MassTimber@MSU Fosters Collaboration in Finland
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EmailThe Michigan delegation participated in the Wood Building Construction Trade and Study Mission hosted by Business Finland and MSU Forestry faculty visited the University of Eastern Finland.
First Stop: Michigan Delegation Joins Wood Building Construction Trade and Study Mission
Sandra Lupien coordinated a Michigan delegation to participate in a forestry and wood building construction trade and study mission hosted by Business Finland. The mission is part of an ongoing forest products collaboration under a memorandum of understanding between the State of Michigan and the government of Finland, which has similar agreements with multiple U.S. states Nine states and one Canadian province were represented on the trip.
Participants in the wood building construction tour visited multiple manufacturing, forestry, and building sites in central and southern Finland The Michigan delegation comprised Tori Irving of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR); Paul Irving of Renewable Resource Solutions; Lisa Sauve and Adam Smithof SYNECDOCHE, Kathy Velikov of Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, University of Michigan; Jill Ramirez of Three Squared, Inc.; Scott Whitcomb also DNR Office of Public Lands; Sandra Lupien at MSU, Geoffrey Thun also U of M Taubman; and Matt Hollander of Hollander Development.
In addition, Sandra led a workshop in Helsinki titled, “Policy, Outreach, and Stakeholder Engagement to Advance Mass Timber Ecosystems.” Workshop participants identified several opportunities for future collaboration on these topics.
Next Stop: MSU Forestry Visits University of Eastern Finland
After the Business Finland trip, Sandra joined MassTimber@MSU’s George Berghorn, and Raju Pokharel, along with Forestry Department Chair Rich Kobe and faculty Sam Gailey to visit collaborators at the University of Eastern Finland and the Natural Resources Institute Finland / Luonnonvarakeskus in the City of Joensuu.
In workshops, on forest hikes, over meals, and at a Midsummer's Eve celebration, they got to know their colleagues, learned about their work and their culture, and explored opportunities to collaborate on mass timber, forestry, and other areas of research and education. Thanks to the tremendous host team, led by Jukka Tkkanen and Satu Helenius.
