Estonia launches bold AI initiative to double productivity
Estonia is no stranger to being the first in official digital adoption — already succeeding in making all governmental services online, using blockchain and e-voting. Now it’s time to take this approach into the AI era. The Estonian government unveiled Eesti.ai on Tuesday, an ambitious national program that aims to systematically implement artificial intelligence across all sectors, with the goal of doubling the value of Estonian work by 2035.
Prime Minister Kristen Michal launched the initiative alongside Bolt founder Markus Villig, who will chair the international advisory council driving the program. The council brings together Estonian tech leaders, including IT visionary Linnar Viik and entrepreneurs Sten Tamkivi (Skaala), Kaspar Korjus (Pactum), and Taavi Madiberk (Skeleton), working alongside international experts and sector representatives.
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Originally published on 27 Jan
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Skyborn Renewables’ (Skyborn) permit application for its 976.5 MW Gennaker offshore wind farm, located in the German Baltic Sea and with a commissioning target date of 2028, has been approved on 16 December by the State Office for Agriculture and Environment in Stralsund, Western Pomerania.
The permit was handed-over to Skyborn today in Rostock. This achievement enables Skyborn to proceed to an anticipated Final Investment Decision (FID) in summer 2026, with construction planned to take place over a period of two years and commissioning in 2028.
Once operational, the Gennaker offshore wind farm will add up to 976.5 MW to Germany’s total renewable energy capacity and generate annually green electricity of 4TWh, equal to the annual consumption of approximately one million households.
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Originally published on 19 Dec
Rheinmetall and ICEYE have received a major order from the German Armed Forces for the space sector. The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has commissioned Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions to supply the German Armed Forces with space-based reconnaissance data via exclusive access to a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation.
To deliver this capability, Rheinmetall has partnered with ICEYE – the world’s leading manufacturer and operator of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites – to establish Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions. Based in Neuss, the joint venture will provide a high volume of SAR images via its exclusive constellation, offering a comprehensive service solution that includes full operations, ground station management, and AI-driven image evaluation. The satellite constellation remains the property of Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions.
The current contract is valued at approximately €1.7 billion gross. Furthermore, an extension option is part of the contract. The space-based reconnaissance data will be used, primarily, to protect the ‘Lithuania Brigade’ and secure NATO’s eastern flank.
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Originally published on 18 Dec
The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) and representatives of the South Korean defence industry company Hanwha Aerospace have signed a contract for the procurement of six Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers. The contract, worth nearly €290 million, covers the launcher systems, three types of missile systems (CGR-080, CTM-MR, CTM-290), as well as operational and training support. In addition, modifications to the platforms will be ordered to ensure they meet Estonian conditions and traffic regulations. Deliveries will begin in the second half of 2027, and the framework agreement allows for the future procurement of additional systems.
“Estonia began developing its deep-strike capability this April with the acquisition of the U.S. HIMARS systems. Since multiple rocket launchers are of invaluable importance from a military capability perspective, I am extremely pleased that, in addition to U.S. HIMARS, we will now also acquire South Korean Chunmoo systems, thereby significantly enhancing both Estonia’s and NATO’s overall deterrence and defence capability,” said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
As part of the framework agreement, Hanwha Aerospace will also make investments in Estonia’s defence industry in accordance with the volume and conditions set out in the contract. “As part of the agreement, the company will invest one-fifth of the total procurement contract value in Estonian industry. The initial investment should return amount value of €40~60 million to Estonian defence industry companies,” explained Katri Raudsepp, Acting Director General of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI).
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Originally published on 21 Dec
In early November, RB Rail AS concluded the final stages of the Integrated Management System audit conducted by Bureau Veritas. During the closing meetings, the auditors confirmed that the organisation fully meets the requirements of ISO 9001 for Quality Management Systems and ISO/IEC 27001 for Information Security Management Systems.
The successful audit outcomes demonstrate RB Rail AS’s strong commitment to maintaining consistent quality standards, effective risk management practices, and robust protection of information assets. These certifications support the implementation of structured processes, clearly defined responsibilities, and a culture of continuous improvement across the organisation.
Nataļja Voļaka, Head of Corporate Governance and Quality Department, commented: “Achieving ISO 9001 certification is an important milestone for RB Rail AS. It confirms that our quality management system is built on clear processes, accountability and continuous improvement. I would like to thank all colleagues who contributed to this result through their daily work and commitment. This certification provides a strong foundation for delivering reliable and transparent outcomes across the organisation.”
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Originally published on 22 Dec
Tax credits for large-scale clean transition investments have been granted to 37 companies. Large-scale investments aimed at climate neutrality are supported by a substantial program implemented by Business Finland, which consists of two parts: grants and tax credits.
Hundreds of millions of euros in tax credits for hydrogen projects in Finland
The rationale behind the investment support program aimed at a climate-neutral economy is the intensifying competition between countries for investments. The aim of the support is to ensure that key industrial investments are made in Finland.
The objective of the investment support program is to promote and accelerate significant industrial investments that reduce industry’s dependence on fossil fuels and promote, in particular, low-carbon and energy-efficient industrial production processes and the transition to a climate-neutral economy.
