With AI to the future!

Accelerating your company's growth.

What is the AI Development Programme

Companies that will succeed in a globalising world are those that can keep up with the rapid development of technology. The winners will be those who can quickly automate the largest possible part of their production and digitalise the largest part of their processes. The top priority today is introducing artificial intelligence, whether into production or into providing services.

The Tehnopol AI Development Programme is designed to help Estonian businesses introduce artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, making them more competitive and keeping the Estonian economy sustainably successful in the future. We do this by launching and funding pilot projects based on AI, organising development marathons, running an accelerator with a six-month development cycle, and sharing all of the knowledge gained during the programme with other businesses.

The AI Development Programme is working closely with AIRE, the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Estonia hub. The aim of bringing together the two independent organisations is to make Estonian manufacturing companies and the whole economy more competitive by supporting the introduction of artificial intelligence and robotics solutions.

The AI Development Programme has been created jointly with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to introduce artificial intelligence technologies into Estonia.

The programme is designed for:

RDIE Focus Areas (Research, Development, Innovation, Entrepreneurship) such as data-intensive educational, greentech, healthtech and manufacturing companies implementing digital solutions. We look for companies that are exposed to large amounts of data that could be analyzed by AI when offering their product or service. We will involce at least 25 companies in the program to create new solutions, and we finance at least 8-12 projects with up to 75,000 euros.
Startup and spin-off companies and university research teams who are interested in creating AI solutions to meet the needs of manufacturing companies and data-intensive companies. The bootcamp will involve at least 25 different teams working to solve challenges, and they will also get some of the funded projects. At least ten smart solutions will also be given the chance to develop their products in the AI accelerator.

Loe rohkem

AI ideation day

In 2025, two events are coming up, and we will release more detailed information soon.

In case of questions, contact rauno.varblas@tehnopol.ee.

AI Ideation Day is an immersive, transformative experience designed to empower businesses to discover, explore, and validate the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their respective industries. This event is specially crafted for businesses that are at the beginning of their AI journey.

AI Ideation Day starts with an engaging introduction to AI, demystifying the concepts and technologies that underpin this groundbreaking field. We will showcase real-world case studies of AI applications across a variety of sectors, setting the stage for participants to envisage how AI could be integrated into their operations.

The heart of the workshop is centered on the ideation and validation sessions. Participants have the opportunity to validate and conceptualise their artificial intelligence ideas. AI industry experts will be present throughout these sessions, providing guidance, answering queries, and offering insightful input to help shape and validate these ideas.

The attending entrepreneurs can refine their artificial intelligence ideas, focusing on their feasibility, potential return on investment, and overall impact on their business. Experts will facilitate these discussions, ensuring that the ideas stand the test of feasibility and potential impact.

Validated ideas provide the opportunity to be more confident in developing the artificial intelligence-based project plan.

The AI Ideation Day is not about leaving with a complete AI solution, but about validating innovative AI ideas that could potentially revolutionise your business. Join us as we embrace the future of AI in business and validate the concepts that will drive tomorrow’s success!

Tehnopol established the AI development program in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. The program aims to empower industrial and data-intensive companies, enabling them to ascend the value chain.

More information about AI Ideation Day held on the 1st of October 2024 can be found here.

What's going on?

The AI Ideation Day, taking place on October 1st 2024, aims to bring together companies that have a plan, idea, or simply a desire to implement artificial intelligence but lack the detailed knowledge on where to start. Come and find out if your company’s AI idea is worth pursuing and where exactly to begin!

In addition to exciting presentations, you will have the opportunity to meet 1:1 with AI experts and mentors, who will provide guidance and collaborate with you on how to make AI work in your company.

You can find the detailed schedule and list of mentors here.

Tehnopol’s AI Idea Day is free for all participants. Only prior registration is required.

This event is part of Tallinn Entrepreneurship Day.

AI workshops

There will be no AI workshops in 2025!

In case of any queries, don’t hesitate to reach out to rauno.varblas@tehnopol.ee.

The artificial intelligence workshops are tailored to bolster businesses in their quest to harness AI solutions. With two enriching workshops annually, we aim to bridge the gap between businesses with AI aspirations and the solution providers.

Over two days, participants collaborate to draft a pilot project, outlining technical solutions, validating commercial value, and crafting a comprehensive project plan. And the best part? Expert mentors guide you every step of the way.

Based on the applications, a select number of companies and solution providers are invited to the workshops.

Why join?

Participation in the development marathon is free
The bootcamp is in hybrid format – come and join us in person or via video stream.
Projects in the workshop have a funding pool of €250,000, within which the maximum support amount for one company is 75,000€*!

Companies of different sizes and from various industries, facing challenges that can be tackled using AI, are encouraged to apply to the AI workshops.

Emerging and established companies, researchers, specialists, and students — anyone with the capability and desire to explore the development and application of artificial intelligence — are invited to apply to the AI workshop as solution providers.

*The grant is considered a de minimis aid.

What's going to happen?

