With the exceptions of Kainuu and Åland, unemployed people in the regions discussed here are entitled to participate in start-up activities while receiving unemployment benefit. In Kainuu and Åland, such legislation is currently in the process of preparation, but at the current time of writing has yet to be enacted.
Since Norway and Iceland are not members of the EU, EU support schemes for business start-ups are not applicable to Ulstein and Eyjafjör∂ur. Business start-up entrepreneurs in the other four study areas are however eligible for different forms of EU funding.
All six study areas benefit from national financial support schemes for business start-ups and innovation projects, such as grant schemes, loan and capital provision arrangements. In all areas except Kainuu, financial support schemes, designed and launched locally or regionally, are also available.
All six areas provide diverse forms of regional and municipal consultancy services, which include training courses, consultancy and information supply.
The areas concerned, to a varying degree, also have access to privately organised consultancy services, for instance those organised by local chambers of commerce, branch organisations for tourism, agriculture, shipping or other sectors.