Nordic-American Two-Way Bridge

The NEF Newsletter: Connecting New England, Finland, and Scandinavia through trade, education, and culture. Born from the enthusiasm of Finnish New Englanders, it charts our shared journey—past, present, and future. Join our growing community of 2,800+ subscribers and many more via email and blog. Share with anyone eager to build Nordic-New England bridges.

Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Henrik Totterman, Finnish Honorary Consul for Boston and New England. A professor, entrepreneur, and connector dedicated to fostering Finnish-American collaboration and advancing sustainable solutions.

Subscribe to good news shared in The NEF.

NEW: Access the NEF — New England Finns Chat on WhatsApp

The NEF Whatsapp Chat: Connecting New England, Finland, and Scandinavia through trade, education, and culture. Born from the enthusiasm of Finnish New Englanders, it charts our shared journey—past, present, and future. Click here to join this emerging interactive community.

Contents — October 2025

Upcoming Events

Business & Trade Connections

Innovation, Education & Research

Culture, Heritage & Sport

Diplomacy & Public Affairs

Upcoming events (See further specifics below):

• October: CHECK OUT Authors and Innovators Festival & Affordable Art Fair Boston
  
• November: REGISTER NOW Finland and New England: A Two-Way Bridge for Growth - Co-organized by the Honorary Consulate and the Kaato community.
  
• December: SAVE THE DATE Finnish Independence Gala Dinner on Saturday, December 6th, 2025, 6:00 PM onwards in the Boston Metro Area

Let’s Small Talk — Finns Are Experts Also on Icebreakers

Lately, you might have noticed an increase in traffic to Finland. Yes, tourists — but also governments, companies, and investors — all lining up for Finnish technology, engineering, systems, and design.

It’s no accident that the U.S. is now turning to Finnish expertise to help build its next generation of icebreakers, drawing on our deep competence in bluetech, Arctic engineering, and marine systems.

We’ve long seen icons like Nautor’s Swan — the elegant sailing legend — and Royal Caribbean — a brand as bold as any — carry Finnish design and shipbuilding mastery into the world. Now that same commitment to design, resilience, and cutting-edge technology is being called upon for something far more demanding. In October 2025, Finland and the U.S. signed an agreement to build 11 Arctic Security Cutters, i.e., icebreakers — four in Finland and the rest in the U.S. under Finnish direction. The deal, worth about $6.1 billion, is a strong signal that the bridge between our countries is both real and growing.

And it’s no one-way street. The U.S. has long been Finland’s largest trading partner, accounting for roughly 11 % of total exports in 2023, and about a third of our IT and software service exports. So yes — we export icebreakers, bluetech, systems, and software, and import plenty of innovation and opportunity in return.

To me, this moment feels like quiet vindication. Finland has spent decades building world-class competence in demanding sectors, always with the long game in mind. Our family company supported several of these ecosystems with machine tools and expertise for over half a century, giving me a front-row seat to witness its evolution. It’s no surprise that without loud fanfare, Finland has become a global leader in Arctic engineering, low-carbon propulsion, automated waterways, and resilient systems.

Now, the U.S. comes knocking — saying, “We need your designs, your teams, your systems.” It’s validation of long, patient investment — and we Finns are ready to do business, fostering long-lasting partnerships built on trust, quality, and high value.

We Finns aren’t precisely known for small talk — and we certainly dislike bragging. We prefer quality to speak for itself. But whether it’s marine systems, clean energy, life sciences, smart mobility, advanced manufacturing, or digital innovation, we’re committed to speaking your language. And when we do talk, it’s rarely idle. Expect rigour, focus, and precision — the kind that builds trust, drives progress, and quietly moves industries forward.

Yours Truly,

Dr. Henrik Totterman

Honorary Consul of Finland to the City of Boston and New England.

US-Finland Icebreaker Deal Sealed — Presidential and Prime Minister Debrief

Business & Trade Connections

Finland and New England: A Two-Way Bridge for Growth

You’re invited to the Finland–New England Innovation Evening — Exploring Transatlantic Partnerships in Technology and Growth.

Seats are limited. Registrations will be reviewed, and guests will be confirmed or waitlisted to ensure a diverse high-quality networking experience. Don’t miss this exclusive opportunity to connect with executives, entrepreneurs, and innovators from Finland, Boston, and New England.

🔹 Fireside discussion on AI/LLMs, IoT, health devices, and quantum computing

🔹 Cocktail reception & networking with peers, investors, and thought leaders

🔹 Explore how the Finland–New England corridor drives global innovation

📅 Thursday, Nov 13, 2025 | 5:15–8:00 PM

📍 Hult International Business School, Cambridge, MA.

