Gov. Evers Establishes New Sister-State Relationship with Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region of France

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, together with Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) Secretary and CEO John W. Miller, today joined President of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (BFC) Regional Council Jérôme Durain in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a sister-state relationship between Wisconsin and the BFC region in France. It is Wisconsin’s first new sister-state relationship established in over three decades. Amid global trade uncertainty, the agreement underscores the Evers Administration’s commitment to bolstering economic and educational partnership with the BFC region, expanding global opportunities for agriculture, energy, advanced manufacturing, and biotherapies and health sciences.

The agreement marks Wisconsin’s first new sister-state relationship in 36 years, with the BFC region becoming Wisconsin’s seventh sister-state. Wisconsin’s other sister states include Hessen, Germany, which is marking its 50th anniversary this year; Nicaragua; Heilongjiang, People’s Republic of China; Taiwan; Chiba, Japan; and Jalisco, Mexico.

“This sister-state agreement is another milestone achievement in what is becoming a fruitful relationship between our state and the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in France,” said Gov. Evers. “Wisconsin and the BFC region share a number of characteristics that make this partnership mutually beneficial on a number of fronts—the economy, higher education, cultural exchange, and so much more. By establishing this sister-state relationship today, Wisconsin’s first in over 35 years, we’re making a commitment to supporting our mutual prosperity and growth, the benefits of which will continue on for decades to come.”

“Two years ago, a delegation from our region came to Wisconsin to see what we could build together,” said President Durain. “Since then, our companies and researchers have started working with their Wisconsin counterparts, beginning with biotherapies. With Governor Evers, we are making sure this relationship lasts, whatever happens to transatlantic trade.”

The sister-state agreement developed out of a visit by Gov. Evers and WEDC leaders to the BFC region as part of a trade mission to Germany and France in 2025. Wisconsin and the BFC region of France share a number of economic characteristics that make them natural partners. Under the new agreement, the two parties agree to promote friendly contacts and to develop economic exchanges and cooperation within the areas of agriculture and agri-food, specifically the dairy sector; biohealth, biotherapies, and the life sciences; research, innovation, and higher education; water and sanitation technology; clean energy and the energy transition; culture; and education.

In September, Gov. Evers announced that WEDC and the Agence Économique Régionale (AER) of the BFC region approved a similar MOU to promote closer economic and educational relations between the two organizations, creating a framework for the two entities to coordinate, facilitate the exchange of expertise, foster the development of collaborative projects, and assist with the growth and development of companies in their respective territories.

“The creation of a new sister-relationship with the BFC region adds another dimension to the close ties we have been building with AER for more than a year,” said WEDC Secretary Miller. “The potential for heightened collaboration offers incredible opportunities for innovations that will benefit farmers, businesses, and academic institutions in both our areas. We look forward to continuing to grow as partners.”

The sister-state agreement is the latest and most consequential step in relations between Wisconsin and the BFC region that first began two years ago when a political and economic delegation from BFC traveled to Wisconsin. The October 2024 visit resulted in an agreement between the BioForward biohealth consortium in Madison and the BFC AER covering innovation, support for early-stage companies, and economic opportunity in biohealth. Last year, Gov. Evers and WEDC leaders visited BFC to see the region’s biotherapies ecosystem as well as its dairy production and processing sector as part of a trade mission to Germany and France. The governor has previously led trade and investment missions to Japan in 2019, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg in 2023, and, most recently, Ghana and South Africa in 2026.

Find photos from today’s signing ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

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