AIRE’s 4th Anniversary Brought Together European Partners to Discuss Future Focus Areas

AIRE celebrated its 4th anniversary at TalTech’s education and research center in Särghaua. In addition to consortium members and long-term partners, this year’s event welcomed close collaborators from 8 different countries, representing a total of 12 European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs).

The head of AIRE, Kirke Maar, opened the anniversary seminar with a brief overview of the impactful results achieved during the first period and congratulated all consortium members and partners on successfully passing the application round for the new funding period. The new phase brings a shift in focus: the EDIH network is set for broader pan-European cooperation and for implementing the European AI ecosystem to drive innovation in national economies. As cooperation is ultimately about people, it was especially meaningful that so many EDIHs chose to come to Estonia at the end of summer to meet and align common goals.

Sigrid Rajalo, Head of the Innovation and Technology Department at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, emphasized that the next wave of innovation in Europe’s economy will be driven by deep technologies, with AI and robotics playing a key role. AIRE plays an important role in implementing Estonia’s innovation strategy by steadily building an ecosystem where talent, ideas, and capital meet—because it is through collaboration that new innovation emerges. To strengthen the competitiveness of Estonia and Europe, strong synergies, a focus on strengths and opportunities, clear metrics, and business-oriented thinking are needed.

Juhan-Madis Pukk, partner at FlowIT and member of AIRE’s advisory board, highlighted sector-specific improvements made possible with AIRE’s support. These include reduced material use in manufacturing, automated quality control, optimized production processes, improved logistics, enhanced filter systems and grain dryers, improved concrete quality, AI-based energy system optimization, more precise orthopedic solutions, and AI tools assisting doctors in their daily work. According to Pukk, no sector in Estonia is “too traditional” to benefit from AI and robotics in boosting competitiveness. He emphasized that AIRE has grown into a trusted partner by bringing together Estonian industrial companies and researchers to address real business needs. This trust has been built over time through new knowledge and the tangible benefits of collaboration.

The anniversary seminar concluded with an extensive group workshop, where representatives from different countries discussed the challenges and opportunities of the new funding period.