This event is organized by Kaato, the Honorary Consulate of Finland in Boston and New England, with support from Business Finland and Hult International Business School

Innovation, Education & Research

Authors and Innovators Festival

Main event: Thursday, October 30th, 8:30AM - 4:00PM in Newton MA.

Join the 9th Annual Authors & Innovators Festival for the sake of cutting edge business books, brilliant networking, and to get fresh insights from top thought leaders.

The Authors & Innovators Festival is back for its 9th year, bringing together top business authors, innovators, and thought leaders in Newton, close to Boston.

This year’s festival dives into what resilience means in business and entrepreneurship—an inspiring opportunity to connect, learn, and exchange ideas with some of today’s brightest minds.

A special thank you to Lawrence Gennari & Co., true friends of Finland and the Nordics, for once again opening the doors wide for this exceptional event.

Culture, Heritage & Sport

Affordable Art Fair Boston

Boston’s vibrant art scene comes alive later this month as the Affordable Art Fair returns to the SoWa Power Station, October 23–26. The event brings together galleries, collectors, and art lovers to celebrate creativity at every price point — with artworks to suit all tastes and budgets.

This year’s curated features include:

• Survival Tactics, showcasing emerging BFA and MFA talent from the Boston area.
• See It Go!, an artistic exploration of the city’s iconic CITGO sign and its cultural symbolism.
• Wonders Under $1,000, a special selection of accessible works from exhibiting galleries.

Diplomacy & Public Affairs

Luncheon with Minister Sanni Grahn-Laasonen

A few weeks ago offered an inspiring reminder of Finland’s growing presence in the U.S. life science ecosystem. It was a privilege to join Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, State Secretary Laura Rissanen, and Senior Specialist Eppu Mikkonen from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, together with Health Counselor Pasi Mustonen from Finland’s Permanent Mission in Geneva.

A warm thank-you to Consul General Jarmo Sareva for hosting an engaging lunch at his New York residence — complete with lively conversation, excellent food, and a view over Central Park. The discussions focused on Finland’s role and opportunities within Boston’s world-leading life science ecosystem — a dialogue sure to deepen collaboration across the Atlantic, both with New York and the New England region in focus.

Commercial and Economic Consular visit to New England

On October 28-30, we look forward to welcoming Commercial Counselor Elina Räsänen and Special Advisor Lotta Jessen to New England for a consular visit spanning trade, education, innovation, culture, and diplomacy.

With deep expertise in the green transition, stakeholder engagement, and building strategic partnerships, we will meet with government representatives, support organizations, academics, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. Key themes include AI, quantum technologies, defense, energy, sustainability, clean tech, and the circular economy.

We have a fantastic three-day program with government, university, and company visits prepared for our guests. Thanks, everyone, for bringing a great program together! That said, if you still have relevant contacts or opportunities that could enrich these conversations, we encourage you to reach out. Together, we can strengthen the bridge between Finland and New England, opening new doors for collaboration.

THE NEF - NEW ENGLAND FINNS NEWSLETTER

NEXT ISSUE: #19, November 15, 2025.

Past Issues:

ISSUE #1: January 23, 2024, Setting Sails for a New Adventure - The NEF – The New England Finns monthly newsletter was launched on January 25, 2024, with well over 1200 subscribers on Linkedin a week later.

ISSUE #2: February 25, 2024, Sailing the Northeast Shores - 1776 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #3: March 31, 2024, Nordic Sailors Sharing Joy, Experiences, and Knowledge- 1900 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #4: April 28, 2024, Nordic Sailors and the New England Summer Season! - 2100 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #5: June 7, 2024, The Nordic Midsummer Magic - 2200 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #6: July 9, 2024, The Legendary Nordic Vacation - 2300 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #7: August 31, 2024, The Nordic Night of the Ancient Fires - 2400 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #8: September 29, 2024, Nordic Values At Work - 2450 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #9: November 3, 2024, Embracing the Northeastern Winds - 2500 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #10: December 8, 2024, Shining Bright under the Northern Lights - 2542 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #11: January 5, 2025, A Nordic Cheer for a Resilient New Year - 2584 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #12: February 2, 2025, Nordic Hockey Flair in the Garden Air - 2640 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #13: March 2, 2025, Nordic Hockey Flair in the Garden Air - 2680 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #14: April 5, 2025, Nordic Happiness in New England - 2703 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #15: May 4, 2025, Sauna, Summer, and Sisu — Stronger Ties, Brighter Skies - 2746 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #16: June 14, 2025, From Nordic Flag Raisings to Finnish-American Alliances - 2779 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #17: July 15, 2025, Nordic Summer: Rest, Reflect & Reimagine - 2793 on Linkedin.

ISSUE #18: September 15, Nordic Leadership in Action - 2820 on Linkedin