AGP Executive Report

AI in Agriculture: Estonian farmers are using AI to build spreadsheets, analyze data and search legislation, while experts caution that its answers still need checking. Shipping Technology: Wärtsilä added Viking XPRS, which serves the Helsinki–Tallinn route, to a five-year maintenance deal covering three Viking Line ferries. Oil-Shale Research: Tallinn University of Technology researchers developed a faster way to turn kukersite kerogen into dicarboxylic acids, potential building blocks for polymers and other chemicals. Clean Tech: Estonia’s planned €50 million island e-ferry passed its first model tests. Separately, Siemens is investing in Skeleton Technologies to support power solutions for AI data centres. Cybersecurity: Experts say a French supermarket cyberattack that disrupted refrigeration shows why Estonian businesses must protect operational systems as well as computer networks.

Farm Tech: Estonian farmers are using AI to build spreadsheets, analyze data and check legislation. Experts see wider potential in farm logistics and field analysis, but stress that people must verify AI’s answers. Oil-Shale Research: Tallinn University of Technology researchers have revived the Kerox process, using nitric acid to turn Estonian kukersite kerogen into dicarboxylic acids for polymers and other products. Cybersecurity: A French supermarket cyberattack that spoiled food after attackers altered refrigeration settings is a warning for Estonia, experts say. Clean Transport: Estonia’s planned €50 million island e-ferry has passed its first model tests. Energy Storage: Siemens is leading a major investment in Estonia’s Skeleton Technologies to support power systems for AI data centers.

Oil-Shale Chemistry: TalTech researchers have revived Estonia’s Kerox process, using nitric acid to turn kukersite kerogen into dicarboxylic acids in minutes — potential building blocks for polymers and specialty chemicals. Estonian Tech Investment: Siemens is leading a nine-figure investment in Skeleton Technologies, which is developing energy-storage systems for AI data centres. Clean Transport: Estonia’s planned €50 million island e-ferry has passed its first model tests. AI Research: A Tallinn-based researcher tested how language shapes AI brand recommendations, finding that answers can shift between local and global companies depending on the language used. Cybersecurity: TalTech’s Toomas Lepik says a French supermarket cyberattack that spoiled food shows Estonia must guard against threats to connected systems beyond conventional IT.

Private AI: Vitalik Buterin tested a privacy-focused AI agent on a Tallinn restaurant search, using Tor, local prompt rewriting, cover traffic and zero-knowledge payments. He said the extra protections add delays and Tor remains vulnerable to timing analysis. Cybersecurity: Researchers traced spyware-laced ads to networks including Estonia’s Information System Authority. TalTech experts also warned that a French supermarket cyberattack shows hackers can disrupt physical systems, not just steal data. Estonian Industry: Siemens is leading a nine-figure investment in Skeleton Technologies to develop power solutions for AI data centres. Clean Transport: A scale model of Estonia’s planned €49.93 million electric ferry reached 14 knots in tests, beating its 12-knot requirement while meeting energy-efficiency limits. Defence Tech: Ukrainian fund WildField Ventures plans to invest up to $15 million in startups; its first disclosed investment is DoD Solution, an Estonian-Ukrainian developer of AI modules for unmanned platforms.

Cybersecurity: Estonia’s experts say a French supermarket hack that spoiled food by tampering with refrigeration systems is a warning: attacks can disrupt physical services, not just computer networks. Resilient Payments: Mastercard will require new cards and terminals across Europe to support offline payments from 2027; Estonia already has the feature. Electric Ferries: A scale model of Estonia’s planned €49.93 million electric ferry exceeded its target speed in tests, reaching 14 knots against a 12-knot requirement. Research Funding: Museums warn that shifting about €900,000 in Culture Ministry research funding to the Education Ministry from 2028 could threaten projects, though the Culture Ministry is expected to retain a funding quota. AI Infrastructure: Estonia’s Skeleton Technologies secured a strategic investment and partnership with Siemens to deploy its supercapacitors at AI data centres and help manage rapid swings in electricity demand.

