Post by AI & Robotics Estonia AIRE

For the first time, the AIRE consortium and Adapter’s partner network came together for the annual AIRE Winter Seminar ❄️ at the Kääriku Sports Center. The objective was not simply to present updates but to align priorities and strengthen the support system for Estonian SMEs. 🔎 A central theme throughout the discussions was 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮’𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲. The problem is not a lack of knowledge. It is the limited ability to translate knowledge into scalable business value and the reluctance to experiment when capital is limited and risk tolerance remains low. TalTech – Tallinn University of Technology’s Vice Rector for Entrepreneurship, Erik Puura, emphasized that both AIRE and Adapter are designed to build bridges between universities and companies. Their strength lies in complementarity: linking scientific competence with industrial application. For this model to function at scale, research institutions must actively incentivize engagement with industry. 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹e, not isolated examples. Kaja Kuivjõgi, Strategy and Finance Director at EIS | Enterprise Estonia, introduced the renewed strategy. The organisation is moving towards a more company-centric model with four clear priorities: R&D, investments, export and housing. The number of services will be streamlined and impact measurement will become central. Most importantly, EIS is also preparing higher-risk loan instruments to encourage companies to undertake more ambitious development projects. This signals a structural shift: from distributing support measures to actively shaping economic impact. Sustainability was another key topic. AIRE is preparing a substantive and financial sustainability plan for the European Commission. Different continuation models and partnership structures are under discussion. The objective is clear: 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹, 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆. The seminar confirmed one thing: collaboration does not emerge from intent alone. It requires aligned incentives, shared accountability and long-term structure. 🤔 Let us know what you think: What would make companies more willing to experiment with higher-risk innovation projects? #AIRE #DigitalTransformation #InnovationPolicy #SMEs #AI #Robotics