Finnish Delegation Visits Michigan

A Finnish business and research delegation led by Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Consul General of Finland in Los Angeles, visited Michigan on May 16-19, 2022. The aim of the visit was to strengthen cooperation in bioeconomy and autonomous shipping.

In March of 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Mika Lintilä, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)(Link to another website.) relating to cooperation in the areas of clean technology, autonomous energy storage and battery technologies. This MoU forms the framework of the continued cooperation between Finland and Michigan.

The Finnish delegation first visited the Upper Peninsula, where Finns first arrived after the American Civil War, and which was a major destination for Finns during the peak years of migration. Also today, many Finnish-Americans call Michigan home. The Finnish delegation visited Finlandia University, established in 1896 by Finnish immigrants. Finlandia University is also home to the cultural center of Finns in North America, the Finnish American Heritage Center. In the U.P., the delegation learned about FInnZone, a commercial launchpad for Finnish companies seeking a presence in the U.S.

Under the MoU, Finland and Michigan have launched a pioneering partnership in forest bioeconomy, which is a significant and growing industry in both regions. Finland, Michigan and Maine work together in a unique bioeconomy collaboration group with close to 100 participants. Finland and Michigan are developing collaboration on smart and sustainable forestry practices, high level wood construction technologies, using forest-based biomass for innovative products , scaling up biofuels production, and using cellulose, lignin and other small wood based particles in industrial, medical and chemical applications.



The Finnish industry is striving towards zero-carbon ocean shipping by 2040. The vision is to make every ship smart by 2025. In the United States, Team Finland(Link to another website.) has launched a special campaign, Smart Green Ports, to help address the supply chain situation at logistics terminals and ports in the U.S. Finnish industry is developing solutions with the leading U.S. ports and terminal operators to unleash the supply chains. Ports in Michigan and Finland are also looking at possibilities for collaboration in new port systems, which is why the Finnish delegation visited Port of Detroit during the trip to Michigan.

Finland and the US are both important global polar actors. Finnish companies have a strong record of accomplishment in cooperating with US companies and the Coast Guard on icebreaker programs. Finnish companies have designed about 80 % of the world’s icebreakers and have a long tradition of creating solutions for the Arctic maritime industry. Icebreaker Mackinaw, patrolling in the Great Lakes out of Mackinaw, Michigan, is partly designed by Finnish companies.

In Michigan, the Finnish delegation also visited and met the leadership of Michigan Technological University and its Great Lakes Research Center, Michigan State University and University of Michigan. Universities and research organizations of Michigan and Finland are already cooperating under the Memorandum of Understanding, and both sides look forward to deepening and expanding this cooperation. Finnish industry, researchers and the Smart Ships Coalition at Michigan Technological University have collaborated for almost two years in the advancement of autonomous technologies operated in marine environments. Business Finland and a Finnish low-carbon industrial company Wärtsilä are members of the Smart Ships Coalition.

The visit was hosted by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The Finnish delegation was organized by Business Finland and the Embassy of Finland in Washington D.C., and included leading Finnish research organizations, universities and companies.


Links to articles about the visit:

  1. https://eu.freep.com/story/news/columnists/neal-rubin/2022/05/22/finnish-detroit-river-transportation-marine-michigan/9852171002/(Link to another website.)
    15 Finnish delegates just took a bus trip around Michigan — and felt very much at home
     
  2. https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2022/05/18/finnish-representatives-meet-houghton-county/(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)
    Finnish representatives meet in Houghton County
     
  3. https://abc10up.com/2022/05/17/finnish-delegates-arrive-in-the-keweenaw-peninsula/(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)
    Finnish Delegates Arrive in the Keweenaw Peninsula – ABC 10/CW5
     
  4. http://www.keweenawreport.com/featured/finlands-okko-pekka-salmimies-and-friends-arrive-in-the-keweenaw-peninsula/(Link to another website.)
    Finland’s Okko-Pekka Salmimies and Friends Arrive in the Keweenaw Peninsula - Keweenaw Report
     
  5. https://www.radioresultsnetwork.com/2022/05/16/216305/(Link to another website.)
    State Officials Welcome Finnish Delegation to U.P.

     
  6. https://www.upmatters.com/news/local-news/copper-country/finnish-delegates-highlighting-forest-marine-technology-in-visit-to-u-p/(Link to another website.)

Finnish delegates highlighting forest, marine technology in visit to U.P.
 

  1. https://www.mininggazette.com/news/front-page/2022/05/copper-country-hosts-finnish-delegations/(Link to another website.)
    Copper Country hosts Finnish delegations: Seeks to develop business ties between regions
     
  2. https://www.fox2detroit.com/video/1071672(Link to another website.)
    Scandinavian leaders visit Detroit amid request into NATO