North Carolina Leaders Strengthen Defense Ties with Finland

A bipartisan North Carolina delegation traveled to Finland from August 26–29, 2025, to study one of Europe’s most advanced defense innovation ecosystems and explore opportunities for new investment in North Carolina.

The visit, supported by Opportunity for North Carolina (O4NC), the Economic Development Partnership of NC (EDPNC), and the Research Triangle Regional Partnership (RTRP), showcased how North Carolina’s military bases, research universities, and business climate position the state to attract defense-related technology and manufacturing.

“North Carolina is uniquely positioned to lead in innovation, manufacturing, and military support. With our world-class bases, defense companies, and universities, we already play a central role in supporting the greatest military in the world — and we can build even more on that foundation.” ~Sen. Michael Lee in an X post.

Why Finland Matters

Consistently ranked among the world’s most innovative nations, Finland shares an 830-mle border with Russia and has a long history of defense readiness. The country joined NATO in 2023 and has rapidly increased defense spending, approaching 2.5% of GDP.

Finnish Under-Secretary of State for International Trade Jarno Syrjälä is optimistic about additional partnership noting, “We see great potential in the relationship between Finland and North Carolina. We share an interest in building resilient defense ecosystems and harness innovation, technology, and partnerships to drive prosperity. Delegation visits like this turn ideas into collaboration among companies, universities, and government.  Special thanks to Opportunity for North Carolina for facilitating the North Carolina legislative delegation.  With Finland’s strong national defense, comprehensive security model, culture of innovation, talent pool, and access to European market, and North Carolina’s manufacturing strength, capital, skilled workforce, and military presence, we are exceptionally well positioned to deepen our cooperation.”

Looking Ahead

North Carolina needs a new strategy to become a national leader in defense innovation. While the state has a world-class research base, its defense-related efforts are fragmented and underfunded, with limited strategic leadership, coordination, and visibility. As a result, North Carolina is capturing less than half of its $2 billion potential in U.S. Department of Defense research and technology funding. Stronger investment and coordination would not only boost defense capabilities but also generate spillover benefits for dual-use industries such as agriculture, health and human performance, energy, advanced materials and manufacturing, and next-generation communications.

“Continuing our efforts to fuel transformative economic growth, Opportunity for North Carolina sponsored this educational trip to Finland to learn how the state can capitalize on its military defense assets to attract investment in technology and manufacturing. North Carolina is ideally suited for domestic and global partnerships, like the Finnish defense industry. Thanks to conservative, free market policies North Carolina is consistently ranked as a top state for business, but we must keep innovating and recruiting to stay ahead of our peers." ~Chairman Woody White

North Carolina currently ranks 25th in Department of Defense research and development funding, at $209.9 million annually, despite its large military presence. The Finland trip marked a second step in building stronger ties after a Finnish delegation visited Raleigh earlier this year.