€224 million from the EU Innovation Fund for Vetyalfa
Through its 2025 Hydrogen Auction, the European Commission has selected nine flagship projects from its Innovation Fund to proceed to contract negotiations. The Cloudberry project by the Finnish company Vetyalfa Oy is also set to receive funding. The Commission published the results of the auction on May 7, 2026.
The selected projects will receive a total of approximately €1.09 billion in EU funding, of which the Finnish project’s share would be approximately €224 million. This is the largest amount of funding ever granted to Finland from the EU Innovation Fund. The final amount will be confirmed once the approved projects sign a grant agreement with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).
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Originally published on 7 May
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The NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator teams returned to Tallinn for their fourth onsite, bringing 12 dual-use and defence companies into four days of workshops, field visits, scenario-based wargaming, pitch practice and direct ecosystem feedback.
The onsite focused on what happens after a strong technical demo: financial planning, defence sales, operational context, testing options, clearer pitch decks and sharper conversations with potential customers and partners.
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Originally published on 30 Apr
A delegation from VTT at the Quantum Australia Conference to discuss potential areas of collaboration with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, under VTT’s new ‘Quantum Leap’ project. The Quantum Leap project will focus on the practical implementation of quantum computing, including quantum software, error correction and mitigation, and components to make quantum computers more energy efficient, reliable and scalable.
Anu Kärkkäinen, Research Manager at VTT, said that an essential part of the Quantum Leap Project is about building strong networks with global quantum communities: “Quantum technologies are anticipated to provide unprecedented advances in computing, sensing and communications, with the potential to transform business and society globally. By joining forces with CSIRO, VTT aims to accelerate the development and real-world impact of quantum solutions. Collaboration is key to finding new opportunities.”
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Originally published on 30 Apr
Estonian energy startup MarkeDroid has entered the Swedish flexibility market through a partnership with Flower — giving solar and battery owners new opportunities.
Estonian smart energy management company MarkeDroid has entered the Swedish market through a new partnership with Flower, a Stockholm-based provider of flexibility services, says the official press-release. Previously, the company has already added North America to its coverage through a partnership, and also scored among Latitude59 Pitch Competition 2025 winners, securing €175K from Estonian Business Angels Network (EstBAN).
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Originally published on 28 Apr
Infrastructure projects across Central and Eastern Europe are expected to benefit at least €2 billion of new investment following a new partnership announced today between the European Investment Fund (EIF) and national promotional institutions from five EU countries at the Three Seas Initiative Summit in Croatia. The initiative will mobilize public money for a broad range of infrastructure investment funds operating across the region.
The EIF, together with national institutions from Poland (BGK), Romania (BID), Lithuania (ILTE), Croatia (HBOR) and Slovenia (SID Banka), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the initiative later this year. Bulgaria has also pledged support to the initiative, through the Ministry of Innovation and Growth. Other Three Seas Initiative countries are expected to join after the new fund of funds is launched.
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Originally published on 28 Apr
On 27 April, RB Rail AS hosted Rail Baltica Industry Day 2026, an online seminar that drew up to 200 current and prospective suppliers, partners, and stakeholders from across the Baltics and beyond. The event offered a practical look at where the project stands today, what’s coming next, and how the supplier community can get involved.
The seminar opened with remarks from senior representatives of the three Baltic states: Andres Lindemann, Head of Rail Baltica Division at Estonia’s Ministry of Climate; Kristīne Pudiste, Deputy State Secretary of Latvia’s Ministry of Transport; and Roderikas Žiobakas, Vice-Minister of Transport and Communications of Lithuania. Each underlined the importance of cross-border cooperation and active supplier engagement in delivering one of Europe’s largest infrastructure projects.
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Originally published on 28 Apr
KONE Corporation and a consortium led by Advent and Cinven, through their jointly controlled holding company Vertical Topco I S.A., have entered into an agreement to combine KONE and TKE in a cash and share transaction.
This industry-revitalizing transaction brings together two exceptional global businesses with highly complementary geographic footprints and innovation platforms. The combined group would have a balanced global presence, leading service and modernization capabilities, and the resources to accelerate the development of new solutions and digital services. As such it would be in a better position to meet its customers’ rising demand for safe, sustainable and data driven urban vertical transportation solutions. The combination would offer substantial value creation from realized synergies, estimated to be approximately EUR 700 million on an annual run-rate basis, benefitting customers and shareholders alike.
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Originally published on 29 Apr
Second-hand marketplace Vinted Group has completed an €880 million secondary share sale, valuing the company at €8 billion and underscoring continued investor confidence in the resale sector.
The transaction was led by EQT, Schroders Capital and Teachers’ Venture Growth, the late-stage venture capital arm of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. EQT, an existing investor, increased its stake in the company, while Teachers’ Venture Growth and Schroders Capital joined as new shareholders. Schroders Capital had previously been an indirect investor in Vinted since 2018.
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Originally published on 28 Apr
The collaboration between the Finnish company OneClinic and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) has progressed to the implementation of the OC Logistics system. The system will take the procurement, storage, and distribution of vaccines and pharmaceuticals in the pharmaceutical wholesale trade to a new level. The same system will also be used to prepare for threat and crisis situations in the rescEU project.
“I am very pleased with the implementation of OC Logistics. Although the workload was heavy, everything went really well. The official implementation took place on April 13,” says Minna Manner-Lehtinen, Responsible Pharmacist of THL’s pharmaceutical wholesale trade.
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Originally published on 28 Apr
Royal Caribbean Group (NYSE: RCL), a global vacation leader redefining the future of vacations, today announced it has confirmed with Meyer Turku the order of a sixth and seventh Icon Class ship to be delivered in summer 2029 and summer 2030, respectively.
The order is part of the company’s long-term framework agreement with Meyer Turku that secures the Group’s access to shipbuilding capacity through 2036 and includes the previously announced Icon 5 order to be delivered in 2028. Meyer Turku has been a key partner in developing the award-winning Icon Class, helping to bring to life the most innovative ships ever built and advancing the next generation of vacation experiences. The Icon 7 order is subject to customary conditions, including financing.
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Originally published on 27 Apr
Sitra’s future-oriented work took a new direction in 2025, in accordance with the strategy adopted the previous year. Sitra decided to make a historically large special investment of EUR 50 million in strengthening the productivity of the public sector by using data and artificial intelligence between 2025 and 2028.
“The lack of economic growth, imbalances in public finances and the ageing population require significant reforms from Finland. The goal of the special investment is to provide a more sustainable basis for services and their funding in the future,” says Sitra’s President Atte Jääskeläinen.
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Originally published on 28 Apr