Estonian Cleantech Association

From our team to you, we wish you a happy holiday season! ✨ As we're closing the curtains on this year, we want to thank everyone we've had the joy of working with in building a sustainable future. 🎄 Members 2C Ventures, Baun, Beamline Accelerator, Bisly - Scalable Building Automation, BugBox, Cenzor, Esgrid, FUNKI, Fairown, Futugrid, Gelatex, GlobeDry, GreenDice, HappyHire | Impact & Sports Recruitment, KappaZeta Ltd, qilowatt.it, Reedest, SKYCORP Technologies, S-Mill, SOL Navitas , Sunly, SFV, Sustaxo, Trisector, UP Catalyst, Vok Bikes, Zero Terrain / Energiasalv 🎄 Partners Kliimaministeerium / Ministry of Climate of Estonia, EIS, Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), Estonian Business School, KIK (Environmental Investment Centre), Estonian Business Angels Network (EstBAN), Impact Day, Latitude59, Luminor Eesti, Green Tech Cluster Latvia, Sustainability InnoCenter, LUT University, Mart Valner, and more!

🏆✨ Tune into our final "Cleantech" episode of the year as we celebrate the winners of the 2024 Baltic Sustainability Awards! We’re wrapping up the year on a high note. Estonian innovators stole the spotlight at the awards by taking home 5 category wins out of 10 and all 4 special awards. Two of these winners joined us for this month’s episode. ⭐️ Hendrik Reimand, co-founder of 2C Ventures, shared what's currently happening in the sustainable investment landscape and what are the trends to look out for next year. 2C Ventures won a special prize at the awards for investments in early-stage cleantech. In the second part of the episode, we sit down with Ilo Rannu, owner of Neular, awarded as the best circular economy leader in the Baltics for 2024. With Ilo, we discuss the pressing issue of plastic waste recycling and the potential for a sorting plant in Estonia. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify in Estonian – https://lnkd.in/djpYKdrC  🎙️ Hosted by Mart Valner 🙌🏼 Supported by us, Sunly, and KIK (Environmental Investment Centre) *** With 50+ other Cleantech episodes available, there’s plenty to explore! Check them out here: https://lnkd.in/d9uyPjxK Photo by Liis Treimann

The waste reform seminar, organized by Kliimaministeerium / Ministry of Climate of Estonia, brought together both the public and private sectors to discuss the upcoming reform and present its initial feedback. ♻️ Why is this reform so important? ♻️ As global resource access becomes increasingly challenging, countries are actively seeking new ways to utilize their resources more efficiently. In this search for innovation, new economic opportunities arise for those who specialize in circular economy solutions. Currently, a lot of highly valuable material goes to waste because we haven't created the right conditions for companies to utilize it. 🗑️ Our ability to create value from waste depends directly on having an efficient waste management system in place. There’s a need for improved waste sorting and better local access to high quality secondary materials that the reform could solve. It was a pleasure to share the stage with Mayri Tiido and circular economy innovators Ilo Rannu from Neular and Hans Talgre from Weerec. Special thanks to Ivo Jaanisoo, Peep Siim, and Katrin koppel for the invitation! 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/d4RaCA4H *** In November, we facilitated a meeting between cleantech companies and the Ministry of Climate to discuss the sector’s concerns and provide input on the waste reform. Since then, we’ve collected feedback from our members and submitted it to the ministry. We now await the ministry’s position, which will be shaped by the feedback received from all stakeholders involved.

☕️🥐 Our First Coffee Morning with Members What better way to start a Friday than with coffee, pastries, and great company? On 6 December, we organised our very first coffee morning for our members to exchange thoughts and ideas around different topics relevant to the cleantech sector. This time, we discussed ESG and the opportunities it brings. There’s a lot of talk around the less attractive parts of ESG like reporting responsibilities and bureaucracy that inevitably come with it. However, it’s important to remember why this reporting is so crucial — to create a greater environmental and societal impact. We must not lose sight of the opportunities for growth and development that ESG can drive. It's time for a shift in perspective. ➡️ Of course, reporting should always stay reasonable and manageable. A special thank you to Maris Riim from Swedbank Estonia and Katrin Isotamm from our member company Esgrid, a value chain sustainability management platform, for sharing their insights on ESG.

