€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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Deltagarna i kickoffen framför ett fartyg i Värtahamnen
In April 2026 a joint kickoff was held in Stockholm for the Swed-Est Green Collaboration – an initiative to accelerate the transition to fossil-free and sustainable maritime and port operations between Sweden and Estonia. Representatives from the ports of Stockholm and Tallinn attended.
On November 4, 2025, Ports of Stockholm and Port of Tallinn signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Tallinn to establish Swed-Est Green Collaboration – an initiative to accelerate the transition to fossil-free and sustainable maritime and port operations between Sweden and Estonia. Particular focus is on the Tallinn–Stockholm and Paldiski–Kapellskär routes.
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Originally published on 27 Apr
Another domestic company has joined the group of firms preparing to participate in the most demanding phase of the project to build Poland’s first nuclear power plant – the nuclear island. It is ZBUD – a manufacturer and supplier of specialized overhead lifting equipment for the industrial and energy sectors. Based in Dąbrowa Tarnowska, in the Małopolskie Voivodeship, the company has just begun the process led by PEJ and Westinghouse to prepare for the implementation of the requirements of ASME NQA-1, the American quality assurance standard, being a prerequisite for participating in the manufacturing of key nuclear components subject to the highest quality and safety standards.
“Nuclear new build is a transformative program as it requires the creation of an entirely new sector in Poland, new supply chains, and new areas of specialization, and at the heart of these efforts are Polish manufacturing companies and those providing related services. We are taking concrete steps to ensure the engagement of local content in this and future nuclear investment projects in Poland. By participating in the construction of power plants under the government’s program, Polish companies have a unique opportunity to acquire the necessary expertise in the coming years and develop the production of specialized equipment and services so that they can effectively compete in global supply chains with high added value,” Wojciech Wrochna, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Energy, and Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure.
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Originally published on 23 Apr
Estonia’s reputation as a European DefenceTech hub is proven by striking numbers. The country has secured a significant share of the European Union’s latest defence research investment, with 26 international projects involving Estonian companies or institutions awarded funding under the 2025 round of the European Defence Fund (EDF).
The European Commission is investing €1.07 billion across 57 projects in this cycle, and Estonia’s slice is nothing to scoff at: the combined value of work packages held by Estonian firms exceeds €28M, while the total EU grants flowing to projects with Estonian involvement surpasses €700M, reports the Ministy of Defence — projects that span drones, autonomy, cyber defence and space.
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Originally published on 27 Apr
From 20 to 22 April 2026, youth delegates aged 18 to 29 from across the Baltic Sea Region met in Warsaw for the CBSS Youth Ministerial 2026. Hosted under the Polish CBSS Presidency by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, the meeting provided a platform for young people to address regional priorities and prepare recommendations for CBSS Foreign Ministers.
The main outcome of the Youth Ministerial is a set of youth recommendations to be presented to CBSS Foreign Ministers at their upcoming Ministerial Session later this year. Prior to that, the recommendations will also be presented to the CBSS Committee of Senior Officials.
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Originally published on 22 Apr
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €250 million to Finnish elevator and escalator company KONE to accelerate research, development and innovation in advanced building mobility technologies. The financing will support the development of next-generation elevators, escalators, auto-walks and intelligent digital solutions designed to optimise the movement of people in modern buildings and urban environments.
The EIB loan will support KONE’s research and innovation programme between 2026 and 2029. The activities focus on improving safety, performance and energy efficiency in elevators and escalators, while developing intelligent technologies that help manage people flow in increasingly complex urban environments.
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Originally published on 23 Apr
Offshore wind farms developed by Equinor and Polenergia – Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 – are entering the phase of direct preparations for offshore installation works. In Vlissingen, at the facilities of Smulders, the topside – the main structure of the offshore substation for Bałtyk 3 – has just been rolled out of the production hall and positioned in the outdoor yard. The structure measures 51 × 38 × 43 meters, comparable to a 15-storey building.
Nearby, the topside for Bałtyk 2 is also in place. Both substation topsides, each weighing approximately 3,700 tonnes, are currently undergoing outfitting works and will be transported offshore in line with the installation schedule.
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Originally published on 22 Apr
The scoping process for the planned HYBOR hydrogen pipeline has begun in all affected federal states – Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Thuringia. In this early stage of the process, the scope of the investigations for further environmental assessments is being defined in collaboration with the relevant authorities and public interest groups. This lays the groundwork for the subsequent environmental impact assessment and the planning approval process.
Preparatory investigations have been underway along the planned route since the end of 2025. These include environmental mapping of flora and fauna as well as ground investigations. The aim is to assess local conditions at an early stage and to align further planning responsibly with natural and site-specific conditions.
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Originally published on 21 Apr
ICEYE, the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space, has entered a partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute USA (JGI) to deploy its Deforestation Solution across conservation corridors in the Congo Basin, with initial operations focused on the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The eastern DRC is often called the “green heart” of Africa. Its vast rainforests, the world’s second largest, are a critical habitat for chimpanzees, harboring an estimated 70,000 to 100,000 individuals. The Congo Basin region also has the most diverse ape population in the world. Yet these primates face significant threats from bushmeat hunting, habitat loss due to mining and deforestation, and civil conflict.
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Originally published on 22 Apr
Iceland’s flag carrier Icelandair is establishing a technical services centre in Vilnius. Opening in May 2026, the new division will employ 15 specialists in its first year across roles including CAMO engineers, planning engineers, technical records specialists, and maintenance coordinators.
As Icelandair’s first dedicated technical aviation operation in the region, the Lithuanian team will take responsibility for the airline’s third-party technical services. The expansion builds on the carrier’s existing presence in the Baltics through Icelandair Business Services, its long-standing subsidiary in Tallinn, which has provided accounting, ticketing, and back-office services for Icelandair since 2002.
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Originally published on 23 Apr
The Government has approved the special plan for the Kaunas–Vilnius section of the Rail Baltica project. The Government’s decision also provides for the commencement of land acquisition procedures for public needs in the Kaunas and Jonava districts.
The extension of the European standard‑gauge railway to Vilnius is planned to follow the completion of the main Rail Baltica line. In 2024, the three Baltic States and the European Commission agreed to prioritize the construction of the main Rail Baltica line connecting Poland with Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. It is envisaged that the necessary funding for the Kaunas–Vilnius connection will be secured from the forthcoming EU financial period.
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Originally published on 22 Apr