utilization will be promoted, for example, by identifying potential investors and local companies. These investments and new businesses will build and complement the clean bio-transition value network and cluster established in the project. Furthermore, the project will promote the piloting and commercialization of company products, materials, and services related to CO2 capture and utilization through workshops, for example. WP2 New openings in energy production and storage as a business opportunity: This work package investigates new openings and opportunities in energy production and storage, utilizing external experts. Collaboration with the "Puhtia Pohjois-Karjalaan" project of the University of Eastern Finland will be pursued, and the piloting and commercialization of company products, materials, and services related to new openings in energy production and storage will be promoted through workshops, for example. WP3 Value chains of the hydrogen economy, utilization of by-products, and further processing as a business opportunity: This work package promotes investments and new business initiatives related to the hydrogen economy value chain, investigates alternatives for increasing the refining level of hydrogen, and promotes the development of company businesses related to hydrogen further processing. External experts will be utilized for these studies. The results of work packages 1-3 include conducted studies, which partly promote new investments in the region. Investments complementing the value network can be realized in various ways: 1) local companies establish a joint venture, 2) option 1 with additional investors from outside the region, 3) an external investor from outside the region establishes a new company, or 4) a company operating outside the region invests in Joensuu. WP4 Networking and collaboration at the national level: This work package identifies which national networks North Karelia should join, selects networks, and engages in their activities. Collaboration with selected networks will be established. Additionally, participation in suitable events held in Finland and Europe concerning the project's objectives will be pursued. The results of this work package include joining selected networks with the involvement of our region's experts and active participation in them. WP5 Communication measures and initiating the cluster: This work package involves creating a communication plan and implementing the planned measures, communicating about the project, its activities, and results through various channels, disseminating the results of pre-studies conducted in the project to the public, participating in regional and national events, and delivering expert speeches presenting the region's expertise, industrial environment, and the results of pre-studies conducted in the project. Additionally, the operation of the North Karelia energy cluster, including clean bio-transition, will be initiated, and an action plan for promoting business activities in the region will be developed. This includes participating in the organization of the Itä-Suomen Energiafoorumi 2024 and 2025 events. Collaboration with Karelia University of Applied Sciences' The Skilled Workforce in th