⚡️ Baltic Impact Accelerator Teams Unite in Uppsala, Sweden We're 2 months into our Baltic Impact Accelerator (BIA) 2nd cohort activities, which means it was time to bring teams from Estonia, Sweden, Latvia, and Finland together for a face-to-face event in Uppsala. BIA helps startups and SMEs grow their business while making a bigger impact. The online programme offers a variety of trainings and services tailored to company needs. Our gathering in Uppsala gave participants 3 days in Sweden's leading university city, which offers opportunities for cooperation between sustainable businesses and academia. The event included: 🧑🤝🧑 team building activities 🎤 tips and tricks for effective pitching ⭐️ presentations from guest speakers covering an array of topics from legals to sustainability reporting Every business has an impact. 💥 Through BIA, we aim to make sure that impact is a positive one, benefiting the economy, environment, and society. Thank you to our Swedish project partners from Sustainability InnoCenter for organising and welcoming us: Harry S., Svitlana Baliuk, and Svante Hagström Thank you to panelists, guest speakers, and others involved in bringing this event to life: Jinqin Yang, Zane Valujeva, Stina Wallmark, Patrik Rindstål, William Brant, Lotten Juhlin, Susanna Schumacher, Patrik Hedlund, Francisco Penayo, Björn Arvidsson, Naimul Abd, Cristina Paun, Per Andersson, LUT University, Green Tech Cluster Latvia, Latvijas Tirdzniecības un rūpniecības kamera Estonian companies participating in the accelerator are Mati Foods, Furnar, Logpilot, SOL Navitas , Vetik, NPO Veggies Cultivation, Spiral Hydrogen, WasteLocker, Silva Futures, and Knobl. 🙌🏼 *** Implemented within EU Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme Project "Triple Bottom Line Baltic Impact Accelerator" ID. CB0100053. The European Union is not responsible for the content of the material. BIA in Estonia is supported by Luminor Eesti. #BalticImpactAccelerator #MadeWithInterreg

📢 EU Boosts Net-Zero Technologies with €4.6 Billion in New Funding The European Commission is ramping up efforts to raise the competitiveness of European industry with new funding opportunities. Two major calls for proposals and a hydrogen auction have been launched with a combined €4.6 billion budget under the Innovation Fund to support decarbonisation projects across Europe. ⭐️ €2.4 billion for innovative net-zero tech, including renewable energy, energy storage, and hydrogen production ⭐️ €1 billion to support the production of electric vehicle batteries ⭐️ €1.2 billion for renewable hydrogen production, with €400 million more than last year’s auction Applications are due by April 24, 2025 for the net-zero and battery calls, and by February 20, 2025 for the hydrogen auction. 🔗 More information here: https://lnkd.in/ejS7z2M9

🇰🇪✈️ We’re back from our roadshow in the vibrant city of Nairobi, Kenya. Why Nairobi? We see big potential for collaboration between Estonia and Kenya, particularly in the e-mobility and energy sectors. There's a strong demand there for innovative solutions that address both community needs and environmental challenges. As Africa’s leading hub for cleantech innovation and startups, Kenya is a key target market for Estonian companies expanding to Africa. 🔑 During the 6-day roadshow, we visited local companies developing solutions with big social and environmental impact. We also gained insights on public-private partnerships in Kenya to see how the government is supporting innovation. ⚡️ Meeting the right people helped us establish a first point of contact for Estonian cleantech innovators to help with expansion and partnerships. Biggest thanks to our partner for connecting us with the local ecosystem: Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC), Vincent Ogaya, Yvonne Ndungi, Ernest Chitechi Thank you for the warm welcome and sharing your experience: Emmisionfy, Ecobora, ViKtoria Ventures, CHAJI, Eco Nasi, Techwin Limited, Silo Africa, T-Bin, Wable Maji Safi Solutions , ProteinMaster Bsf Nairobi kenya, Caino Africa And lastly, thank you Eili Lepik from Kliimaministeerium / Ministry of Climate of Estonia for joining us on this roadshow to share the public sector side of things. *** This roadshow is part of our project “Green Bridges: Fostering Estonian-Kenyan Cleantech Collaboration 2024”. The project is supported by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).

