Sitra’s year 2025: A record amount of funding for solutions to renew Finland and build sustainable growth
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
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For the second time, the Finnish shipyard Meyer Turku has been selected for Business Finland’s leading company funding program, which challenges companies to increase their research, development, and innovation (RDI) investments in Finland. Meyer Turku’s MERiON – Future‑Ready Cruise Ships and Floating Infrastructure program will be implemented between 2026 and 2030.
MERiON continues Meyer Turku’s long-term RDI efforts following the previous NEcOLEAP program. The long-term objective of the new program is to ensure that Turku remains at the forefront of modern and technologically advanced shipbuilding also in the decades to come.
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Originally published on 21 Apr
CMP was proud to host the Danish Ports Conference 2026, held on 14–15 April at CMP’s Cruise Terminal in Nordhavn, Copenhagen. Organised by Danske Havne and held every two years, the conference brought together more than 200 participants from Denmark’s commercial ports, authorities, companies and industry organisations.
Under the theme “Safe Ports in Uncertain Times”, this year’s conference focused on the crucial role ports play in preparedness, resilience and supply security in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. Over two days, participants engaged in discussions on global security, economic developments, EU port policy and the future role of ports in society.
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Originally published on 16 Apr
On April 15, Delska, one of the leading data center operators in the Baltics, officially launched EU North Riga LV DC1 – a 10 MW data center designed for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC). The project has received the Latvian Construction Annual Award (1st place in the “Production Facility, Industrial Building” category).
The data center was created in response to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and the resulting shortage of data center capacity in major European cities, which is pushing companies to look for new regions with available resources. The company notes that this project marks only the beginning of a broader expansion of data center infrastructure in the area, reinforcing the Baltic states’ role as a competitive and sustainable digital hub in Northern Europe.
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Originally published on 20 Apr
Estonian economy is starting 2026 on a positive note, with one of the most consequential deals of recent years, with domestic investors stepping in big time. Coop Estonia, the country’s largest grocery chain, has agreed to acquire all 13 Prisma Peremarket supermarkets from Finnish retail group SOK — in what is described as the largest domestic retail transaction in Estonia’s history, per ERR.
Prisma, which has operated in Estonia since 2000 and is part of Finland’s S-Group cooperative, employs over 700 people across stores in Tallinn, Tartu, Narva, Rapla and Harju County. Once the Estonian Competition Authority signs off on the deal — expected later this year — all stores will be rebranded under the Coop banner and staff will transfer accordingly. The financial terms have not been disclosed.
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Originally published on 16 Apr
Earlier today in Tallinn, Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa and Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė convened for high-level discussions on regional cooperation, infrastructure and security. The meeting opened at the Rail Baltica Ülemiste terminal, where the three heads of government reviewed construction progress and debated on the strategic priorities of Rail Baltica.
Rail Baltica is the largest cross-border infrastructure project in the Baltic region and one of the most consequential investments Europe is making on its eastern flank. It integrates Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into the European standard-gauge network, unlocks modern passenger and freight connectivity across the region, and serves a dual purpose of economic competitiveness and collective security, including military mobility in support of NATO. The shared commitment of the three governments remains firm: deliver the mainline and connect the region to Europe by 2030.
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Originally published on 17 Apr
In a move to strengthen regional security, the Polish Ministry of the Interior and Administration and the Council of the Baltic Sea States co-organised an expert roundtable on 17 April in Warsaw. The meeting brought together representatives from ministries of the interior, justice, and foreign affairs, as well as border guard agencies and academia. Discussions focused on the instrumentalisation of migration by Belarus and Russia — a hybrid threat aimed at destabilising the Baltic Sea Region through the organised and coordinated movement of vulnerable people towards the EU’s external borders.
The event addressed the intersection of national security threats, smuggling, and human trafficking. Expert contributions included situational updates from CBSS member states, a historical overview of the phenomenon, and a briefing on Lithuania’s legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning the repeated illegal actions of Belarus.
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Originally published on 17 Apr
On 8 April, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) programme for the planned carbon dioxide (CO₂) transshipment terminal at the KN Energies site in Klaipėda, published by the Environmental Protection Agency, was temporarily suspended. The decision to suspend and review the EIA programme was taken by KN Energies itself.
The company intends to re-evaluate the proposed solutions for the terminal’s planned economic activity and, once this is completed, to resume the review of the EIA programme. It is expected that this will ensure a more comprehensive EIA analysis. Information about the revised EIA programme will be provided in accordance with the procedures laid down by legislation.
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Originally published on 17 Apr
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
Outcraft AI, an agentic AI platform building autonomous revenue agents that execute real-time customer engagement across voice, SMS, email and WhatsApp, has raised €2 million in pre-seed funding from Practica Capital.
Outcraft AI is built around a simple but increasingly urgent reality: companies lose revenue every day not because of a lack of demand, but because sales follow-ups are not fast enough, consistent enough, or through the right channel.
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Originally published on 17 Apr
On April 15, in the framework of the German-Latvian Port Days in Hamburg, the Maritime Digital Innovation Demo Day took place, where innovative solutions – digital and autonomous technologies for port efficiency, safety and security – jointly created by Latvian and German partners were presented.
“What started with a visit and a signature is now becoming visible and tangible: this Demo Day shows how the partnership transforms into practical solutions. Hamburg and Riga combine technological excellence with a clear ambition to make our ports smarter, more efficient and future-ready. This is not about discussing innovations, but about implementing them together. In particularly challenging times, one thing is clear: those who work together move forward. Our partnership sends a powerful signal to the Baltic Sea region and to a strong, united Europe,” said Dr Melanie Leonhard, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
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Originally published on 16 Apr