Research Funding: Estonia’s €900,000 culture-ministry research budget will move to the education ministry in 2028. Museums fear the change could threaten research-backed exhibitions and publications. Electric Ferries: A scale model of Estonia’s planned €49.93 million electric ferry exceeded its contracted speed in German tests, reaching 14 knots. Ice tests are next. AI Infrastructure: Skeleton Technologies secured a nine-figure Siemens investment, lifting its valuation above €1 billion. The partnership will develop power systems for AI data centres and support US expansion. Cybersecurity: Researchers found spyware-laced ads appeared on networks including Estonia’s Information System Authority; they did not confirm devices were compromised. Telecoms: Elisa plans to phase out its 2G network in 2028, while rivals expect to keep theirs until 2029–30. Green Hydrogen: Estonian company Stargate Hydrogen says its new ceramic catalyst improves electrolyser efficiency without precious metals.

AI Infrastructure: Siemens is investing a nine-figure sum in Estonia’s Skeleton Technologies, valuing the supercapacitor maker at over €1 billion. The partnership will bring Skeleton’s power-storage systems to AI data centres, while funding US manufacturing and research expansion. Green Hydrogen: Estonia’s Stargate Hydrogen says its new ceramic catalyst is available now, improving electrolyser efficiency while removing the need for precious metals. Telecoms: Elisa plans to phase out its 2G network from 2028, ahead of Telia and Tele2, which expect to keep theirs until 2029–30. Older alarms, meters and other connected devices may need upgrades. Critical Materials: Estonia’s Silmet has been named an EU strategic project, opening access to funding and faster permits. Estonia says support should be tied to reducing the plant’s reliance on Russian raw materials. Autonomous Transport: Auve Tech’s driverless airport shuttle in Tallinn was reported as Europe’s first fully driverless airport shuttle.

Digital Democracy: A new commentary questions how closely election technology is scrutinised, highlighting Estonia’s internet voting as an advanced but uncommon model. AI Infrastructure: Tallinn-based Skeleton Technologies secured a nine-figure Siemens investment, valuing it at more than $1 billion and backing US expansion and R&D for AI data-centre power systems. Autonomous Mobility: Tallinn Airport is testing a driverless shuttle near aircraft, paving the way for wider airport automation. Baltic Research: An international survey of dumped munitions in the Baltic Sea includes Estonian partners and uses underwater vehicles and monitoring buoys to study environmental risks. Telecoms: Telia Estonia plans to cut about 100 jobs as it expands the use of AI, digitalisation and automation.

AI Infrastructure: Tallinn-based Skeleton Technologies secured a nine-figure investment from Siemens, valuing the energy-storage company above $1 billion. It plans to expand US manufacturing and Silicon Valley research to meet demand for AI data-center power systems. Telecom Jobs: Telia Estonia will cut about 100 positions as it restructures, citing rising costs and plans to use more AI, digital tools and automation. Critical Materials: The EU named Silmet 2.0 in Sillamäe a Strategic Project, giving its rare-earth plant upgrade faster permitting and improved access to funding. Airport Automation: Tallinn Airport is testing a fully driverless shuttle, a step toward wider use of autonomous vehicles in airport operations. Space Technology: Estonian startup Golbriak Space raised €4 million to scale laser communications for satellite constellations.

Energy and investment: Google plans to invest €13 billion in Finland, backed by a long-term deal to buy power from the Loviisa nuclear plant. The investment highlights the role of reliable electricity in attracting tech giants — and could put pressure on Estonian power prices, as Estonia imports nearly 40% of its electricity. Defence technology: Draganfly has invested in Estonian-Ukrainian company DoD Solution, whose AI platform helps drones navigate and track targets when GPS or communications are disrupted. Telecoms: Telia plans to cut 100 jobs in Estonia as part of 900 layoffs across its markets, citing efficiency and restructuring. Autonomous transport: Auve Tech’s driverless airport shuttle is operating at Tallinn Airport, a step towards wider automation on airport grounds. Space: Estonian startup Golbriak Space raised €4 million to expand laser communications for satellite networks.

