SCIENCE — Having recently participated in zero-gravity testing with the European Space Agency, Myoton – designed by an acrobat who in the 1960s became concerned with how many men tore their tendons – is so far Estonia’s most successful technological contribution to space research. The producer of a miniature device that measures muscle reactions with [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — Investment banker Joakim Helenius says that Estonia is more capable of handling competition than Finland, writes Finnish daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. An alarm bell rings, but it does not stop Finnish investment banker Joakim Helenius from talking as he sits in the head offices of Trigo Capital in the centre of Tallinn. “This [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — Construction companies that win public contracts are getting used to the fact that they are paid in 70 or 80 days after invoicing. Since in many such cases, the projects are being co-financed by the European Union, the state simply tells the builder that it cannot pay faster because of EU regulations. [...]
TECH — Scientists at the University of Tartu have created a glass surface that can be rendered opaque at the flick of a button, allowing it to be used as window shades. The secret of the creation lies in a special spray-on gel, which after encountering the glass surface forms a five to 10 micrometer [...]
RESEARCH — University of Tartu researchers opened a new door into the world of synthetic biology, where microorganisms will begin to produce ingredients for pharmaceutical drugs in the future. The researchers’ findings were published in the scientific journal Nature on October 12. Their study concluded that cellular activities are coordinated by complicated networks of signals, built [...]
SCIENCE — Having recently participated in zero-gravity testing with the European Space Agency, Myoton – designed by an acrobat who in the 1960s became concerned with how many men tore their tendons – is so far Estonia’s most successful technological contribution to space research. The producer of a miniature device that measures muscle reactions with [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — Investment banker Joakim Helenius says that Estonia is more capable of handling competition than Finland, writes Finnish daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. An alarm bell rings, but it does not stop Finnish investment banker Joakim Helenius from talking as he sits in the head offices of Trigo Capital in the centre of Tallinn. “This [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — Construction companies that win public contracts are getting used to the fact that they are paid in 70 or 80 days after invoicing. Since in many such cases, the projects are being co-financed by the European Union, the state simply tells the builder that it cannot pay faster because of EU regulations. [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — Baltic household income is increasing, however moods about the future remain optimistic only in Latvia. Euro area debt problems, global economic slowdown and their possible impact on Baltic economies have worsened consumer’s future outlook. According to the latest SEB Baltic Household Outlook review, in Lithuania and Estonia consumer confidence has started to [...]
TECH — Scientists at the University of Tartu have created a glass surface that can be rendered opaque at the flick of a button, allowing it to be used as window shades. The secret of the creation lies in a special spray-on gel, which after encountering the glass surface forms a five to 10 micrometer [...]
RESEARCH — University of Tartu researchers opened a new door into the world of synthetic biology, where microorganisms will begin to produce ingredients for pharmaceutical drugs in the future. The researchers’ findings were published in the scientific journal Nature on October 12. Their study concluded that cellular activities are coordinated by complicated networks of signals, built [...]
COMPANY NEWS — The US-based producer of rare earth metals Molycorp – the largest such supplier outside China – acquired the remaining 10 percent of shares for its processing facility that were held by former prime minister Tiit Vähi’s company Silmet. Having bought up 90 percent of Silmet’s shares in April for 64 million euros, [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — The Estonians, with little debt, an enthusiastic attitude toward Europe and a stoic approach to austerity measures, are a model EU nation in the midst of a crisis. They live in a digital republic defined by a business-friendly atmosphere and government transparency, an image that is attracting European expats. When a Greek [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — The export volume generated by high-tech companies almost doubled last year and made up nearly 20 percent of the processing industry’s sales abroad. The processing industry’s export figures were up 35 percent from the year before that, 2009, and within that increase, high-tech export enjoyed about the same growth. The sector’s export [...]
COMPANY NEWS — Estonian-owned Plaat Detail OÜ has opened the biggest laminate plant in the Nordics, with a capacity of 70,000 components per month. 90 percent will be exported to Scandinavian markets. Member of the management board Erko Ennok said the company has been working with the world’s largest laminate producer, Formica, for the last [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — In spite of the Estonian export boom, Estonia exported only 121 million euros worth of goods to China last year which is equal to exports to British Virgin Islands and a fraction of exports to CIS countries (1.7 billion euros) or Finland (2.6 billion), writes Äripäev. Estonia’s exports to China are about [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — Estonian businessman Marcel Vichmann along with the couple of hundred shareholders of the Gild Arbitrage investment fund and about a dozen creditors possess licenses to explore seven potential deposits in Armenia for gold, Eesti Paevaleht reported. Vichmann told the newspaper that in spring 2011 he established a holding company named FTT Armenia to organize the surveys. [...]
TECH NEWS — The Republic of Estonia kicked off its drive to lead the world in plug-in vehicles (on a per capita basis, anyway) by inking a deal that had Mitsubishi ship 507 i-MiEVs over to the northern European state in exchange for ten million CO2 credits. In addition, Estonia would install approximately 50 quick-charge [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — The House of Design, which showcases and sells the works of over 40 domestic designers and artists, opened its first store on the first floor of the Center for Creative Industries building in Tartu, on September 12. So far the House of Design (not to be confused with the Estonian Design House [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — One way or another, groundbreaking on the troubled, 63-million-euro National Museum project in Tartu will take place next year, parliamentary Cultural Affairs Committee member Kaia Iva announced on September 12, citing assurances from Minister of Culture Rein Lang. “Today the minister confirmed to the Cultural Affairs Committee that the Estonian National Museum [...]
