Estonia has a collaborative ecosystem for Industrial R&D including academia, accelerators and competence centres. Supported by world-class expertise and a highly competitive, digital environment, Estonia is the ideal location for Industrial product and technology R&D.
Active knowledge and technology transfer between industry and academia. | |
Best innovations validated and commercialised in accelerators. | |
Competence centers providing infrastructure and expertise for applied R&D. | |
Compact, digital environment well suited to accelerated research, prototyping and launches. | |
Solid track record of successful innovations and investments. |
Estonia’s Industrial R&D ecosystem supports startups and corporate R&D and has produced numerous innovations in sectors including mechatronics, energy, chemicals and food.
Estonia’s advantages start early, ranking top 10 globally in the teaching of science, maths and IT. Nine universities and vocational education centres ensure the workforce possess professional knowledge and practical experience of modern technologies. TalTech University has a world-class capability in mechatronics and collaborates with universities and companies including MIT and Mitsubishi.
As befits one of the world’s most successful startup nations, Estonia’s accelerator ecosystem supports global commercialisation of software and hardware innovations. Five accelerators, backed by global firms including Telia, provide validation, mentoring, risk capital and market access for sectors including IoT, mechatronics and CleanTech.
Four competence centres provide infrastructure and expertise to conduct applied R&D in collaboration with corporate and academic partners. STACC focus on Big Data analytics and security for software and systems; ELIKO develop algorithm and communication models for IoT solutions; IMECC specialise in materials technology, AI and smart factories; EII has conducted 40 global R&D projects in mechatronics and embedded software. A further three centers specialise in chemicals and bioeconomy activity.
Estonia’s Industrial R&D ecosystem is enabled by modern infrastructure, supportive policy making and a pro-business environment which consistently ranks as one of the most open, competitive and transparent in the world. The journey from research to prototype and global launch is accelerated and efficient.
Estonia’s track record of successful Industrial startups includes Starship Technologies and Cleveron in mechatronics, Skeleton Technologies and Planet OS in CleanTech and GrabCAD in industrial automation. Long-term corporate R&D successes include Valio and Lallemand in food science, Stoneridge in mechatronics and Ericsson in telecommunications.
As digitalisation transforms all aspect of industry, Estonia’s ability to integrate world-class industrial and IT skills in a dynamic, scalable environment make it the ideal location for Industrial R&D.
Success stories in the Estonian Industrial R&D include:
Starship Technologies (read more), Cleveron (read more), Skeleton Technologies (read more), GrabCAD, Planet OS, Valio, Lallemand, Stoneridge, Neo Performance Materials, Ericsson, etc.
These websites can be useful when interested in Industrial R&D in Estonia:
You are also welcome to send us a request for personal e-consulting to obtain more specific information.
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What is it like to run a business in Estonia? How to benefit from the e-solutions and the efficiency of our business culture? What are the opportunities in specific sectors? Who to partner up with?
The Estonian Investment Agency’s team is happy to help you via its complimentary e-Consulting service, organize online or offline follow-up events such as virtual investment visits and guide you through the fairly simple process of investing in Estonia.