Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Pekka Haavisto, and United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, convened in Helsinki on 2 June to formalize their commitment to cooperation in advanced wireless communications. The two officials signed a Joint Statement, affirming Finland and the United States’ shared ambition to collaborate on crucial aspects of 6G research and development, while also fostering increased interaction between Finnish and American stakeholders.
The advent of 6G technology represents a significant leap forward from previous generations of wireless communication systems. Notably, this sector thrives on the symbiotic relationship between scientific research, standardization, and commercialization.
Foreign Minister Haavisto emphasized the importance of shared values and the pursuit of sustainable development goals, both in bilateral and multilateral contexts, in the realm of 6G advancement. He expressed his satisfaction at Finland and the United States joining forces as partners to promote these critical objectives.
Finland has long been at the forefront of 6G development. In 2018, it became the first country to embark on an extensive research program dedicated to this cutting-edge technology. The expertise Finland has amassed in the field of 6G is poised to create fresh opportunities, both commercially and politically. Leveraging these opportunities to their fullest potential necessitates close international collaboration.
Timo Harakka, Finland’s Minister of Transport and Communications, highlighted the centrality of 6G to his country’s future success. By teaming up with the United States, Finland aims to bolster its technological advantage and unlock a host of possibilities for research, development, and commercialization. Harakka also stressed the significance of demonstrating unity among Western democracies in international forums responsible for determining standards and frequencies.
The signing of the Joint Statement between Finland and the United States took place during Secretary of State Blinken’s visit to Finland, underscoring the increased technological cooperation between the two nations in recent years. The existing Agreement Relating to Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Finland and the United States serves as an excellent foundation for further collaboration. Finland also emphasizes the need for ongoing discussions on technology cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the United States, particularly within forums such as the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC). The Joint Statement was the result of close collaboration among Finland’s Ministry of Transport and Communications, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Ministry of Education and Culture, and Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
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