COMPANY NEWS — Complications at the electronics producer Elcoteq are not affecting the operations of the Estonia-based assembly plant, the Estonian news portal reports referring to the statemnet made by Jan Kotka, CEO of Elcoteq Tallinn. Elcoteq SE’s three Finnish subsidiaries, Elcoteq Finland Oy, Elcoteq Lohja Oy and Elcoteq Design Center Oy, have today filed [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — The Estonian government has drastically improved its forecast for GDP growth this year, increasing it to 7% from 4%. GDP growth was up by more than 8% year-on-year in the first two quarters of 2011. Prime Minister Andrus Ansip told journalists that the improved growth outlook would be mirrored by slower growth [...]
PRESS RELEASE — The sales volume of Estonia’s biggest drinks manufacturer grew in the first six months of 2011 to almost 69 million litres – a rise of 14% on the same period last year. This growth was the result of higher sales of beer (up 9% to 26.9 million litres) and water (up 24% [...]
POLITIC — Estonia’s parliament on Monday re-elected U.S.-educated President Toomas Hendrik Ilves for a second five-year term as head of state of the eurozone newcomer which is celebrating 20 years of independence from the Soviet Union. The 57-year-old Ilves received 73 votes, compared with 25 for challenger Indrek Tarand. One vote was blank and two [...]
COMPANY NEWS — In late September, Tero Taskila, president of the national carrier Estonian Air, plans to present Minister of Economic Affairs Juhan Parts with an ambitious business plan which foresees acquisition of 13 brand new planes by 2015. Although the airline has not yet disclosed the planned investment, an estimated 400 million euros would [...]
TRAVEL NEWS –Copterline became famous for it’s helicopter route between Helsinki and Tallinn, but at the end not in a good way. Will Line-Suppport succeed with it’s helicopter rides better? Bogartier likes it quick and easy, so we are crossing our fingers and wishing the best of luck! A Finnish company, Line-Support, is to start a helicopter [...]
CULTURE — A special Iceland Day will be held in Tallinn, Estonia on August 21 at the occasion of 20 years having passed since Iceland became the first nation to recognize Estonia’s independence. President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Foreign Minister Össur Skarphédinsson and former Foreign Minister Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson will attend the festival along [...]
The shooter in the Defense Ministry building in Tallinn was member of the Estonian United Left Party and was familiar to the police, Deputy Director of the Estonian Security Police, Erik Heldna, said at a press conference Thursday evening, according to Xinhua. Karen Drambjan, 57, was not in any way connected to the Defense Forces [...]
CULTURE / EVENTS – The White Lady Days, an annual festival held in honor of one of the most famous ghost legends in Estonia, is taking place in Haapsalu from August 12 to 14. According to medieval legend, a young woman was sealed alive in a wall of the Haapsalu Dome Church as punishment for [...]
DOMESTIC NEWS – A gunman opened fire in Estonia’s defence ministry and tried to take hostages but died when police stormed the building, officials have said. An official with the country’s security police would not say how the shooter died, but a spokesman for the northern district prosecutor’s office, Maria-Elisa Tuulik, said he apparently was [...]
PRESS RELEASE — Consolidated revenues of Eesti Energia for Q2 FY 2011 amounted to 206 million euros (+21% y-o-y), operating profit to 37 million euros (-1% y-o-y) and net profit to 21 million euros (+45% y-o-y) Key financial indicators The Group’s revenue growth was supported by the sale of electricity at non-regulated prices (+6 million [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — Estonia will grant loans and loan guarantees worth a maximum of 283.4 million euros to Greece in the framework of the second aid package of the euro area, while the real sum will most likely be below that, reports Delfi. Finance Ministry deputy chancellor Tanel Ross said that the exact conditions of [...]
DOMESTIC NEWS — His Holiness the Dalai Lama will meet four Estonian government ministers during his scheduled trip to the Baltic state this month. Speaking to reporters, Sven Grünberg, director of the Estonian Institute of Buddhism and organisers of the Dalai Lama’s August 16 to 18 visit said that the Tibetan spiritual leader will meet [...]
BUSINESS NEWS — Lots of people are blaming the U.S. fiscal crisis on a dysfunctional political system. So it’s interesting to observe how three of the West’s youngest democracies, along the Baltic Sea in Central Europe, have managed to take far tougher measures than any being contemplated in Washington — and survived to reap the [...]
CULTURE – The highlight of the Capital of Culture calendar in April was Jazzkaar, which attracted an estimated 20,000 people to popular events supported by the Tallinn 2011 foundation including the Punkt Tallinn festival, the urban space project and the concerts given by Bobby McFerrin, Dave Liebman and the European Youth Jazz Orchestra. Other successes [...]
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