AGP Executive Report

Education & AI Skills: OECD’s PISA 2025 chief Andreas Schleicher says Europe is seeing a “really concerning” skills slide, with students losing reading, math and critical thinking habits as AI use grows. Family Engagement: New PISA-linked survey results show families’ interest in kids’ learning is dropping across many high-income countries, with Estonia among the better performers. EU Online Safety: Brussels is preparing social media limits for minors plus age checks, drawing sharp pushback from children’s rights and privacy groups. Estonia Defense Tech: Estonian firms DoD Solution and Defsecintel plan joint drone-interceptor work, combining Defsecintel’s EIRSHIELD with DoD Solution’s AURA AI platform for trials and tenders. Baltic Security & Sabotage: Estonia’s internal security debate continues after recent sabotage cases and concerns about hostile activity across the region. Invasive Species Monitoring: Estonia researchers highlight eDNA-based monitoring to detect invasive crayfish earlier, supporting conservation of the native noble crayfish. Local Education Workload: Estonia’s Education Ministry will study teachers’ tasks and time use to fit workloads within legal hours. Education Policy in Moldova: Moldova’s minister cites weak math and reading after PISA 2025, while pointing to lab and equipment investment for science gains. Global Map Politics: The UN adopted the “Correct the Map” equal-area projection push, backed by Togo and the African Union, with implications for schools and digital platforms.

EU Online Safety Push: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will outline plans to limit minors’ social media use, weighing bans for under-13 or under-15 and pairing it with an age-check system—while children’s rights and privacy groups warn it could restrict freedoms and raise surveillance concerns. Estonian Education Workload: Estonia’s Education Ministry will study how teachers spend their working hours and map duties against legal working time, aiming to fit workload into the hours set by law. PISA Shockwaves: OECD PISA 2025 results show a global slide in reading and maths to record lows, with one in five 15-year-olds now a low performer in key subjects—fueling calls for urgent education reform. Armenia’s Learning Gap: OECD data also highlights Armenia’s weak PISA performance, with extremely low shares reaching top levels in science, reading, and maths. Defense Tech in the Baltics: Latvia and Ukraine plan a joint drone factory in eastern Latvia, expanding a cross-border drone supply and counter-drone cooperation deal. Finland Cable Case: Finnish prosecutors return to court over a ship crew accused of dragging an anchor that damaged undersea cables and a gas pipeline in the Gulf of Finland. Space Milestone: ESA signs an agreement with Vast for Greece’s first crewed mission to the ISS, with an ESA flight surgeon set to serve as mission specialist pending approval. 6G Security Pact: India endorses a 6G leadership and security call to action, joining Estonia and other governments focused on secure, interoperable next-gen networks. Estonia Postal Sale: Estonia launches a public auction for 100% of state shares in Omniva’s Eesti Post, starting at €52m. Clean Energy Jobs: An EEA report says clean energy tech is driving large job creation in the EU, but skills shortages could slow growth.

PISA Shock for Europe’s Schools: The OECD’s 2025 PISA results show a global slide in reading, maths and science, with reading at its lowest since 2000 and declines linked to more screen time and less reading for pleasure—an especially sharp warning for countries including Estonia, which still ranks high but is among those feeling the broader downturn. Estonia’s Clean-Energy Jobs Push: A new European Environment Agency report says clean energy technologies are driving hundreds of thousands of jobs across the EU, while also flagging a skills shortage that could slow growth. Student Support Under Pressure in Estonia: Estonia’s need-based bachelor support has risen by nearly a quarter in four years, but many students still struggle as living costs climb faster than incomes. EU Plans to Limit Kids’ Social Media: The EU is preparing proposals on restricting minors’ social media use and rolling out age checks, drawing criticism from children’s rights and privacy groups. AI Safety Debate Goes Mainstream: New warnings in the UK and US debate whether advanced AI could pose catastrophic risks, reigniting calls for regulation. Estonian Science in the Spotlight: TalTech researchers studied dangerous water oscillations in the canal between Lake Varna and the Black Sea, aiming to improve navigation and forecasting. Local Tech & Business: Tehnopol’s accelerator kicked off its autumn season by mixing alumni and current teams around AI-shifted startup assumptions.

