Estonia to Support Defense Technology and AI Development with €15 Million

TALLINN – The Ministry of Education and Research's KAISA measure will support two projects aimed at strengthening Estonia's defense capabilities through science, technology, and knowledge transfer. A total of nearly €15 million will be directed toward the development of defense-related artificial intelligence and defense technology.

According to Renno Veinthal, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Research, Estonia's security increasingly depends on how quickly scientific results can be turned into practical solutions. "The KAISA projects help to combine the knowledge and capabilities of research institutions, the state, and companies to develop necessary technologies for the defense sector and to put them into practical use," said Veinthal.

One project will develop testing and defense infrastructure for defense technology. New laboratories, field laboratories, and testing environments will be established to develop, test, and validate defense technologies in accordance with international standards. Activities will focus on four key areas: mobility, firepower, energy, and high-energy materials.

The second project will create the necessary data infrastructure for developing defense-related artificial intelligence and will support the development of new AI solutions to strengthen Estonia's defense capabilities. This will enable the faster adoption of data-driven and autonomous solutions in the defense sector.

The projects will be carried out in cooperation between the Ministry of Defence, the Estonian Military Academy, and Tallinn University of Technology.

The projects are funded by the European Regional Development Fund, with a total grant amount of €14.9 million.

The application round for the measure was organized by the State Support Services Centre, which will also act as the implementing agency for the projects.