Michigan - Finland - Maine Forest Bioeconomy Collaboration

In March 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Finland's Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä signed a Memorandum of Understanding to increase collaboration and innovation between the two regions, specifically related to advancing sustainable growth oppportunities in the automotive, maritime, and sustainable forest bioeconomy industries.  MIFBI has had an active role in the collaboration leading work groups, projects, and involvement on in-bound and out-bound mission trips. 

The collaboration remains active today.  MIFBI has taken a lead role in developing and managing a trans-national effort to catalyze the development and commercialization of technologies and products utilizing wood residuals.  

• Lignin Production and Application: Expanding Transnational Collaborations (2023)
  
  
• Wood Residual Use in Long-Lived Products to Enhance C Storage (Helsinki, Finland, May 2023)
  
  
• Whitmer to Partner with Finland on Clean Technology Growth and Development (2020)

• Michigan-Finland Summit on Forest Bioproducts (2018)
  
  

Projects:

Wood Residual Project Team meets monthly to develop commercialization bridges to accelerate the growth of innovative technologies and startups involved in forest residual products and services. See the events calendar for information on upcoming meetings.