Education Data Shock (PISA 2025): The OECD’s latest PISA results show a broad slide in reading, maths and science across developed countries, with reading hit hardest and “hasty reading” rising—while Estonia, the UK and others still outperform some peers. Screen-Time & Literacy: Multiple reports link weaker reading to more screen time and less reading for pleasure, raising alarms about critical thinking in the AI age. Estonia in the Mix: Estonia is cited among systems doing well overall, even as neighbours like Finland and Latvia report declines, keeping the Baltic education story front and centre. UN “Correct the Map” (Equal Earth): The UN General Assembly backed an Africa-led push for equal-area projections, with the US the only no vote and several European states abstaining, reigniting the tech-and-politics debate over how maps shape perception. AI in Schools Debate: Commentary argues for a “slow down to go fast” approach to AI adoption in classrooms, after new restrictions and moratoriums elsewhere. Autonomous Cars Watch: Slovenia cleared Tesla Full Self-Driving (Supervised), adding to the EU patchwork ahead of an October vote—while critics warn about opaque safety documentation. Local Science & Biosecurity: Estonia faces the risk of an invasive ocher flatworm hitchhiking in potted plants, prompting new awareness as it joins the EU invasive list. Health Access (Tartu): University of Tartu installed free menstrual pad dispensers across campus to reduce missed classes and participation barriers. Crypto Regulation (Poland): Poland failed again to align domestic crypto rules with MiCA after a veto override attempt, leaving firms in limbo.

Education Tech Shock: The OECD’s PISA 2025 results show 15-year-olds worldwide reading, maths and science at the weakest levels since testing began, with reading hit hardest as screen time rises and “hasty reading” grows. Estonia in the Mix: Estonia still ranks near the top overall, but local experts warn the long-term slide is real and that functional reading literacy keeps slipping. Local School Timing: Estonia’s education rules allow exceptions for starting classes before 9 a.m., and reporting suggests many schools use them—without the ministry tracking how often or why. Student Support in Tartu: University of Tartu installed 39 free menstrual pad dispensers across campus to reduce missed classes and improve access. AI Accountability: Estonia’s digital minister says AI agents should not get Estonian ID codes—responsibility must stay with humans. Maps and Power: The UN backed the Equal Earth projection to better reflect Africa’s size; Estonia abstained, while the US voted no—another reminder that “technical” standards can carry politics. Security on the EU Edge: Estonia and neighbors are watching Russian-linked drone and missile escalation risks closely as the war spills into the region.

Cybersecurity: Estonia is tightening public-sector defenses by redirecting incoming emails from Russian servers and “.ru” addresses into quarantine for extra screening, as DDoS attacks linked to Russia rise. Cartography & geopolitics: The UN General Assembly backed the “Correct the Map” push, endorsing the Equal Earth projection to better reflect Africa’s true size; Estonia abstained while the US voted no. Defence tech: Hanwha unveiled a drone-integrated VTOL concept for its K9 howitzer family, aiming to speed target detection and battle damage assessment. Missile defence industry: Germany is moving toward acquiring Israel’s Iron Dome, with a planned “center of excellence” at a Lower Saxony site. Procurement accountability: Estonia’s defence investments agency can’t fully explain how it selected the firm behind a failed ~€70m ammo deal, raising questions about missing records and checks. Health & society: A Tallinn survey finds older people with depression are far more likely to get medication than therapy, reflecting stigma and access gaps. Food safety: Salmonella cases are rising across Europe, with the UK and Belgium reporting notable outbreaks. Startup funding: A CEE-focused roundup highlights major European tech rounds, including Tallinn-based Frankenburg Technologies raising €30m for missile defence work.

