Estonia to chair the Nordic-Baltic (NB8) cooperation format as of 1 January 2026
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
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Lithuania has emerged as one of the top countries for business, securing an impressive 2nd place in the Global Entrepreneurship Index, according to the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2024/2025 data. This achievement positions Lithuania as a global leader in entrepreneurship, highlighting its dynamic and innovative business environment.
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Originally published on 18 Feb
Finland, Sweden, and Norway face similar challenges regarding land use conflicts and the social acceptability of large-scale hydrogen projects, as well as the new energy production and electricity distribution needs associated with them. These shared challenges are valuable to address and discuss collectively.
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Originally published on 16 Feb
Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association (EKTL) in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, is organizing the first-ever Estonian Defence Week in September, bringing together domestic and international defence industry companies, investors, specialists, and policymakers. The week begins with an event organized by the NATO DIANA Estonian accelerator.
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Originally published on 17 Feb
On the 12th of February, Vidzeme Planning Region organized a seminar “Drone Data Collection and Processing – use cases in Latvia” in Valmiermuiža as part of the “Smart Skies” project, bringing together 50 participants from Latvia and Estonia. The seminar program was designed to introduce the current examples of drone use in Latvian municipalities, as well as share the experience of leading companies in Latvia. Large enterprises, such as LMT and Latvian State Forests have already taken great strides in the application and development of unmanned aviation solutions.
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Originally published on 14 Feb
RB Rail AS, representing the three Baltic states’ ministries responsible for the Rail Baltica project, submitted a funding application on 13 February 2025 under the CEF-Digital program “5G Large-Scale Pilots – 5G Coverage Along Transport Corridors”. The application seeks financial support to design and build railway radio communication infrastructure that complies with the Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS) and provides the opportunity to enable 5G connectivity within the European Transport Network (TEN-T).
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Originally published on 14 Feb
Prototron Fund, Estonia’s first fund dedicated to financing prototype development, has launched a new competition aimed at finding companies eager to transform their ideas into practical solutions. A total of €75,000 will be distributed among the best applicants, with applications open until 28 February.
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Originally published on 12 Feb
The City of Oulu and Verso Energy of France have signed a joint venture agreement to build a hydrogen refinery in Oulu that will produce 80,000 tonnes of synthetic aviation fuel (eSAF) per year. According to Verso Energy, the plant is estimated to cost €1.4 billion and would employ 250 people.
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Originally published on 14 Feb
P2X Solutions, a Finnish pioneer in green hydrogen, has been the first in Finland to launch commercial operations of green hydrogen at its production plant in Harjavalta. The start of production at the Harjavalta plant is a significant milestone for the Finnish hydrogen economy.
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Originally published on 12 Feb
In the She’s Next 2024 grant programme by Visa, two Latvian companies—family-owned soil mix business Nordspring and Nordic herbal tea brand Plūkt—have been announced as winners. Each company will receive €10,000 and a one-year personal business training opportunity.
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Originally published on 13 Feb
LOT Polish Airlines has adopted 3D-printed arm caps for the economy class seats in its Boeing 737 fleet, marking another milestone in the use of additive manufacturing (AM) for aircraft interior components. The arm caps, designed and produced by AM Craft, address durability issues and supply chain challenges that led to frequent part shortages and failures with traditionally manufactured components.
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Originally published on 12 Feb