When people around the world hear of Estonia today, they think of a nation where nearly every government service is accessible online, where starting a company can take just minutes, and where seamless digital interactions are simply the way of life. But this transformation did not happen overnight. It is the result of a national mindset rooted in efficiency – not digitalisation for its own sake, but digitalisation to free up resources, save time, and let people and businesses focus on what truly matters.
From our pioneering Tiger Leap programme in the 1990s to our current AI Leap initiative, Estonia has embraced bold experimentation and collaboration between the public and private sectors. Today, we continue to lead by example: 100% of our public services are available online, e-residency allows global entrepreneurs to run EU-based businesses remotely, and our digital ID system powers everything from voting to banking.
Yet Estonia’s innovation story goes far beyond the public sector. Our entrepreneurs and technologists have built products and companies that have changed the world – from the roots of Skype to new frontiers in fintech, cybersecurity, greentech, and deep tech. Estonia is home to the most unicorns per capita in Europe, a testament to the spirit of agility and cooperation that defines our business ecosystem.
This is possible because of Estonia’s unique compactness. In a country where key decision-makers, founders, and engineers can meet for a coffee (or a sprat sandwich) and move fast together, ideas scale quickly. The same mindset that drove us to create the world’s first space food, advanced spy cameras or internet voting now drives our leading-edge AI tools, sustainable materials, and revolutionary digital services.
I sincerely believe that we become stronger and better through cooperation. Estonia has never been afraid to learn from others – we have proudly borrowed ideas and systems that worked elsewhere, then adapted and improved them to fit our needs. In the same spirit, we hope the stories in this book will inspire others to borrow from Estonia’s experience, take our ideas further, and create even greater innovations of their own.
INNOVATE Estonia celebrates this spirit – the companies, products, services, and people shaping the future, not only of our own nation, but of industries worldwide. I hope this book inspires you to discover, collaborate with, and be part of Estonia’s innovation journey.
