The following text of the joint statement was released by the governments of the United States and Finland at the third meeting of the United States-Finland Joint Committee on Scientific and Technical Cooperation.
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On September 19 and 20, the Republic of Finland hosted the United States in Helsinki for the Third Joint Committee Meeting on Scientific and Technical Cooperation (JCM). Rahima Kandahari, deputy assistant secretary of the Office of Ocean and International Environmental Sciences (OES), co-chaired the meeting with Petri Peltonen, deputy assistant secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MEAE). Assistant Secretary Kandahari praised the 104-year diplomatic relationship between the two countries and emphasized how science and technology cooperation embodies the mutual benefits of U.S.-Finland cooperation.
JCM topics focused on key policy and research priorities, including climate science. Cybersecurity; Biotechnology, Health and Life Sciences. Emerging technologies such as 6G, artificial intelligence, and quantum information science. Research integrity and safety. innovation pipeline. Energy solutions that benefit people and economies.
The U.S. delegation includes the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health, Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Geological Survey, National Institute of Standards and Technology, University for Atmospheric Research, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and U.S. Department of State. Participating Finnish institutions and organizations include the Finnish Research Council, Business Finland, Finnish VTT Technology Research Center, CSC IT Science Center, Ministry of Economy and Employment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Communications, and Ministry of Education and Culture.
The United States and Finland have a firm commitment to the principles of mutual trust, mutual respect, and mutual security, as Presidents Biden and Niinisto reaffirmed at the U.S.-Nordic Summit in July 2023. Our two countries are built on shared values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and a shared commitment to strengthening the rules-based international order. Finland’s accession to NATO will strengthen regional and transatlantic security. We collaborate on science and technology to address the climate crisis, promote cybersecurity, and public health to create a more prosperous future for our people. We also work together on common priorities in the Arctic. Both partners consider the importance of upholding the principles of scientific cooperation, including promoting the integrity and security of the international scientific enterprise, and to encourage researchers and organizations from all fields to participate in collaborative activities. We are committed to building an inclusive scientific research community.
The JCM will continue close partnership and coordination in science and technology cooperation, with the goal of promoting responsible innovation in line with shared values to address global challenges in health, climate, energy, and more. The two countries reaffirmed their commitment. Continued scientific engagement and people-to-people connections between the United States and Finland will not only advance our economies but lead to a more resilient future for all of our people.
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