Washington and Finland launch new era of partnership

Governor Bob Ferguson and Finland’s Ambassador to the United States, Leena-Kaisa Mikkola
launch a new era of partnership. Photo courtesy Governor's Office

SEATTLE – Governor Bob Ferguson and Finland’s Ambassador to the United States, Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, set a new framework to guide collaboration and trade between Washington and Finland. 

They gathered at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle to sign a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two regions and launch a new era of partnership on research, academia, innovation and business. This is the first collaborative agreement with a foreign nation Governor Ferguson has signed since taking office in 2025.

The agreement lays out specific industries and research areas that will be the focus of ongoing collaboration between Finland and Washington. These include:

• Modern maritime industry safety, efficiency and sustainability;
• Aerospace and defense innovation;
• Clean energy generation, transmission and storage;
• Sustainable forestry, fisheries and water resource management;
• Sustainable transportation, including sustainable battery development; and
• Emerging technologies such as quantum technology and Artificial Intelligence.

The agreement helps facilitate trade missions, connects small businesses with potential investors and suppliers, and sets priorities for knowledge sharing and policy expertise.

The signing took place as part of the 2026 Nordic Innovation Summit in Seattle. The Summit is a unique convening of policymakers, business leaders, researchers, innovators, and cultural voices from across the Nordic region, the Arctic, and the Pacific Northwest to explore the future of Arctic cooperation, climate resilience, energy transition, security, health innovation, and emerging technologies.

More information here