Innovation projects from Finland, Latvia, Italy join Test in Tallinn program

  • 2025-01-28
  • LETA/BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN - New innovation projects from Finland, Latvia, and Italy are joining the Test in Tallinn program, as part of which the City of Tallinn offers companies the opportunity to test their innovative products and services designed for a smart city.

In the January application round, four new innovation projects were selected to proceed to the testing phase.

"Technology is advancing at an incredible pace, and Test in Tallinn provides us with the opportunity to be among the first to try out new innovations and contribute to their further development. I'm delighted that we are testing solutions that not only bring value to residents but also help us achieve the city's strategic goals, whether it's more efficient urban maintenance or real-time monitoring of critical climate indicators," Margot Roose, Tallinn's deputy mayor for entrepreneurship and innovation, said in a press release.

Mark-Emil Talivere, innovation expert at the enterprise center of Tallinn's Strategic Management Office, noted that Finnish companies show great interest in the Test in Tallinn program, often using it as a second stage after testing in Helsinki.

"The variety of products and services submitted to the competition grows with every round, and we're seeing an increasing number of projects that integrate social and procedural aspects alongside technological innovation," Talivere said.

Of the seven projects submitted in the January application round, the evaluation committee selected four for testing in Tallinn.

The Skanio test project of Finnish innovators focuses on modernizing buildings and elevators using 3D data and artificial intelligence to make renovation processes more efficient. The project will assess the condition of Tallinn's buildings and elevators, test integration with the city's data systems, and offer solutions for reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

The project of Estonian company Cenzor OÜ aims to test an IoT-based solution that shifts industrial overhead door maintenance from reactive to preventive by providing real-time data on maintenance needs. This approach improves safety, reliability, and reduces downtime. The goal is to gather user feedback, test the solution's effectiveness, and refine the prototype based on collected data.

Bruntor, a company from Latvia, offers innovative electric cargo vehicles designed to enhance urban maintenance and logistics while supporting a sustainable, zero-emission urban environment. Testing will evaluate the usability and efficiency of these vehicles in Tallinn's urban maintenance, adapting them to meet the city’s specific needs.

Italian company Latitudo 40 uses satellite remote sensing and artificial intelligence to allow cities to monitor and analyze critical climate indicators in real time, such as surface temperature, heat island effects, and vegetation health. The project aims to support Tallinn in adapting to climate change by providing data-driven support for urban planners and decision-makers.

Applications for the Test in Tallinn program can be submitted at any time, with the innovation committee convening quarterly to select new projects.

In 2024, a total of 35 projects were submitted to the Test in Tallinn program. Of these, 16 were selected for testing, four were successfully completed, six are ongoing, and four new projects have started. Four projects were discontinued for various reasons.