Finland to host first NATO security technology testing event this summer

Finland will hold its first NATO-led international security technology testing event in early June, public broadcaster Yle reports. The ten-day event will take place simultaneously in three cities—Joensuu, Turku, and Riihimäki—focusing on border security, maritime operations, and critical infrastructure protection.

Each location will serve a distinct role: Joensuu as a hub for digital border security testing, Turku for maritime and port operations, and Riihimäki as a development platform for security technologies. The event is part of NATO’s broader testing framework, designed to accelerate the development and real-world evaluation of defense and security innovations.

Targeted at companies, research organizations, and authorities working on border security, comprehensive safety, and critical infrastructure protection, the event will allow participants to test inventions in real-world conditions. Key focus areas include AI-driven situational awareness, autonomous surveillance systems, resilient communication networks, and next-generation 5G/6G technologies.

Finland’s participation aligns with NATO’s Rapid Adoption Action Plan, in collaboration with Estonia, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Italy. The goal is to establish Finland as a leading European testing and piloting environment, strengthening EU external border surveillance and reinforcing NATO’s eastern flank resilience.

The initiative, called NATO Innovation Range, aims to fast-track the adoption of critical defense technologies. For participating firms, the event offers a gateway to international security and defense markets.