Tallinn Regeneration: Bob W is set to open a new aparthotel in Krulli Kvartal, Tallinn’s 10.2-hectare Krulli industrial quarter makeover, scheduled for Q1 2028 with 34 studios and 29 one-bedroom apartments, next to the planned Kasvuhoone tech and creativity hub. Border Security Tech: Finland has unveiled a 200km, camera-and-sensor-equipped fence on its eastern border with Russia, built to counter alleged “hybrid warfare” migrant pressure. Defence Procurement Scrutiny: Estonia’s Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK) still can’t explain how it selected Datasel for a failed ~€70m ammo deal, with missing records on negotiations and background checks. Health & Care Access: A Tallinn-focused study finds older people with depression are far more likely to get medication than therapy, pointing to stigma and limited treatment navigation. UN Cartography Push: The UN General Assembly backed “Correct the Map,” encouraging equal-area projections like Equal Earth to better reflect Africa’s true size; Estonia abstained. AI Power Infrastructure: Infineon and Skeleton Technologies signed a development framework for AI data-centre power systems using solid-state transformers and supercapacitors, aiming at higher efficiency and reliability. Drone Industry Shift: Lantronix says tighter Chinese export rules could boost its production of drone compute modules for U.S. military needs.

Digital Identity: Bangladesh published implementation details for its World Bank-backed One-ID “digital identity” program, budgeting Tk 91.93bn (US$748m) to issue about 200m polycarbonate chip cards and link identity to a smartphone wallet for government and financial services. Cartography & Tech Policy: The UN General Assembly adopted the “Correct the Map” resolution (164-1) urging governments, schools and tech companies to use equal-area projections like Equal Earth instead of Mercator when relative land size matters; Estonia abstained, while the US voted no. AI Data Center Power: Infineon and Estonia’s Skeleton Technologies signed a partnership to co-develop AI data centre power systems, combining power semiconductors with supercapacitor storage for higher efficiency and rack density. Autonomous Driving Safety: Tesla says its supervised Full Self-Driving recorded 4.1x fewer collisions than manual driving across five European countries, as it pushes ahead of an EU vote. Local Tech Export Push: Tehnopol launched a project to help Estonian tech firms enter the US and Brazil, offering consulting and mentor support for market entry. Research Integrity: Estonia’s ERR ran an experiment showing how easy it can be to buy authorship of fake research papers from “paper mills” online. Defense Tech (Estonia link): South Korea’s Hanwha unveiled a drone-guided K9 operating concept in Tartu, aiming to cut artillery call-for-fire timelines by integrating VTOL UAVs into the howitzer’s fire direction system.

UN Map Overhaul: The UN General Assembly backed Togo’s “Correct the Map” push to promote equal-area world maps like Equal Earth, passing 164–1 (with the US opposing and Estonia among six abstainers) to better reflect Africa’s true relative size and reduce Mercator-era distortions in education, media and tech. India’s Sovereignty Line: India voted for the resolution but stressed it does not endorse any boundary depiction, insisting Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh must match India’s official maps. Drone Arms Race: Britain is investing over $5bn in drone development, including AI, sensors and counter-drone systems, while the EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance is set to meet in Brussels to speed up drone and counter-drone rollout. Estonia Export Push: Tehnopol launched a project to help Estonian tech firms enter the US and Brazil, offering export consulting and mentorship support. Research Integrity Warning: A journalistic experiment highlights how easy it can be to buy fake research authorship from “paper mills” operating via social media. Uber Exit Signals Risk: Uber abruptly ended ride-hailing in Nigeria and Uganda, reigniting debate about operating conditions for foreign digital platforms.

UN Map Overhaul: The UN General Assembly backed Togo’s “Correct the Map” resolution to promote equal-area world maps (like Equal Earth) over the centuries-old Mercator projection, passing 164-1 with the U.S. the only no vote and Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine abstaining; the move is non-binding but targets how Africa’s size is perceived in education, media and digital tools. France and Togo Follow Through: France says it will drop Mercator in school diplomacy materials, and Togo plans to update school geography books by end-2026. Digital Trust Infrastructure: A new guide on digital public infrastructure stresses multistakeholder governance to build trust and unlock adoption for systems like digital IDs and data-sharing. Estonia Business & Execution: OKRs Tool benchmark research argues goal success hinges on four simple tracking habits—weekly reviews, continuous progress tracking, keeping goals visible, and using dedicated software. Defense Tech in Focus: Hanwha unveiled a drone-guided K9 operating concept in Tartu, aiming to speed target-to-fire workflows by integrating VTOL fire-guidance drones into the howitzer’s system. Local Governance/People: Estonia’s Office of the President director laid off 13 staff over two years, with protocol advisers leaving just before the new president takes office. Mobility Shock: Uber ended ride-hailing in Nigeria and Uganda, citing business priorities amid tough local economics, while still operating in parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

