AI Leap programme recognised with Deed of the Year 2025 award by IT companies
The Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITL) recognised the most outstanding technological achievements and contributors of 2025 at its anniversary event. The Deed of the Year 2025 award was presented to the AI Leap Foundation for launching an education programme that helps Estonian schools adapt to the age of AI.
ITL annually recognises individuals and organisations whose ideas, initiatives or activities have significantly impacted the development of digital technology in Estonia or society more broadly. Awards were presented in four categories: Doer of the Year, Deed of the Year, Breakthrough of the Year and Role Model of the Year.
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Originally published on 24 Mar
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The new year is already well underway and the next cohort of specialised accelerator programmes is about to kick off. Before 2026 fully gains momentum, it’s a good moment to look back: what did 2025 look like for Tehnopol Startup Incubator, and – most importantly – what kind of impact did it have on our startups and the wider ecosystem?
2025 was a fast-paced year by the numbers. We received 578 applications across our accelerator programmes, and 115+ companies joined our programmes during the year. A clear trend is that new cohorts are becoming more mature from day one: teams enter the programme with sharper focus, more realistic market validation and a clearer development roadmap.
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Originally published on 7 Jan
The State Education Development Agency has drawn up Methodological Guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in the field of education. These guidelines offer practical and comprehensive support for general and vocational education teachers to facilitate meaningful use of AI in the learning process.
The methodological guidelines set out eight principal directions for integrating artificial intelligence into education, including the skilled use of AI tools, planning the learning process, content creation, assessment, professional development, and teaching students about artificial intelligence. The guidelines underline the ethical and safe use of artificial intelligence, as well as promoting academic integrity.
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Originally published on 6 Jan
Iute Group, a European digital-first banking group, is striving to enter the Ukrainian market by establishing a regulated bank with a strong focus on digital banking services for everyday financial needs. The market entry is to be based on an agreement with Ukraine’s state-owned Deposit Guarantee Fund following approval by the National Bank of Ukraine. Under the agreement, Iute Group is to acquire a banking license held by a bridge bank together with a selective transfer of low-risk assets and corresponding retail deposit liabilities with a total volume of approximately EUR 4 million from RWS Bank to Iute Group’s newly established bank entity in Ukraine.
The purchase will be financed from existing Group liquidity. Iute Group applies a strict investment discipline and expects the net loss of the Ukrainian banking operations in 2026 not to exceed EUR 3 million.
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Originally published on 6 Jan
LTG Infra, an infrastructure company belonging to the LTG Group and responsible for implementing the Rail Baltica project in Lithuania, has announced an open international tender for design services for the section from Panevėžys to the Lithuanian–Latvian border. The total length of this section is approximately 54 km.
In 2025, LTG Infra signed contracts for construction works on a 114 km section from Kaunas to Panevėžys, where preparatory and construction activities are underway, including superstructure works on the most advanced 9 km section. Design work is also in progress on the section between the Lithuanian–Polish border and Kaunas, where nearly 100 km of railway will be modernized.
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Originally published on 5 Jan
In 2025, 3,488,104 passengers travelled through Tallinn Airport. Passenger numbers at regional airports also increased, resulting in a record total of 3,581,620 air passengers using airports in Estonia.
“The past year proved to be one of the most successful in the history of AS Tallinn Airport and its subsidiaries. Although Estonia’s economic situation has been challenging in recent years, demand for travel has shown no signs of decline. This is reflected in Tallinn Airport’s passenger numbers, which were only 4,000 passengers, or just 0.1%, below the previous year. At the same time, passenger numbers at Tartu Airport grew rapidly, meaning that the total number of passengers at Estonian airports reached an all-time high,” said Riivo Tuvike, Chairman of the Management Board of AS Tallinn Airport.
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Originally published on 5 Jan
As of tomorrow, 1 January 2026, Estonia will assume the coordinating role as chair of the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) cooperation format, with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation, increasing the international visibility of NB8, and deepening the region’s strategic integration.
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna, NB8 has developed into the most important platform for political coordination in the region. “NB8 must be firmly established as a cross-regional centre of political cooperation through which we pursue our shared objectives,” Tsahkna stressed. During the 2026 coordinating period, Estonia intends to use the NB8 format as its primary international political coordination tool at the level of leaders, ministers, senior officials and diplomats.
Another key objective is to strengthen the global image of NB8 as a group of highly like-minded countries with a strong and unified identity. “Together, the NB8 countries are significantly larger, more visible and more influential than when we act individually. We want to be seen as a unified and strong region that, despite the relatively small size of its countries, is one of the most important economic and political partners in the Euro-Atlantic space,” said the Foreign Minister. In 2026, Estonia plans to raise awareness of the nature of NB8 and to highlight the region’s role in the global economy and international politics.
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Originally published on 31 Dec
Saab has received an order for RBS 70 Bolide missiles from the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence. The order value is SEK 3 billion and deliveries are expected to take place 2028-2032.
Saab RBS 70 NG Air Defence Missile System
The order is placed within a framework agreement for Saab’s short-range air defence missile solution RBS 70 NG between Saab, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence.
“With this order, we continue our commitment to supporting the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ with our world-leading RBS 70 missiles. These form a key part of the nation’s air defence capability and contribute to keeping Lithuania’s airspace safe,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.
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Originally published on 31 Dec
The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) and the company Nitrotol OÜ have signed a contract for the production of military explosives and ammunition, including mines and charges, in the defence industry park to be established in Ermistu, Pärnu County.
Deputy Director General of ECDI Asko Kivinuk thanked the company for the good and smooth cooperation. “Nitrotol OÜ has already started production in Ämari, and the first deliveries to the Estonian Defence Forces will arrive from there soon. The experience gained in Ämari will certainly help ensure that the new and larger production unit is completed smoothly and as quickly as possible,” said Kivinuk. “At the same time, I would like to thank ECDI’s partner notary office for their utmost precision and thoroughness in preparing such complex contracts,” he added.
In the first phase, four companies will be able to establish their factories in the defence industry park being developed in Ermistu, Pärnu County: Nitrotol OÜ, Frankenburg Technologies OÜ, Infinitum Strike OÜ, and Thor Industries Ltd via its Estonia-registered subsidiary Odin Defence OÜ.
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Originally published on 30 Dec
Insta is implementing a large-scale substation project in Espoo, where it is responsible for the delivery of the entire electrical infrastructure for the expansion of atNorth’s FIN02 data center.
This is a solution in which Insta is responsible for all phases of the project, from design to implementation, ensuring that the additional electrical energy capacity required by the data center is delivered efficiently and without interruptions. The delivery includes 110 kV cabling from Caruna’s substation to the new substation, the construction of a transformer bunker, two 50 MVA main transformers, protection cabinets, equipment installations, and cabling between the main transformers and medium-voltage switchgear.
The project began in October 2025 immediately after the contract was signed and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. Insta acts as the main contractor with full responsibility, ensuring a clear division of responsibilities, efficient project management, and a reliable outcome for the customer.
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Originally published on 31 Dec
Saab has received orders from Lithuania for the AT4 weapon as well as ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf weapon with a combined order value of SEK 1.3 billion. Deliveries are planned 2027-2029.
The orders are placed within a framework agreement initially signed between Saab and the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, which enables Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to place orders for Saab’s Carl-Gustaf M4 and ammunition as well as AT4 weapons.
“We look forward to continuing to provide the Lithuanian forces with the reliable, highly effective capabilities of our support weapon AT4 and specialised ammunition for the Carl-Gustaf system. Our solutions give soldiers precision and ease-of-use, enabling them to carry out their missions safely and with confidence, says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.
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Originally published on 23 Dec