Estonia, Good for Business, Innovations, Investments, Technology

Eight projects were selected for funding in the latest tender, which stand to get up to 25,000 euros each. 

Liisi Org, development manager at Startup Estonia, said in press release that the initiatives chosen in the current round will contribute to the balanced and diverse development of the Estonian startup scene. Standing apart from existing programs was an important criterion in the selection of the programs.

"Compared with what has been the case earlier, the winners focus more on cooperation, regional cooperation and diversity, such as young people and women. In addition, the projects are longer-term than earlier and definitely also with a bigger impact," Org said.

The funding goes to programs promoting the regional startup scene and projects meant for startups, as well as development programs facilitating growth in diversity and those directed towards young people, which promote a startup way of thinking. 

Prototron, Southeast Estonia Innovation Center, Parnu County Development Center and Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol are to implement a joint project for the development of regional ecosystems outside the major hubs, focusing on Estonian- and Russian-speaking startup entrepreneurs and business communities in Narva, Parnu and Voru.

HK Unicorn Squad is about to launch an Estonia-wide project for young girls aimed at promoting an active approach to life in girls of ages 7-14 and increasing their share on the startup scene and in the field of technology.

A program in the commercialization of science of Tartu Science Park and Tallinn Science Park  Tehnopol seeks to facilitate an increase in the numbers of "deep tech" projects.

Civitta Eesti is working on a development program for women that would help women become active in the startup world, motivate and support the participants. 

The Estonian Health Economy Association is about to launch a novel incubator and community center complementing the health economy as a rapidly growing field, focusing of the specifics of the field of health and the needs of teams. 

A project for young people of Vivita Estonia will create a novel video training series for young people of ages 9 to 14. 

A development program of Tallinn Science Park Tehnopol seeks to support startups in reaching out to new clients and increase the readiness of big and medium-sized companies of Estonia for cooperation with startups and their openness to innovation.

A program of Lift99 is meant for growth phase startups, seeking to become an alternative to the incubators and accelerators currently on the market. 

The tender of development programs for the Estonian startup ecosystem took place for the third time. The winners have up to 19 months to implement the initiatives. 

Operated by Kredex, Startup Estonia is a national program for the development of the Estonian startup ecosystem. The tender of development programs for the Estonian startup ecosystem is financed with money of the European Regional Development Fund.