Press Release
Tel Aviv, Israel – January 21, 2024
In a significant move to bolster technological and economic collaboration, dozens of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and industry leaders convened at the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel for "Israel, Estonia & Europe: Opportunities for Tech, Trade and Innovation."
This exclusive event was co-hosted by the Estonian Embassy in Tel Aviv and StateUp, a leading research and data firm.
The gathering took place against the backdrop of Estonia's former Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, assuming the role of the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. This leadership change is anticipated to further enhance Estonia's influence within the EU, presenting new avenues for Israeli businesses to engage with European markets.
H.E. Veikko Kala, Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to Israel, opened the event by emphasizing Estonia's commitment to deepening cooperation with Israel. He highlighted Estonia's advanced digital infrastructure and its strategic position as a gateway to Europe for Israeli enterprises.
The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Tanya Filer, Founder and CEO of StateUp and a leading expert in the geopolitics of technology and trade, explored the evolving dynamics of EU-Israel relations. Panelists included:
Kärt Klein, Deputy Head of Global Business Development at Enterprise Estonia, who detailed the benefits of Estonia's e-Residency program for Israeli companies seeking European expansion.
Dima Maslennikov, a tech entrepreneur active in Israel and Estonia and Elor Pruvli, Advisor & Angel Investor, Founder of ScaleMode.io, who shared their experiences operating in both markets and the unique advantages of Estonia's business ecosystem.
The event highlighted both countries' urgent need and commitment to building national resilience through a focus on sectors including defence technology, energy and food security, and critical technologies and their supply chains.
In the newly launched World Economic Forum Risk Global Risks Report Executive Opinion Survey of 126 countries, executives in only 10 countries ranked armed conflict as the risk of greatest concern; Israel and Estonia were two of them. Estonia and Israel already have a defence technology relationship, and there is an interest in closer cooperation. DIANA, the NATO accelerator, has its regional hub in Tallinn, Estonia, and Estonia, already advanced in drone and anti-drone technologies, is also creating a defence industry park.
The panel also noted that the response of many European countries to the conflict with Russia has been a substantive increase in defence budgets, creating economic opportunity for startups in the defence tech sector.
Dr. Tanya Filer, CEO of StateUp, noted "there is a growing recognition that developing more diversified supply chains and bilateral relationships in key strategic sectors such as Energy, Agriculture, and Defense will increasingly become an important aspect of resilience at the national level for many countries. Both Israel and Estonia understand this quite profoundly. In a world shaped by global disruptions and shifting geopolitical dynamics, forging diverse tech and trade alliances is more critical than ever."
The event concluded with a networking session, facilitating connections between Israeli and Estonian innovators and setting the stage for future collaborations in technology and trade.
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