Special to IFN
Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney has signed an agreement with the Town of Riihimäki in Finland to collaborate on the development of aerospace and defense development. According to town officials, this partnership will leverage Finland’s defense expertise with Mooresville’s advanced aerospace and defense manufacturing capabilities.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the towns was signed during a trip to Finland, which took placer August 26-29. Carney was joined on the trip by members of the N.C. House and Senate, Mooresville’s Institute of Digital Engineering (IDE) and representatives from North Carolina universities.
“Our partnership with IDE on this trip underscores the town’s commitment to attracting and supporting high-tech, high-paying jobs in Mooresville,” the mayor said. “Finland’s advanced manufacturing and defense sectors are world-class, and we learned a great deal about how international collaboration can accelerate economic development for our communities. This visit wasn’t just about business; it was about building relationships that will help Mooresville’s business community, the State of North Carolina, and the nation, prosper for years to come.”
Over the four-day visit, Carney met with leaders in the Finnish government, military, and industry. The delegation’s focus was on identifying potential growth partnerships in defense manufacturing and key technology areas such as advanced unmanned aerial systems, cybersecurity, and the integration of digital engineering into defense manufacturing processes.
In addition to the MOU signing, key outcomes include:
♦ Site visits to leading Finnish R&D facilities, including VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Aalto University’s labs, which provided insights into cutting-edge research that could be applied to future projects in Mooresville.
♦ Discussions with the Finnish Ministry of Defense on potential joint ventures and export opportunities, aligning with the growing demand for sustained defense manufacturing and technology development.