Innovation grant

As Brussels prepares for the summer break, work across the European Union institutions continues at full speed. Decisions currently being shaped will influence Europe’s business, industrial and innovation landscape for years to come. Since 1 July 2026, Ireland has held the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Over the next six months, Ireland will steer discussions on several strategic priorities that are highly relevant for Estonian businesses, including strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, accelerating innovation, increasing investment, developing the defence industry, and preparing the EU’s next long-term budget. Although each Presidency lasts only six months, it often sets the political

Estonia ranked 11th among EU member states in the newly released 2026 European Innovation Scoreboard and kept its place in the Strong Innovator group, with a summary innovation index equal to 108.6% of the EU average. In its press release, the European Commission said the EU’s overall innovation performance has risen by 11.6 percentage points since 2019 and by 1.7 points over the past year. For Estonia, the new country profile shows a system that continues to outperform the EU average, while still sitting slightly below the Strong Innovator group average of 113.9%. Estonia also ranked 15th across the EU and neighbouring countries covered by

Kristel Oitmaa, the new head of Enterprise Estonia’s (EIS) Brussels office, helps Estonian companies better understand and use opportunities related to EU research and development — whether it is funding, strategic information, international cooperation, or access to key networks. In this interview, Kristel explains what the Brussels office actually does, what her role involves, and what Estonian companies can do to become more visible at the European level. While EIS export advisors focus on market entry, Kristel supports Estonian companies in navigating the European strategic landscape. She helps them use European opportunities in a more informed and effective way, ensuring

This October, Estonian deep tech startups will head to Singapore as part of Startup Estonia’s Nordic Deep Tech Valley program to take part in the Nordic Singapore Innovation Days 2025 — a joint initiative with Finland and Sweden. According to Kati Pärn, Nordic Partnerships Lead at Startup Estonia, the event will connect Nordic startups with Singaporean corporations and investors to foster business opportunities and partnerships in green and sustainable innovation. “Our aim is to provide Estonian startups operating in the complex and highly competitive deep tech sector with a concrete opportunity to secure new investors, partners, and clients in Asian

At Estonian Defence Week, one of the most thought-provoking sessions was the panel on Cross-Border Innovation Cooperation, featuring insights from Jaan Kokk (Superangel), Kati Pärn (Startup Estonia), and Mika Rantakokko (VTT Finland). The discussion highlighted the urgent need for regional collaboration in defence innovation and the unique strengths that Estonia and Finland bring to the table. Estonia +  Finland = Regional Superpower? Estonia’s agility and experimental mindset, especially in the startup sector, complements Finland’s structured and stability-focused approach. This synergy creates a powerful foundation for joint innovation programs, particularly in defence and dual-use technologies. As Kati Pärn noted, “Estonia is