Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Financial Services, Funds, Good for Business, Markets and Companies, Technology

In the framework of the cooperation program, companies will be able to receive support for such activities as digitalization of industry, information and communication technology (ICT) based product development and the development of health technology solutions. Joint projects between Estonian and Norwegian entrepreneurs are preferred, EAS said.

Foreign Trade and IT Minister Kaimar Karu said that the program has an important role to play in strengthening the innovation-related cooperation between Estonia and Norway.

"When it comes to this program, it is also important support is given to Estonian companies' innovative ICT projects and solutions for the digitalization of industrial enterprises, which will increase the sustainable use of resources, increase their productivity and increase their added value and competitiveness," Karu said.

Ole Overaas, the charge d'affaires at the Norwegian embassy, said Norway has high expectations of the measurable environmental outcomes of the business projects. "It is important for both Norway and Estonia to achieve economic growth that does not come at the expense of a clean living environment. In this respect, environmentally friendly technologies are likely to provide the most sustainable future solution," Overaas added.

EAS board member Sigrid Harjo said there is great interest from companies in the program. "Over 100 companies took part in the information day held in January. There is a particular interest in innovative industrial solutions and product development in areas such as health technologies and energy efficiency," Harjo added.

Applications will be accepted in the EAS' self-service environment from Feb. 1 to March 31. Support can be applied for by companies registered in Estonia, welcome as partners are Norwegian companies and sectoral networks, such as clusters, universities and associations.

The support per one project is between 200,000 euros and 700,000 euros, for health technology, the maximum grant is 1.25 mln euros. The program will be funded from the 2014-2021 assets of Norway's financial mechanisms.