When I joined the Estonian technology sector, corporate strategy and digital strategy were still two different things. My main task was to create cooperation.
Just as technology has become ubiquitous, Estonia,originally known for its use of digital services, has become a true pioneer of the digital society. I’m proud to say that we’re not just talking about living in a digital state, we are living in a digital state.
Although I joined the ITL on a 1.5-year contract, I have been now involved with ITL for 15 years. Being part of the association that is growing has been exciting. My main priority is standing up for the common interests of our member companies, but also to ensure the sustainability of the association, its good reputation and the success of technology sector companies. That is why I am pleased to note that ITL has been named the most active lobbyist with the public sector for several years.
Just as Estonia has become a digital leader, our association has also grown in terms of the areas it covers. When I joined the ITL, I started to build the association’s business development unit – the Estonian ICT Cluster. My motto is: trust your team, trust your partners, because working together you can go further. Today we can say that our network is among the best clusters in the world. Why is this important? Because we are more visible and have a better chance of getting involved in joint international projects. In a small Estonia, you can’t think that you are small, you have to constantly look for opportunities for Estonian companies to develop and enter international markets. In today’s world, it is very important to build cooperation with like-minded organizations and countries, so that the world’s digital leaders would develop together and attract others.
Just as Estonia’s technology sector needs to grow all the time, Estonia’s reputation as a fierce digital nation is important to me. It is our most important “business card“, by which we are known all over the world. We’re like evangelists who go around telling the story of the digital country in training courses and conferences, business meetings and high-level visits. I strongly believe that the way we do things in Estonia – the convenience and simplicity of our business environment – is not only good for the tech sector, but for Estonia as a whole. It is our opportunity to show ourselves as a trusted, agile and innovative business partner to any sector in the world.
Our experience is hopefully something that every Estonian citizen will be proud to talk about, because as a small country, it is important not to go unnoticed. Because the one thing that makes us unique in the world is digital innovation – let’s take advantage of it.
Technological innovation always brings challenges and requires bold choices. As Vice-President of DIGITAL EUROPE, the umbrella organisation of European technology alliances, I can clearly see that Europe is at a crossroads of challenges and choices. Of the world’s 50 leading technology companies, only four are from Europe. A third of Europe’s unicorns (start-ups worth more than a billion dollars) are moving elsewhere. Only 8% of Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises do business across borders, and this has not increased in five years. When it comes to the competitiveness of Estonia and Europe, digitalisation offers great opportunities for development at both company and national level – now is the time to create the environment and take bold decisions, not just regulate.
What are the goals that motivate me to act and to seek cooperation with other sectors of the economy both in Estonia and internationally: a secure digital society, staying at the top of the world in terms of digitalisation of the private and public sector. We are only as strong in digitalisation as the users of the technology. Also in the ITL, it is important not to leave anyone behind, but to keep encouraging every companie’s digital journey. I see that our sector can support the Estonian economy. Because IT is everywhere!
Doris Põld is the CEO of Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications, the strongest and biggest IT association in Estonia. She has 15 years of experience of working with Estonian ICT companies and representing their interests. Doris is also vice-president of Executive Board in DIGITAL EUROPE which is the voice of digitally transforming industries. She stands for competitive and secure business environment for stronger digital Europe. Her aim is to support the brightest stars of e-Estonia and Estonia’s development towards information society. Doris is a firm believer of digital transformation and collaboration, that is why supporting the competitiveness of business environment not only in Estonia but also in Europe is so important to her.