Defence Tech: Draganfly has invested in Estonian-Ukrainian company DoD Solution, whose onboard AI helps drones navigate and track targets when GPS or communications fail. Public Services: Estonia’s first plain-language standard is now in force, guiding public writers to make messages clearer and easier to understand. Critical Materials: The Foreign Ministry says it cannot directly dictate Silmet’s business decisions, despite pressing the company to end its reliance on Russian raw materials. The EU has named Silmet 2.0 a strategic project to expand rare-earth processing. Autonomous Mobility: A driverless shuttle is operating near aircraft at Tallinn Airport, a step toward wider airport automation. Space: Estonian startup Golbriak Space raised €4 million to scale laser communications for satellite constellations. Digital Estonia: Estonia topped Europe in the 2026 ICT Development Index, scoring 98.5 points.

Autonomous Mobility: Estonia’s Auve Tech has started running its MiCa shuttle at Tallinn Airport without an onboard safety operator, using remote supervision. The electric vehicle carries up to eight passengers and already transports staff and equipment at the airport. Pharma Production: Grindeks invested €1.87 million in a packaging line at its Tallinn plant, which produced nearly 720,000 packs in its first eight months and adds flexibility across the company’s manufacturing sites. Critical Materials: The EU named Neo Performance Materials’ Silmet 2.0 expansion in Sillamäe a strategic project, supporting plans to diversify rare-earth processing and supply. Telecoms: Telia plans to cut 100 jobs in Estonia as part of 900 job cuts across its Nordic and Baltic markets, while shifting some technology roles to country teams. Digital Estonia: Estonia topped Europe in the 2026 ICT Development Index, scoring 98.5 points.

Telecom Restructuring: Telia plans to cut about 100 jobs in Estonia as part of 900 layoffs across the group, citing efficiency and rapid technological change. Critical Materials: The EU has selected Silmet 2.0 in Sillamäe as a strategic project, backing upgrades to rare-earth processing and efforts to diversify supply. Autonomous Transport: Tallinn Airport is testing driverless shuttles close to aircraft, opening the way to wider automation at the airport. Space Technology: Estonian startup Golbriak Space raised €4 million to scale laser communications for satellite constellations. Drone Development: Estonia’s KrattWorks is developing a Shahed-like dummy drone for target practice.

Autonomous Transport: Driverless shuttles are operating close to aircraft at Tallinn Airport, a step toward wider airport automation. AI and Digital Business: Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta urged international safeguards for AI and invited Indian technology firms to use Estonia’s e-residency programme to build EU businesses. Critical Materials: The EU named Silmet 2.0 a strategic raw-materials project; Estonia is pressing the company to set a deadline to end reliance on Russian supplies. Space: Tallinn will host an Italian-Estonian conference on lunar infrastructure, robotics, satellites and cybersecurity. Digital Payments: Eesti Pank Deputy Governor Andrus Alber says the digital euro could make payments more resilient during crises and reduce reliance on a few dominant providers. Defense Technology: Estonia and Ukraine are advancing a deal to export combat-tested Ukrainian drone technology to Estonia.

Airport Automation: Tallinn has launched Europe’s first fully driverless airport shuttle, with tests near aircraft pointing to wider automation at the airport. Space Technology: Estonian startup Golbriak Space raised €4 million to scale laser communications for satellite constellations; Tallinn will also host an Italian-Estonian conference on lunar infrastructure, robotics and space technologies. Drone Development: KrattWorks is building a target drone that mimics fast, jet-powered attack drones to help militaries train against them. Clean Energy: Plans for a solar-panel recycling plant in Tartu could add local capacity to recover materials from retired panels. Digital Payments: Eesti Pank Deputy Governor Andrus Alber says a digital euro could make payments more resilient during crises and reduce reliance on a small number of foreign providers.

Digital Payments: Eesti Pank Deputy Governor Andrus Alber says a digital euro could make payments more resilient during crises and reduce reliance on a few foreign providers. Critical Materials: Estonia is pressing NPM Silmet to set a deadline to end its use of Russian raw materials, as its Silmet 2.0 project joins the EU’s strategic materials programme. Space Research: Tallinn will host the Italian-Estonian Space Conference on lunar infrastructure, robotics, satellites and cybersecurity. Autonomous Transport: Tallinn Airport is running Auve Tech’s passenger shuttle without an onboard safety operator, a first for a European airport. Space Tech Funding: Estonia-based Golbriak Space raised €4 million to scale laser communications for satellite constellations. AI Policy: Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta called for international AI rules and safeguards to build trust and protect smaller languages from propaganda.