UN Cartography Shift: The UN General Assembly backed Togo’s “Correct the Map” push, urging governments, schools and tech firms to use equal-area projections like Equal Earth instead of Mercator when relative land size matters; 164 countries voted yes, the US voted no, and Estonia (along with Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine) abstained. France Updates Maps: France said it will stop using Mercator in diplomacy and switch to the Eckert IV projection, aiming for more accurate continent proportions. EU-Ukraine Drone Push: The EU-Ukraine Drone Alliance will hold its inaugural meeting in Brussels on Sept. 11 to coordinate drone and counter-drone rollout across the bloc. Estonia Defense Tech Spotlight: South Korea’s Hanwha unveiled a K9 operating concept in Tartu that links VTOL fire-guidance drones directly into the howitzer’s fire direction system to speed target-to-strike workflows. Security in the Region: Reports highlight Russia-linked hybrid threats in Europe, with Germany calling for faster Baltic Sea information sharing and response coordination. Local Governance: Estonia’s President’s Office director Krista Zibo laid off 13 staff over two years, including two protocol advisers leaving just before the new president takes office. Health & Supply Chains: Russian drones hit Teva and a WHO medical supply depot in Ukraine, expanding attacks into pharmaceutical storage and distribution. Mobility Tech: Uber abruptly exited Nigeria and Uganda and cut about 3,300 jobs worldwide as it tightens operations.

UN Cartography Shake-Up: The UN General Assembly backed a resolution urging governments, schools and tech firms to use equal-area maps so Africa isn’t shown smaller than it is, with the US voting no and Estonia among six abstainers. DPI Governance for Trust: Co-Develop and Caribou published a practitioner guide for digital public infrastructure, stressing early problem-finding, coalition building and governance that earns adoption. Baltic Security & Energy: Estonia-linked sabotage concerns keep surfacing across Europe, while the Baltic offshore wind build-out grows but faces grid and permitting friction; Baltic energy firms also signed a cooperation plan to tackle shared resilience and decarbonisation. Estonia Economy & Climate: Luminor reports broad sector growth in Estonia, and a new study finds Estonia’s warming is about 1.5× the global average, with cold spells fading and heat extremes rising. Local Tech/Business Moves: Estonia launched a sealed-bid auction to sell shares in state postal operator Eesti Post (Omniva) starting at €52m, and the Nordic Resilience Summit in Riga will focus on practical crisis preparedness.

Ukraine War & Security: A Russian drone hit the SBU headquarters in Kyiv, injuring several people hours before expected US special envoys’ talks on ending the war. UK Readiness Cuts: Britain ordered some large-scale army exercises to pause to save about $40m, with units preparing to deploy to Estonia largely exempt. EU Visa Pressure: Germany urged tighter limits on Russian holiday visas after sabotage attacks, citing alleged drone activity linked to a tourist visa route. Data as Power: A new look at “the data state” argues governments are shifting from digitising services to treating data infrastructure as strategic economic assets—raising questions on ownership and who benefits. Estonia Climate Research: A study finds Estonia’s warming runs about 1.5x faster than the global average, with cold spells shrinking and heat extremes rising. Estonia Tech & Society: Estonia launched a public sealed-bid auction to sell Omniva’s Eesti Post shares (starting price €52m). Health in Estonia: Light therapy improved sleep and activity in seniors in a study that included Tartu. Materials for Security: Researchers created a near-infrared colour-changing material that could support invisible anti-counterfeit tags. Weather Disruption: Pärnu declared an emergency after heavy rain overwhelmed stormwater and sewerage systems. AI in Schools Debate: A global roundup highlights how countries diverge on when and how children should use generative AI. Crypto & Regulation: Analysis of MiCA licensing points to Estonia and nearby markets as key hubs in Europe’s crypto plumbing. Defence Tech in Estonia: Hanwha’s K9 User Club in Tartu showcased drone-guided artillery concepts and sustainment upgrades.

