Finland’s remote border regions could become a major hub for NATO military tech testing

Finnish broadcaster Yle reports that North Karelia’s sparse population and empty industrial spaces are attracting international interest as a testing ground for drones, GPS jamming countermeasures, and other defence technologies—with potential to bring significant investment to the region.

The former Stora Enso sawmill in Kitee and Joensuu Airport are among the sites being repurposed for military innovation trials, according to Jarkko Surakka, NATO liaison for Business Joensuu, the regional development agency. He notes that Europe’s crowded airspace makes it nearly impossible to find suitable test locations elsewhere, while North Karelia offers vast, unrestricted areas for drone operations, encrypted communications testing, and simulated combat scenarios.

“No one is asking how much it costs—just how fast we can deploy the technology,” Surakka told Yle, emphasising the urgency behind NATO’s defence modernisation efforts. Continuous testing is critical, he added, as today’s innovations risk obsolescence within two years.

The region’s appeal extends beyond airspace. Its lakes, like Pielinen, provide controlled environments for aquatic drone trials, while empty industrial halls—such as the 2019-shuttered Kitee sawmill—could serve as indoor drone training facilities. Jeff Evans, a senior research engineer at the US-based Georgia Tech Research Institute, highlighted the “real-world conditions and proximity to the eastern border” as key advantages for realistic defence simulations.

### Local firms eye NATO supply chain opportunities
The testing surge, driven by the Borderland Europe Living Lab project, aims to position North Karelia as a centre for dual-use (civilian-military) and border security technologies. Surakka suggests the influx of international testers could also open doors for local companies, such as Joensuu-based airship manufacturer Kelluu, to become NATO subcontractors. Optoelectronics and photonics firms may similarly benefit from the demand for advanced sensors and communication systems.

With NATO member states allocating billions to European defence, Finland’s quiet borderlands—once seen as economically stagnant—are now viewed as a strategic asset. “The question isn’t about money,” Surakka reiterated. “It’s about getting operational capability as fast as possible.”