The merger of two Estonian companies, which had been competitors for over twenty years, has created the world’s largest specialist manufacturer of thermally modified hardwood and sauna products: Thermory AS.

The former president of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves discussed how the small Baltic state became a world leader in digitization of everything from voting to medicine on Stanford Radio.

According to Statistics Estonia, in 2018, the exports of goods increased by 12% and imports by 10% compared to 2017. The exports and imports of mineral products had the greatest impact on trade growth in 2018.

“Digital solutions can make our economies grow, make governments more effective and make the world a better place,” Prime Minister Ratas said at World Government Summit in Dubai, adding that in Estonia we have been witness to all that.

“Opening an office in Dubai is certainly good news for our enterpreneurs and an important step to make the economic ties with the Persian Gulf region stronger,” said Prime Minister Jüri Ratas before the opening ceremony.

Estonia joined the countries that have invested in space technology five years ago. Back in 2013, the first Estonian nanosatellite, ESTCube was launched by the University of Tartu with Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) as a partner. Fast forward one year. In 2014, TalTech took the initiative to create its own student satellite, which also marked the start of the biggest interdisciplinary study project in Estonia.

Ninety-nine percent of public services are available online in Estonia, companies can be founded digitally and innovation is the key to success. So how did this nation of 1.3 million people become one of the most advanced digital societies in the world? In this video, Elizabeth Schulze takes a glimpse into the future from Tallinn for CNBC.

Whilst most of his contemporaries are still at university trying to figure out what to do with their lives, Robin Saluoks (23), the founder and CEO of eAgronom, a company which offers European farmers digital solutions, is a young man with a vision. Having just won the Estonian Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, he talks to us about his road to success.