Innosteps is a tool for increasing the innovation capacity of Estonian companies and developing a common culture of innovation.
Innovation steps (innosteps) is an Estonian public–private initiative designed to enhance innovation capabilities across businesses and organisations by providing a structured assessment framework, targeted guidance, and access to a network of service providers.
BACKGROUND AND MISSION
Estonia has long cultivated a reputation as Europe’s leading digital nation- characterised by government‑backed innovation, agile startups, and a culture of technology adoption. However, innovation support in the country has historically been fragmented, making it hard for businesses to access the most suitable resources. Innosteps addresses this gap through a standardized, accessible framework that helps companies evaluate and develop their innovation maturity.
Developed in 2022, Innosteps model draws on international best practices and aligns with the ISO56001 innovation management standard. It identifies key areas for innovation readiness, such as organisational culture, value proposition, innovation processes, financial capacity, and network cooperation.
ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK: INNOSTEPS
At the heart of Innosteps is a user‑friendly online tool that guides organisations through a staged assessment of their innovation capacity. Companies register (via a business registry‑linked system) and complete a test designed to highlight their innovation strengths and gaps. Once assessed, they receive a bespoke action plan and gain access to the Innosteps network of service providers.
The system assigns companies to one of five maturity levels:
- Innovation Enthusiast – inspiration and first awareness
- Innovation Experimenter – basic knowledge and discovery
- Process‑Driven Innovator – structured processes in place
- Strategic Innovator – R&D strategy and growing international presence
- Ecosystem Designer – global innovators setting the bar for open innovation
Supporting this is a competence matrix that overlays six innovation dimensions – management, team, value proposition, processes, finances, and partnerships – across the five levels. This enables personalised development pathways tailored to each company’s stage and strategic objectives.
BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS
FOR COMPANIES:
- Self‑assessment and benchmarking: organisations can objectively evaluate their innovation capacity and compare with their national peers (the average Estonian company score is shared openly).
- Actionable roadmap: results come with targeted, stage‑appropriate guidance, enabling structured progress.
- Network access: companies gain visibility into a curated ecosystem of research institutions, consultants, financial providers, business associations, venture capitalists, and accelerators based on their needs.
FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS:
- Demand‑driven engagement: universities, private consultancies, and finance providers gain access to vetted companies matching their competencies.
- Efficient matchmaking: Innosteps streamlines connections through a unified platform, reducing time and cost for both sides.
FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR:
- Policy insight and planning: aggregated assessment data offers visibility into national innovation capabilities, helping shape funding strategies, support programmes, and benchmarks for Estonian development goals.
POSITION WITHIN ESTONIA’S INNOVATION LANDSCAPE
Estonia is recognised internationally as a digital pioneer. Yet as pioneers emerged – from Skype to GrabCAD – the need for systematic innovation across traditional and emerging industries became clear. Innosteps responds to this by bridging fragmented support and building a structured, standards‑based framework accessible to all organisations.
It parallels initiatives by Startup Estonia and others that provide ecosystems and community, but Innosteps adds a diagnostic and developmental layer – making innovation measurable, comparable, and improvable.
Innosteps serves as a cornerstone for Estonia’s long‑term innovation strategy. Through its structured, ISO‑aligned assessment model, comprehensive network integration, and iterative development, it offers businesses an objective compass to navigate innovation. It plays a crucial intermediary role connecting policymakers, service providers, and companies‑while remaining firmly neutral in tone and purpose.
For any organisation serious about embedding innovation as a core capability, Innosteps offers a credible, data‑driven platform to measure, develop, and sustain growth in a rigorously managed manner, aligned with both national development goals and globally recognized standards.
THE CHAMBER OF INNOVATION ACCELERATION AT ESTONIAN EMPLOYER’S CONFEDERATION
We stand for a vibrant Estonia, being the voice of employers both in Estonia and internationally.
Our mission is to contribute to the growth of the Estonian economy and the improvement of people’s living standards.
Our activities are designed to trigger innovation and raise profitability and competitiveness of Estonian companies.
Our goals are Estonian Private Sector investments into R&D to grow from 1% to 2% of GDP Productivity ratio to be 110% of EU average.
Our initiatives are The Innovation Steps – model for self-assessment and 2% Club for the recognition of companies that invest in R&D.
“In business development, a glass ceiling often appears after the first few innovation attempts, but for long-term success, innovation should be made systematic.”
– Ivo Suursoo, CEO of OIXIO Group, Chairman of the Chamber of Innovation Acceleration at Estonian Employers Confederation –
