Michal: Estonia aims to become a world leader in the use of artificial intelligence
Stenbock House, 8 April – At a meeting of the Eesti.ai council, 15 high-impact projects were approved, aimed at accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence in Estonia and strengthening the competitiveness of the country. According to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, the aim is to make Estonia one of the world’s leading implementers of artificial intelligence.
“Doctors, teachers, accountants, human resources specialists, musicians, translators, and many others will have more time to devote to meaningful work, learning, and interacting with people when they use artificial intelligence. Less time is spent searching for information, on paperwork, and on routine tasks. This also means more personal and family time,” said Michal.
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Originally published on 16 Apr
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After a multi-day operation, the first of a total of 89 concrete elements for the Fehmarnbelt tunnel is now in place on the seabed. The historic event began late on Monday evening, 4 May 2026. Five tugboats and the special immersion vessel IVY transported the tunnel element from the tunnel factory at Rødbyhavn on the Danish island of Lolland to the immersion point off the Danish coast.
Around noon on Wednesday, the immersion itself began. Approximately 14 hours later, the dedicated position in the Fehmarnbelt had been reached, and the first tunnel element had been positioned precisely in the tunnel trench in front of the Danish tunnel portal. Subsequently, the element was connected to the portal using hydraulic arms. The position was then finally confirmed by precise laser measurements inside the immersed tunnel element. Later in the day, IVY will then be released from the element.
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Originally published on 7 May
Tallinn will host the 17th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region on 11–13 May at Tallinn Creative Hub, bringing together over 500 experts and decision-makers from across the region to discuss security, economy and future in a rapidly changing world. Tallinn is hosting the Annual Forum for the third time, having previously done so in 2010 and 2018.
The Forum takes place at a time when the region faces geopolitical, climate and demographic pressures that demand more strategic cooperation than before. This year’s central theme is resilience.
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Originally published on 5 May
The marine environment surveys are an integral part of the process of preparing an offshore wind farm for the construction phase and, at a later stage, its operation in accordance with the developed environmental standards. In the area of the planned Baltic West wind farm, which comprises four licenses, comprehensive survey works are performed by the Polish company MEWO, using specialized survey vessels and an aircraft.
The range of activities carried out includes both surveys of the elements of inanimate nature and extensive monitoring of living organisms. The works are performed in the Baltic West area, another offshore wind farm being developed by ORLEN Neptun as part of phase II of offshore wind energy development. The project, with a planned capacity of about 4.1 GW, will enable the future supply of clean electricity to more than 5 million households in Poland.
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Originally published on 6 May
The Estonian applied research center and national metrology institute Metrosert is establishing a nearly €7 million drone technology laboratory in Tallinn. The lab will focus on testing the radar visibility of devices and systems, as well as their resilience to electromagnetic interference.
The electromagnetic compatibility and radar cross-section (EMC/RCS) laboratory will be built as part of Metrosert’s new drone technologies testing centre in Haabersti, scheduled to become operational in spring 2027.
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Originally published on 5 May
Consid continues its international expansion in Poland. Following its establishment in Warsaw, the company is now opening a new office in Gdańsk – one of Central Europe’s fastest-growing technology regions. The expansion strengthens Consid’s presence in Poland and creates new opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange between Sweden and the rapidly growing tech ecosystem around the Baltic Sea.
Gdańsk, together with Gdynia and Sopot in the so-called Tricity region, has in recent years developed into a strong hub for technology, innovation and engineering expertise. The area is home to several technical universities, a vibrant start-up environment and a growing community of developers and digital specialists.
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Originally published on 4 May
April brought favourable conditions to Estonian consumers and marked the second consecutive month of declining electricity prices. Thanks to sunnier weather and warmer temperatures, the average electricity price in April settled at 5.4 cents per kilowatt-hour, roughly 11.4% lower than in March and more than a quarter lower than in April of the previous year. The last time April was cheaper was in 2021, when the monthly average price stood at 4.4 cents per kilowatt-hour.
The reasons behind the lower prices are clear. Warmer weather reduced heating demand and, as a result, overall electricity consumption. Solar and wind generation increased significantly across the region, bringing a large volume of low-cost electricity to the market. This, in turn, reduced more expensive fossil-based generation. Additional support came from the ongoing Latvian hydropower high season, which helped displace higher-cost fossil-based generation assets.
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Originally published on 5 May
On 28 April 2026, elections were held for the leadership of the Baltic Sea Region Youth Forum (BSRYF), selecting a new Chair, members of the Committee of Youth Representatives (CYR), and youth organisations to join the Steering Group. The newly elected representatives will serve a one-year term beginning on 1 July 2026.
The BSRYF is a regional platform that enables young people aged 16–29 to engage in political dialogue and contribute to decision-making across the Baltic Sea Region. It brings together youth representatives from across the region to strengthen cooperation, exchange perspectives, and ensure that young people’s voices are reflected in regional policy discussions, including within the framework of the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS).
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Originally published on 5 May
Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) have announced that on May 3rd, air carrier airBaltic started direct regular flights between Vilnius and Zurich. The airline’s flights to Switzerland’s largest airport will be operated two times a week in May, and three times a week for the rest of the aviation summer season.
“A wider choice of flights to Zurich means more flexibility for passengers and even more convenient connectivity to one of Europe’s most important financial and aviation centres. Such routes strengthen Lithuania’s relations with international partners, provide more opportunities for business, and open air gates to the farthest corners of the world for passengers,” says Roderikas Žiobakas, Vice-Minister of Transport and Communications.
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Originally published on 4 May
Reduciner, a deep tech startup originating from VTT, is commercialising a novel high-temperature technology that enables industrial companies to turn captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into usable fuel and valuable industrial raw materials. The company raised EUR 3.6 million in its first funding round, consisting of equity funding from Voima Ventures, Lifeline Ventures, and Mikko Kodisoja Foundation. In addition, VTT has transferred the underlying user rights to the technology and IP as an in-kind investment to the newly established company.
Reduciner’s technology involves a proprietary thermochemical process that efficiently converts CO₂ into carbon monoxide (CO), using renewable electricity and biogenic carbon. The innovation allows indirect electrification of combustion processes, enabling large-scale production of sustainable fuels and chemicals and a significant reduction of industrial carbon dioxide emissions globally. Since CO is already compatible with existing industrial systems, the solution allows companies to reduce emissions without costly infrastructure changes.
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Originally published on 5 May
On 28–29 April 2026, Chairwoman of the Baltic Sea States Sub regional Co operation (BSSSC) and Chair of the Vidzeme Planning Region, Inese Suija Markova, took part in the EU Local Dialogue in Olsztyn, Poland, where she delivered a keynote address on behalf of BSSSC at the Interreg Europe REGIO SILIENCE conference.
Reflecting on two intensive days of discussions, she emphasised the need to fundamentally change how Europe views and supports its Eastern Border regions. In her speech, Inese Suija‑Markova highlighted that it is time to abandon the long‑standing narrative portraying these regions as lagging, poor or incapable peripheries.
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Originally published on 30 Apr