Day 1: This day is dedicated to brainstorming and collaboration. Teams, alongside solution providers and mentors, work diligently to craft a comprehensive project proposal. The goal is to develop a proposal robust enough to secure funding for their AI initiatives.

Day 2: On this day, teams present their innovative ideas to an esteemed panel of judges, comprising industry experts. This is the moment where teams get to pitch their concepts, showcasing the potential impact and viability of their AI solutions.

A total of €250,000 is available for financing the projects. Each team has the opportunity to secure up to €75,000 for their individual project. This funding aims to support and accelerate the implementation of groundbreaking AI solutions.

The main focus of these AI workshops is on creating AI solutions through teamwork. All companies undergo an artificial intelligence feasibility assessment of the project before entering the workshop.

The project duration is 6 months.

For each completed project, a one-minute video is produced, which can be used to promote awareness about artificial intelligence and for marketing purposes related to the program.

Agenda:
Day 1, 02.05.2024
Tehnopol, at Mäealuse 2/1, 2nd floor, room UK lounge:

09:00 – 09:15: Coffee and gathering;
09:15 – 10:15: Introduction to the AI workshop, expectations, and introductions of companies and mentors;
10:15 – 12:00: Teamwork on AI project planning with mentor assistance;
12:00 – 13:00: Lunch;
13:00 – 15:00: Continued teamwork with mentor guidance;
15:00 – 15:30: Coffee break;
15:30 – 15:45: Presentation training;
15:45 – 18:00: Continued teamwork with mentor guidance.

Day 2, 10.05.2024
Tehnopol, at Teaduspargi 6/1, Tallinn, room SATURN:

09,00 – 09.15: Coffee and gathering;
09.15 – 09.30: Introduction of the day and expert panel members;
09.30 – 10.30: AI project presentations with Q&A sessions;
10.30 – 10.40: Break;
10.40 – 11.40: AI project presentations with Q&A sessions;
11.40 – 12.10: Lunch;
12.10 – 13.00: AI project presentations with Q&A sessions;
13.00 – 13.10: Break;
13.10 – 13.50: AI project presentations with Q&A sessions;
13.50 – 14.00: Break;
14.00 – 15:15: Expert panel deliberations, while presentations are given by Taltech, Tehnopol, and AIRE;
15.15 – 16.00: AI workshop summary, feedback, and announcement of funded projects.
16.00: End of Day 2 of workshops

Participants are able to join the workshop in person or online.

The best way to get to Tehnopol is described here.

AI Accelerator

Applications for the AI Accelerator are currently closed.

Read more about the accelerator program and application here. If you have any questions, feel free to email kristiina.libe@tehnopol.ee.

We are inviting early-stage startups or spin-offs developing AI technologies to join our 6-month AI accelerator. The program is designed to support companies in bringing their product or service to market faster and overcoming market barriers through expert mentorship and training provided by the accelerator.

We also welcome applications from students, researchers, and SMEs who have previously participated in an AI program and are looking to launch AI-based products or develop a new business line or product. From each round, 8 companies are selected to participate in the program.

Startups that complete the AI accelerator program will have the opportunity to present their solutions at the Demo Day. The expert panel for Demo Day will include both Estonian and, where possible, international AI experts, key mentors, follow-on funding providers, and representatives from Tehnopol. Teams will showcase their achieved goals, the uniqueness of their AI solution, its business potential, profitability, and their plans for the next three months.

The panel will select up to three AI technology startups with the highest business potential to be awarded a development grant of 10,000€!

The accelerator is free of monthly fees and we don’t take any participation options. You only need to have an escalating technological AI-based business idea, an existing prototype or the ability to create one during the accelerator and a motivated team with the necessary skills.

More of AI accelerator program

The AI accelerator programme of the Startup Incubator helps:

AI technology companies to grow strong under the guidance of experienced mentors using a training programme
Bring together participants in the artificial intelligence ecosystem and experts
Accelerate the growth of your company through individual meetings with top international AI experts.
Ideas based on AI reach the pilot phase faster and with less testing
Make valuable contacts who can help bring in additional investments

To enter the programme:

The team must have the skills needed and be able to develop the idea proposed into a pilot during the accelerator programme;
The business ideas must suit not only the needs of one individual company, and must be possible to scale up in foreign markets as well;
The team must be ready to commit the time needed to reach the minimum level of pilot readiness by the end of the accelerator programme.
It would be good to have an agreement to pilot the idea with at least one potential client or partner.

The following development cycles will be completed during the programme:

Building a scalable business model and a strong team
(Big) data and its application in AI technology
Product development and testing based on AI technologies
Designing a unique value proposition tailored to customer needs
Validation, piloting, and go-to-market strategy
Intellectual property, its protection, and agreements
Achieving investor readiness and finding funding opportunities

A specialist training series focused on AI together with mentors and experts who are among the best in the business will help participants complete the development cycle, and the mentors will work each week with the teams. The teams participating in the accelerator programme can use the physical working space of the Tehnopol Startup Incubator.