The Honourable Evan Solomon, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and Sakari Puisto, Finnish Minister of Economic Affairs, met in Ottawa on April 14, 2026.
The ministers articulated their strong partnership, built on shared values and a firm commitment to democratic principles, the rule of law and human rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples and minorities. As like-minded partners, they noted their strong bilateral ties, including through close cooperation in multilateral fora, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Global Partnership for Artificial Intelligence - and stated their intention to deepen collaboration in artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing and other digital technologies.
Building on the joint statement by Canada's Prime Minister, Mark Carney, and the President of the Republic of Finland, Alexander Stubb, the ministers have committed to exploring Finland's participation in the Sovereign Technology Alliance in order to deepen coordination with trusted partners to strengthen sovereign AI capacity and reduce strategic technology dependencies in key strategic sectors. In addition, they will work to expand practical cooperation on advanced technologies, with a focus on delivering real capability and shared economic benefit.
The ministers committed to explore collaboration in the following potential areas:
- Expanding access to AI compute capacity, and promoting sustainable, resilient and environmentally responsible digital infrastructure, and supporting innovators while enhancing Canada and Finland's shared economic security and prosperity.
- Exploring collaboration in frontier AI models that establish safety and responsibility as a foundational design principle as well as broader safety initiatives.
- Fostering AI and technology adoption across industry and governments, through reducing bureaucratic burdens, and advancing the use of AI solutions to improve public services.
- Exploring ways to advance shared interests in artificial intelligence and across quantum research, innovation, commercialization, and workforce development by working together to identify areas of cooperation.
- Exploring ways to strengthen research and commercial ties as well as highlight investment and business opportunities that AI can transform, from small- and medium-sized enterprises to large firms, in both countries.
Both ministers agreed to remain in regular contact to build Canada-Finland cooperation and advance initiatives of mutual interest.
