Washington state representatives from business, education, and government, including Gov. Jay Inslee, will participate in a trade mission to the Nordic countries of Finland, Sweden and Norway in September.
The governor’s policy agenda for the mission focuses on business partnerships and innovative approaches to energy, technology, sustainability and resilience to climate change in the region.
In Finland, the governor will learn about the country’s novel approaches to nuclear waste disposal; the country’s partnership with state innovation clusters on the development of 5G and 6G technologies; and how Microsoft is recycling heat waste from data centers to warm homes, as well as other ways Finland is reducing waste.
In Sweden, the governor will learn from government, university and business leaders about the country’s transition to a green economy across key industries, including how the transition has brought new job opportunities to rural areas. The governor will also learn about how waste reduction technologies are integrated into the country’s affordable housing construction to address housing insecurity and sustainability at the same time.
In Norway, the governor and delegation will meet with major businesses, such as Corvus Energy, to discuss opportunities to expand business partnerships in Washington state.
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