Fulbright Exchanges Foster Finnish-U.S. City Partnerships

A recent Fulbright Specialist exchange between Helsinki and New York demonstrates how city-to-city diplomacy can create meaningful cross-border partnerships that benefit citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.

Kristen Edgreen Kaufman (photo right), Senior Vice President of Global Impact Initiatives at the U.S. Council for International Business and former Deputy Commissioner in NYC’s Mayor’s Office for International Affairs, completed a Fulbright Specialist exchange with the City of Helsinki earlier this fall.

Hosted by Laura Uuttu-Deschryvere, Head of International Affairs, this collaboration exemplifies how the Fulbright Specialist program can serve as a powerful tool for establishing meaningful partnerships between Finnish and U.S. cities.

The exchange, building on a professional relationship that began three years ago, focused on strategic areas where Helsinki and American cities can learn from each other. Kaufman consulted with Helsinki officials on various initiatives and their strategy for engaging with U.S. cities and in international public-private partnerships, while also facilitating concrete connections with U.S. think tanks, nonprofits dealing with city diplomacy, and other entities. Her expertise proved particularly valuable as she worked with Helsinki’s economic development arm to discuss best practices for attracting foreign direct investment and building out different economic ecosystems.

The City of Helsinki is actively engaged in international collaboration. 

In fact, its City Strategy 2025–2029 identifies international affairs as one of the cornerstones of the city’s operations. As part of that vision, Helsinki actively seeks to build impactful international partnerships to support its strategic goals in areas such as sustainable development and economic policy. 

This exchange laid a strong foundation for future cooperation between Helsinki and U.S. cities, and demonstrated how international co-operation enables cities to learn from global peers and apply international best practices at the local level – benefiting both Americans and Finns alike.

Over the past decade, city-to-city diplomacy has taken on new importance. As global geopolitics grow more fragmented and the state-based international order is being challenged, cities are stepping into the void, creating substantive cross-border partnerships to solve practical problems for their citizens. 

City-to-city diplomacy was once primarily associated with sister-city initiatives and cultural exchanges but today’s municipal leaders are building new pathways for practical cooperation to tackle shared challenges. By fostering collaboration, such partnerships can benefit both communities while strengthening transatlantic ties.

The collaborative potential of cities across the globe is being harnessed by organizations worldwide. The Fulbright Specialist program provides a unique mechanism for American expertise to contribute to these efforts while bringing international best practices back to U.S. cities.

With the UN projecting that nearly two out of every three people will reside in urban centers by 2050, the influence of cities will only continue to grow. Cities are increasingly recognized as key actors in addressing global challenges and contributing to global governance.

At a crucial moment when strong partnerships matter more than ever, such exchanges show how investing in city-to-city relationships can create lasting bonds with allies, boost economic growth, and strengthen democratic values across borders.

Read the whole Fulbright Finland News magazine 2/2025!