K9 Modernization in Estonia: Hanwha Aerospace used the 5th K9 User Club in Tartu (Sept 2–4) to unveil a next-gen K9 operating concept that links a VTOL fire-guidance drone to the howitzer for faster target-to-strike flow, plus drone-led impact observation and battle-damage assessment. Digital Healthcare Security: Nokia and BeeHealthy are rolling out “Network as Code” to replace SMS one-time passcodes with network-based verification for safer access to digital care services across Europe and the Middle East, including Estonia. AI for Nature Mapping: University of Tartu researchers used AI to spot about 10,000 extra “field islands” in Estonia—small habitats that matter for birds and pollinators. Public Health Alert: Kuressaare residents were told to boil drinking water after coliform and E. coli were found in the water network, with preventive chlorination underway. Autonomous Mobility: Uber and Wayve launched supervised autonomous rides in London, a sign of how quickly driver-assist tech is moving toward broader rollout. Energy & Defense Context: Coverage also highlighted EU security push and Baltic-region escalation fears, alongside reports of Russia-linked pressure near Moldova and energy disruptions in Ukraine.

Estonian AI for nature mapping: Researchers at the University of Tartu used AI to spot about 10,000 extra “field islands” across Estonia, helping track tiny habitats that support farmland birds and pollinators. Cyber & trust in Estonia: A customer has sued Estonian registrar TrustName after domains were allegedly stolen and transferred out despite two-factor protection, raising questions about registrar abuse handling. Local public health: Kuressaare residents were told to boil drinking water after E. coli and coliform were found in the water network, with preventive chlorination and repeat samples underway. Defense tech in Tartu: Hanwha Aerospace unveiled a drone-linked K9 artillery concept at the K9 User Club in Estonia, aiming to speed target-to-fire and add drone-based impact assessment, plus plans for digital logistics support. Energy & infrastructure: Elering says Estonia’s solar boom is cooling as developers shift toward data centers and battery storage, while Crimea’s fuel crisis worsens under tighter rationing. Digital healthcare security: Nokia and BeeHealthy teamed up on network-based verification to replace SMS one-time passcodes for digital care access. AI in the field: A separate report highlights AI’s role in discovering overlooked field islands in Estonia. National governance: Estonia’s parliament elected Ulle Madise as the next president.

Digital Healthcare Security: Nokia and BeeHealthy are integrating Nokia’s Network as Code to replace SMS one-time passcodes with network-based verification for patient access to digital care across Europe and the Middle East, including Estonia. Defense Tech in Focus: Hanwha Aerospace showcased a drone-to-K9 artillery concept at its K9 User Club in Tartu, aiming to cut sensor-to-shooter time with VTOL fire-guiding drones for target detection, firing support, and battle damage assessment. Estonia Leadership: Estonia’s Riigikogu elected Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise as the next president, with her swearing-in set for Oct. 12. AI Medical Capability: Deep Breathe’s AI-guided handheld ultrasound system, ATLAS, was selected for NATO DIANA’s Mission Track, targeting faster front-line assessment of life-threatening chest and abdominal injuries, with deployments already tested in Estonia and other countries. AI Data Center Power: Infineon and Estonia’s Skeleton Technologies signed an MoU to develop resilient, high-efficiency power architectures for AI data centers, including solid-state transformers and supercapacitor-backed load handling. Biometrics Payments: Tallinn startup Handwave expanded its Visa deal to link cards to palm biometrics using tokenization and authentication, aiming to scale palm-based payments across Europe. Compliance Tech: Instarc raised about $1.45M to accelerate its cloud-native compliance platform for South Africa’s evolving KYC and due diligence rules. Energy Storage Breakthrough Claim: Donut Lab says VTT tests show its solid-state battery cell hits 409Wh/kg, positioning it as a potential lighter, faster-charging option for future EV and drone use.