DENVER – Last week, Gov. Jared Polis and the Global Business Development division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) welcomed to Colorado H.E. Leena-Kaisa Mikkola, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the United States. With logistical support from OEDIT, Ambassador Mikkola led a delegation to Colorado focused on understanding investment opportunities in the state and making connections in Colorado’s photonics and quantum ecosystems.
“Colorado’s strong relationship with Finland is an asset for our economy, creating new investment opportunities and good-paying jobs for Coloradans. We are thrilled to welcome Ambassador Mikkola and her delegation to highlight our state's leadership in critical fields like photonics and quantum,” said Governor Jared Polis.
Ambassador Mikkola was joined by a delegation of businesses and universities representing Finland's leading experts in the photonics and quantum sectors. The three-day agenda included a bilateral meeting with Gov. Polis, the National Science Foundation (NSF) ASCEND Engine and Colorado State University in Fort Collins; an International Society for Optics & Photonics (SPIE) Quantum Catalyst event; and meetings with JILA and the Colorado Quantum Incubator at CU Boulder, as well as the Colorado School of Mines, Elevate Quantum and the Colorado Photonics Industry Association. The Ambassador and delegation also participated in a celebratory reception hosted by the newly formed Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Colorado, attended by business and academic leaders from Colorado.
“Colorado has rapidly become a leading quantum technology hub, and Finland is proud to be a partner in this effort. The connections made during this visit, between researchers, companies, universities, and state partners, reflect the true strength of our transatlantic partnership. This week’s discussions showed just how much we can achieve when we work together,” said Ambassador Mikkola.
Last week’s visit reinforces the strong partnership between Colorado and Finland, formalized by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2022 to promote bidirectional opportunities in investment and research collaborations. The MoU is already fostering greater collaboration between the two regions:
- Four research partnerships are working with the LUMI supercomputer in Finland, including the Colorado Space Science Institute, Colorado State University, School of Mines, and University of Colorado.
- In June 2023, Finnish laser company Vexlum opened its U.S. headquarters in Broomfield, with then Finnish Ambassador Mikko Hautala and a delegation from Finland in attendance.
- A new partnership with Colorado State University and the University of Eastern Finland will further collaborate on applied sciences and opportunities to train the next generation of leaders in bioeconomy and forestry.
Additionally, in 2024, Gov. Polis led an investment mission to Finland focused on the regions’ shared commitment to sustainable practices, the green economy space and the development of quantum technologies.
OEDIT’s Global Business Development division regularly hosts foreign delegations visiting Colorado and participates in trade and investment missions around the world to strengthen global awareness of the state. Last year, GBD supported 44 foreign diplomatic and business delegations from 29 different countries visiting Colorado, including elected and appointed officials, ambassadors, trade commissioners, and consul generals. This includes diplomatic meetings with Governor Polis, site visits to promote Colorado's key industries, and meetings with local business communities across the state.