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Estonia’s marine sector specialises in the design and build of small and medium-sized commercial and leisure vessels. Centuries long expertise, cutting-edge application of IT and a flexible approach make Estonia a competitive location for innovation and export-oriented production.
| High-quality Nordic craftsmanship based on centuries-long maritime expertise. | |
| Ultra-high use of IT in the design, prototyping and production processes. | |
| Highly flexible approach to customisation and commercial matters. | |
| Competitive business environment supporting innovation and accelerated launches. | |
| Strategic location for EU and Nordic export markets. |
Estonia has a niche marine sector that provides design, prototyping, and production of small and medium-sized commercial and leisure vessels, electronics, and equipment.
With a centuries-long maritime tradition, Estonian workers have extensive expertise across a range of areas including materials science, hydrodynamics and manoeuvrability. Competence centers like TalTech‘s Estonian Maritime Academy ensure the workforce possesses professional higher education and practical application of modern methodologies.
As befits the world’s most digitally enabled nation, IT utilisation is ultra-high. Digital boats are created in the design phase, allowing clients to customise to exact specifications without sacrificing performance. Sensors and software ensure accurate prototyping and testing. Automated production is seamlessly integrated with handcrafted elements to create high-quality, safe vessels with ISO certification.
Estonia’s advantages include one of the most open and competitive economies in the world. Our compact size ensures decision-makers are highly accessible and flexible to requests on customisation and commercial terms. Costs remain competitive relative to neighbouring markets for an equivalent quality level and trustworthy business culture.
Today Estonian vessels of multiple sizes and materials are used in naval, rescue, energy, scientific, and icebreaking operations in Northern Europe and beyond. Cybernetica’s systems and equipment for marine communication, surveillance, and navigation are utilised worldwide. Smart Port, Maritime Single Window, and e-Government solutions ensure efficiency and safety in daily operations. Local researchers are working on making Estonia the world’s competence center in maritime cybersecurity.
Estonia is leveraging its advantages in flexibility and IT to become a center of excellence in marine R&D, environmental sustainability, and digitalisation.
Whether you seek innovation or high-quality production within a highly digital environment, Estonia offers a scalable, competitive Northern European hub for marine businesses.
As of May 2022, The Estonian Maritime Spatial Plan was approved, and a green light has been given to start the tendering process of up to 7 GW of offshore wind production sites. As the government has decided to reach 100% of renewable electricity consumption by 2030, this is a clear message to encourage the kickstart of investments in offshore wind farms.
On 30 August 2022, at the Energy Security Summit, the European Union member states around the Baltic Sea agreed on improving their cooperation to strengthen the region’s energy security and increase the current wind energy capacity of the Baltic Sea sevenfold by 2030. In addition to the Baltic Sea energy network, the declaration includes the ELWIND offshore wind farm and network developed jointly by Estonia and Latvia, Estlink 3 planned with Finland and synchronisation of energy networks with Central Europe as the key projects relevant to Estonia.
There are 45 registered seaports in Estonia. Most significant ports with major industrial areas around the quays well suited for the offshore wind industry are as follows: Paldiski South Harbour (max depth 15.5 m), Sillamäe (max depth 16m), Muuga (max depth 18 m), Saaremaa (max depth 10 m), Pärnu (max depth 7 m), Roomassaare (max depth 4.6 m). Key ports that have directed their future focus on offshore wind tech are Paldiski South Harbour and Roomassaare.
For offshore wind tech, there is also a special purpose innovation area developed on the seas to provide real-life laboratory conditions for offshore wind tech innovation. It is an 88 sq. km area free of fast ice targeted especially for wind turbines and wind farms predominantly on floating foundations, smart robotics, sensors, and other innovative solutions necessary for the development of the industry.
Offshore wind technologies are one key focus area in the Estonian R&D, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategy 2021-2035. The country is strategically planning an innovative and large manufacturing base and innovation platform for new-generation offshore wind technology solutions. With local universities, centers of excellence for energy systems, and a collaborative cleantech ecosystem, this value chain has solid ground in Estonia.
Skeleton Technologies, the global leader in ultracapacitor and supercapacitor energy storage systems, has signed a deal with a world leader in renewable energy production to use Skeleton’s SkelMod modules to have greater wind turbine pitch control. MindChip has a robot ship which is an innovative product and a service delivery platform that can perform different tasks as well as parcel and cargo transportation services. Various modules can be attached to the robotic ship base platform, such as sonar, suitable for different surveys, cameras, equipment suitable for underwater work, etc. Baltic Workboats has produced hundreds of boats in different sizes for various industries including offshore wind. Their patented wave-piercing technology makes it possible to deliver one of the most stable, safe, and crew-friendly workboats in the industry. Hepta Airborne has been inspecting Estonian electricity lines since 2018 and is now operating in 13 counties with its unique 600km range UAV equipped with lidars, sensors, and AI-powered end-to-end inspection solutions. Incap Electronics professionals provide high-class design and manufacturing services to customers that need flexible and agile electronics components to work under the harshest conditions. Their customers include the largest marine energy tech company Corvus Energy, European Space Agency and Maxar Technologies.
Success stories in the Estonian Marine industry include:
Baltic Workboats, Luksusjaht, Marine Pool, Ridas Yacht & Composites, Saare Yachts, etc.
These websites can be useful when interested in the Marine sector in Estonia:
You are also welcome to send us a request for personal e-consulting to obtain more specific information.
Defence has always been a focal point for Estonia. The country's capable defence forces consist of a professional army, reserve forces, and national defence league, complemented by NATO allied forces. Technology entrepreneurs and engineers have teamed up with the army to develop world-class solutions for the global defence industry. When we say defence, we mean business.
Estonia is not only a pioneering digital society, which has found convincing answers to the challenges of digitalization, but it also is a very green country. There is a strong societal and political will to utilize the capabilities and ecosystems. These have been developed to tackle the challenges of decarbonization of the economy and to become once again a leading player – in CleanTech and GreenTech.
Estonia is a cashless society with over 99% of financial transactions occurring digitally. Electronic ID and Blockchain are widely used in FinTech applications. 80+ FinTechs ranging from innovative startups such as Wise to Blockchain leader Guardtime make Estonia a global centre of excellence for FinTech.
Estonia developed X-Road, its proprietary decentralised, distributed system in 2001 and has utilised Blockchain since 2008. World-class technical skills supported by practical experience implementing public and permissioned Blockchain’s place Estonia at the forefront of the emerging Blockchain economy.
Patient records in Estonia are digitised and secured by the Blockchain, providing a single immutable data source for healthcare professionals. With a unique digital platform and collaborative ecosystem, Estonia is positioned to lead on preventative medicine, patient self-treatment and industry efficiency.
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.
