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Turku and Joensuu launch Borderland Europe cooperation on digital security – could accelerate Finnish companies’ access to international procurements
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Business Joensuu news
Business development companies from Turku and Joensuu strengthen national and European cooperation in developing digital security, border security and dual-use technologies. Through the Borderland Europe initiative, an international pilot environment will be built to test technologies related to border security, comprehensive security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
The collaboration combines Turku’s strong expertise in the maritime cluster, logistics and port operations with Joensuu’s emerging defence and security technology ecosystem. The test platform brings together actors developing solutions such as:
- situational awareness and sensor technologies
- AI-based analytics and decision-support systems
- XR and simulation technologies for training and exercises
- drone and autonomous systems
- cybersecurity and hybrid threat mitigation
According to Sauli Eloranta, Vice President of Defence at VTT, Borderland Europe could significantly accelerate Finnish companies’ access to international procurements. In NATO, new technologies have become part of core operational capability — no longer experiments, but operational performance.
“Borderland Europe builds on the strengths of Turku and Joensuu to create a testing platform where solutions can be validated in real maritime and border security environments. When development is NATO- and EU-compatible from the outset, Finnish companies’ access to international procurements and partnerships will accelerate significantly. This is an investment in European resilience and technological competitiveness, not merely a regional development project,” Eloranta says.
The long-term goal of the cooperation is to establish a European-level testing platform for border security and digital resilience in Finland. The platform will enable international pilots and demonstrations as well as EU-funded research and development projects.
Testing in authentic environments and real-world conditions
The partnership between Business Turku and Business Joensuu strengthens Finland’s position as a developer of security and defence technologies while building a new bridge between expertise clusters around the Baltic Sea and Finland’s eastern border.
According to Tero Niemi, Director responsible for operating environments at Business Turku, the collaboration focuses on solutions related to border security and comprehensive security that are developed in real operational environments.
“Combining the maritime border surveillance environment of the Archipelago Sea with the security environment of Finland’s eastern border creates a unique foundation for European cooperation, piloting and company-driven innovation,” Niemi says.
According to Pauliina Pikkujämsä, Director of Investment and Business Location Services at Business Joensuu, Borderland Europe is more than a collaboration between two regions.
“Borderland Europe is a strategic initiative for advancing European security and defence technologies. By combining maritime border surveillance and eastern border operational environments, we are creating a unique test platform for companies and research organisations to develop and validate solutions in real operational conditions while strengthening Finland’s role in European comprehensive security,” Pikkujämsä says.
Airship technology company Kelluu: Borderland Europe enables rapid integration
Finnish technology company Kelluu, which operates the world’s largest fleet of airships, has long been active in Business Joensuu’s pilot environment. The company produces highly accurate large-scale aerial data for defence, infrastructure monitoring and environmental observation.
According to Janne Hietala, CEO of Kelluu, Borderland Europe enables collaboration with leading actors in the field.
“We have demonstrated our capabilities in several demanding NATO exercises, ranging from precise situational awareness and 3D modelling of operational areas to airborne 5G base stations in Arctic and GNSS-jammed environments. Kelluu is also the world’s first airship company integrated into NATO’s AI-based command system. Borderland Europe enables us to collaborate with leading partners in the field, integrate rapidly and continuously develop our technology on our home ground in Eastern Finland,” Hietala says.
The Borderland Europe cooperation will begin with a joint roadmap process, which will create a concrete growth platform for companies and research organisations and define:
- priority areas for 2026–2028
- development needs for pilot environments
- plans for EU and international funding applications
- a national and European partner network
Further information:
Business Turku – Security and Dual-Use Ecosystem
Tero Niemi
Director, Operating Environment Development
Business Turku
+358 50 386 7212
tero.niemi@businessturku.fi
Business Joensuu – Digital Border Security Testing Environment & Ecosystem
Pauliina Pikkujämsä
Director, Investment and Business Location Services
Business Joensuu
+358 40 743 4362
pauliina.pikkujamsa@businessjoensuu.fi
Note: The image was generated using AI.