Let's Meet at Latitude59 Kenya Edition 2024 📍 Latitude59 Kenya Edition is an international startup and tech conference that brings together over 2,000 attendees from Africa, Europe, and beyond, taking place in Nairobi on November 28! The event will feature speakers covering the latest trends, case studies, and future predictions, with a focus on Kenya’s rise as one of the fastest-growing startup hubs in the world. We are happy to share our official partnership with Latitude59 for this year's event in Kenya! Alongside other pressing topics, the conference will spotlight cleantech and sustainability. We will be present together with our partners from Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) to help facilitate connections between the local ecosystem and Estonia. If any of our African or Estonian friends are around, drop us a line and let's meet on November 28 at A.S.K Dome, Nairobi! 🔗 Tickets and more info: latitude59.ee/kenya #Latitude59 #Latitude59xKenya *** Our presence at Latitude59 Kenya Edition 2024 is possible thanks to the support provided by the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV).

🍽️ From the Lab to the Plate In our latest Cleantech episode with Äripäev Radio, we dive into the exciting world of novel foods and see what’s cooking in Estonia’s food innovation scene. We were joined by Oliver Rätsep (Accelerate Estonia), Mary-Liis Kütt (ÄIO), and Märt-Erik Martens (Gelatex) to discuss the opportunities and challenges of novel foods, and explore what needs to be changed in European legislation to attract novel food innovators to our market rather than Asia or America. Plus, we break down the concept of "novel food" itself. 🎧 Listen on Spotify in Estonian – https://lnkd.in/dCqXZdD9  🎙️ Hosted by Mart Valner 🙌🏼 Supported by us, Sunly, and KIK (Environmental Investment Centre) *** Hungry for more? With 50+ other Cleantech episodes available, there’s plenty to explore! Check them out here: https://lnkd.in/dv_EDZFV Photo by Andres Laanem

♻️ Waste Reform Sets the Stage for a More Resource-efficient Estonia Kliimaministeerium / Ministry of Climate of Estonia published a draft proposal for a waste reform that aims to upgrade Estonia’s waste collection system, increase resource-efficiency, and promote circular use of materials. On 1 November, cleantech innovators, alongside us, met with Ivo Jaanisoo from the Ministry, just days before the public release of the draft. The meeting focused on the upcoming changes and offered us an opportunity to give input. 📢 Here’s the good news 📢 By allocating over €140 million in EU funds, the government is investing in innovative solutions to reduce waste and increase resource efficiency. Out of that, €4.5 million will go to entrepreneurs developing new circular business models and €35 million for businesses to improve resource efficiency. These investments will not only make Estonia more resource-efficient but also boost the global competitiveness of our circular economy companies, leading to job creation and stronger export potential. The draft proposal is open for public consultation, with a deadline for comments set for 29 November. The regulation is planned to go into force as early as 2025. 🔗More info in Estonian: https://lnkd.in/d2kkK45z Attendees at the meeting included: Kädi Ristkok, Erki Ani (SFV), Paavo Pettai, Aivar Lääne, Teet Nurmeoja (Trisector OÜ), Markko Mäll, Kristiina Esop (NutriLoop and Impact Waste), Taavi Põri (Azortum), Christopher J. (Cuploop), Margus Aaslaid, Janek Balõnski (Ringo)