USA250 Sister Cities Business Event
In celebration of the USA’s 250th Anniversary, the Sister Cities of Kuopio, Finland and Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA are hosting a hybrid business event highlighting long-standing sister city relations, business connections, and new opportunities between the two regions in the energy and health sectors.
Register by October 20 via this link: registration link
Event Overview
Throughout 2026, the United States of America is celebrating its 250th Anniversary, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As part of this milestone year, the Sister Cities of Kuopio and Minneapolis will jointly host a collaborative business event in both locations.
This hybrid event will connect companies, business communities, and ecosystem actors from both regions. The focus is on international dialogue, partnership-building, and business opportunities, particularly in the energy and health sectors. Participants may join in person in Kuopio or Minneapolis, or virtually. The audiences in both countries will be connected online.
Date and Time
Kuopio: 27 October 2026, 15:00–18:00 EET
Networking in Kuopio: 15:00–16:00, before the official program begins.
Minneapolis: 9:00–11:00 AM U.S. CDT
Networking in Minneapolis: 8:30-9:00 AM U.S. CDT
Locations
Kuopio: Small Ceremonial Hall, Kuopio City Hall, Tulliportinkatu 3
Minneapolis: 801 Marquette Ave. S, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Participation Format
This is a hybrid event. Participants in Finland are welcome to attend in person in Kuopio or virtually. Participants in the United States are welcome to attend in person in Minneapolis or virtually. Both in-person venues will be connected online.
Registration
Please register by 20 October 2026 via this link.
Program
(Note: different time zones)
Program in Finnish time zone EET
(15:00–16:00 | Networking in Kuopio , For participants joining the event in-person in Kuopio)
16:00–16:05 | Welcome Note, Mayor Soile Lahti, Kuopio
16:05–16:10 | Welcome Note, Mayor Jacob Fry, Minneapolis
16:10–16:15 | Finland Chamber of Commerce
16:15–16:20 | Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce – MN, Risto Sivula, President.
16:20–16:40 | U.S. Speaker(s): Luke Gaalswyk, CEO of Evergreen Energy
16:40–16:50 | Finnish speaker: Juha Räsänen, CEO of Savon Voima Oyj
16:50–17:05 | Coffee Break
17:05–17:20 | Company Pitches: Finnish Companies (3 Finnish companies, 5-minute pitches)
- Marginum – CEO, Samu Lehtonen
- IQVIA Laboratories – General Manager Antti Nurmi
- FinVector – COO Mikko Kämäräinen
17:20–17:30 | Q&A
17:30–17:45 | Company Pitches: U.S. Companies (3 US companies, 5-minute pitches)
17:45–17:55 | Q&A
17:55–18:00 | Closing Words, Elaine Kumpula, Board Member, Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota.
Program in the U.S. time zone CDT
(08:30 – 09:00 | Networking in Minneapolis, For participants joining the event in-person in Minneapolis)
09:00–09:05 | Welcome Note, Mayor Soile Lahti, Kuopio
09:05–09:10 | Welcome Note, Mayor Jacob Fry, Minneapolis
09:10–09:15 | Finland Chamber of Commerce
09:15–09:20 | Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce – MN, Risto Sivula, President.
09:20–09:40 | U.S. Speaker(s): Luke Gaalswyk, CEO of Evergreen Energy
09:40–09:50 | Finnish speaker: Juha Räsänen, CEO of Savon Voima Oyj
09:50–10:05 | Coffee Break
10:05–10:20 | Company Pitches: Finnish Companies (3 Finnish companies, 5-minute pitches)
- Marginum – CEO, Samu Lehtonen
- IQVIA Laboratories – General Manager Antti Nurmi
- FinVector – COO Mikko Kämäräinen
10:20–10:30 | Q&A
10:30–10:45 | Company Pitches: U.S. Companies (3 US companies, 5-minute pitches)
10:45–10:55 | Q&A
10:55–11:00 | Closing Words, Elaine Kumpula, Board Member, Finnish-American Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota.
Register by 20 October 2026 via this link
Partners and Organizers
This program is sponsored and organized by the following partners:
- Finland Chamber of Commerce
- Finnish American Chamber of Commerce – Minnesota
- Business Kuopio
- Kuopio Regional Chamber of Commerce
- City of Kuopio
- Meet Minneapolis
- City of Minneapolis