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Originally published on 19 Dec
Construction has been completed at Valmiera Industrial Park, which is an infrastructure of national importance – a railway siding and internal railway, a cargo loading/unloading (logistics) site, and an industrial electricity connection have been put into operation. The rest of the infrastructure intended for exporting manufacturing companies operating in smart specialization (RIS3) sectors, creating products with high added value, has also been completed. The newly built railway infrastructure will strengthen the role of Valmiera region in the European transport network, consolidating its position as an important connection point between regions and the Baltic States.
Valmiera Industrial Park, operating as Latvia’s first domestic multimodal logistics center, will promote economic growth and export capacity in Vidzeme. This will be a significant stage of development and change in the transport and storage sector, as companies in Vidzeme and South Estonia will be able to optimize their supply chains while reducing transport costs and emissions, as well as the load on roads. The potential of the new and competitive railway infrastructure and the extensive concrete logistics area has also been dubbed Latvia’s first “dry port” (i.e., inland intermodal terminals directly connected to seaports by road or rail).
“Targeted investment in business development is always necessary to promote growth and maintain competitiveness. The development of the Valmiera Industrial Park has been purposefully planned since 2014, implementing this idea gradually and thoughtfully to ensure maximum return on invested resources in the long term. It is planned that at least three export-oriented companies will start operating in the area to be developed under the project, creating new jobs and making significant investments in business. These are historically the largest investments in the development of the Valmiera region, which will make a significant contribution to both the region’s economy and the well-being of its residents. At the same time, in parallel with the development of business infrastructure in the municipality, we continue to invest in affordable housing and competitive education to ensure a timely supply of qualified specialists to the labor market,” says Jānis Baiks, Chairman of the Valmiera Municipality Council.
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Originally published on 17 Dec
Estonia is no stranger to frontier AI projects, already using the most modern tools in the education system and producing an impressive array of AI-first startups and scale-ups. Now, there’s more on this front, as Estonia has signed a cooperation agreement with Nokia to participate in a Nordic consortium developing sovereign AI infrastructure across the region, Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta announced today in Oulu, Finland.
The project currently includes Estonia, Finland, and Latvia, with ongoing negotiations to bring Sweden and Denmark on board. The initiative responds to the European Commission’s program supporting the development of European sovereign AI infrastructure—specifically, AI gigafactories—designed to reduce dependence on third-party computing resources.
For Estonia, the agreement means establishing an AI-ready data centre on its territory that would integrate with both existing Estonian and broader regional infrastructure. The facility would provide essential computing capacity to the public sector, research institutions, and private enterprises.
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Originally published on 19 Dec
Eight financial technology companies from the Nordic countries have been admitted to the international payment technology company Visa’s European innovation programme, VIPE. Among them is Latvia’s Beneflo, which is developing an employee support solutions platform that simplifies the international allocation of various bonuses and benefits to employees using a Visa card and app.
In addition to Beneflo, the programme has also admitted Enable Banking from Finland, Kardio from Iceland, Juuli from Estonia, Ledyer and Betalo from Sweden, Beep from Italy, and Myver from Denmark.
The VIPE Baltic and Nordic programme is a pilot project–focused collaboration platform that aims to accelerate digital innovation in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, and Denmark. During the six-month programme, the startups involved will have the opportunity to develop their business ideas and innovations, implement pilot projects, build partnerships, and engage in networking activities with Visa partners worldwide.
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Originally published on 18 Dec
AtoB@C Shipping, a subsidiary of ESL Shipping, is pleased to announce the successful delivery of Fleximar, the ninth vessel in its Green Coaster series, on December 18.
The Green Coaster series represents a new generation of energy-efficient vessels designed to meet the highest standards of operational performance and environmental responsibility. Equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, Fleximar will contribute to substantial reductions in emissions and fuel consumption, supporting AtoB@C Shipping’s strategic objective of achieving a modern, low-emission fleet.
“Fleximar and the entire Green Coaster series bring exceptional versatility to our fleet. These vessels can transport a wide range of cargoes from bulk commodities and steel products to large project cargo such as wind turbine components. With their ice class 1A, we can ensure year-round reliability and deliver low-emission solutions to our customers across the Baltic and North Sea,” says Frida Rowland, Director, Business Unit Coasters.
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Originally published on 19 Dec
The new energy group EPSO-G has announced a selection process for board members of its subsidiary Energy cells. Candidates are invited to submit their applications by January 30, 2026.
Three board members will be selected: an independent board member with expertise in financial management and mergers and acquisitions (M&A), a board member nominated by EPSO-G, responsible for strategic planning and management, and a board member who is a civil servant, responsible for state aid and national security issues.
Energy Cells plays an important role in ensuring the security and resilience of the Lithuanian energy system by providing the system with the necessary isolated working reserve service. In order to consistently implement the strategic goals of the company and the entire EPSO-G group, we seek to attract professionals of the highest competence to the board,” says Mindaugas Keizeris, head of EPSO-G.
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Originally published on 18 Dec