Estonia, one of the world’s most advanced digital societies, is strengthening its business and technological ties with Japan through a series of high-level collaborations in cybersecurity, digital governance, and mobility solutions. The first meeting was held in a sauna.

With 30% of Estonia’s total services exports coming from ICT, Estonia has established itself as a leader in digital innovation, secure infrastructure, and cross-border technology solutions. The country is home to one of the highest concentrations of ICT specialists in Europe and continues to drive forward global technological standards in cybersecurity, sustainable software development, and digital governance.

“Japan has long been both a paragon and a partner for Estonia. Our nations share a vision of a secure and digitally advanced future, and we are committed to exchanging knowledge, driving innovation, and building on our strengths together.”
Erkki Keldo, Estonia’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry

Japan has long been a strategic market for Estonia, with Trade Estonia maintaining a presence in the country to foster long-term business relations. Kenji Ozaki, Tokyo-based Chief Representative and Export Advisor in Japan at Trade Estonia, emphasized the importance of trust and reliability in building these partnerships: “Japanese businesses value long-term, stable relationships, and Estonia’s approach to digital trust and secure technology solutions aligns perfectly with this mindset. Our focus is on creating sustainable collaborations that benefit both sides, particularly in ICT, cybersecurity, and mobility.”

Businesses meet in the sauna

Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has formulated the “Infrastructure Development Plan for a Digital Garden City Nation.” This plan focuses on the nationwide development of digital infrastructure, including optical fiber networks, 5G, data centers, and marine cables, aiming to realize a digitally integrated society.

Additionally, Japan has implemented the “Master Plan 3.0 on the Regional Development of ICT Infrastructure”.  This plan underscores the country’s commitment to enhancing its ICT infrastructure to support advanced technologies and services.  Estonia’s experience in establishing efficient digital government services can be of example to Japan in enhancing its e-governance frameworks.

Recognizing the shared commitment to digital transformation, Trade Estonia and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs have launched a business sauna initiative—an effort to build deep, long-term cooperation between Estonian and Japanese enterprises. More than just a networking concept, these discussions are designed to facilitate concrete collaborations in next-generation ICT solutions.

“Japan has long been both a paragon and a partner for Estonia. Our nations share a vision of a secure and digitally advanced future, and we are committed to exchanging knowledge, driving innovation, and building on our strengths together,” Erkki Keldo, Estonia’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry, reaffirmed the importance of this relationship.

Japan –  a strategic market for Estonia

Estonian companies, such as Cybernetica, Lean Digital and Auve Tech are already making strides in Japan. A global expert in secure digital infrastructure, Cybernetica has been working with Japanese firms on a novel data bank solution, connecting financial institutions, e-health providers, and government services.

8% ICT sector contributes to Estonia’s GDP. The annual growth rate of the Estonian ICT sector has been around 8% in recent years, outpacing the average EU growth rate of 5%. (Eurostat, 2022)

“The collaboration has been driven by the vision of a seamless, secure data ecosystem. We have successfully tested services related to inheritance, healthcare, and well-being, with strong support from our Japanese partners, including NEC Corporation and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank,” said Florian Marcus, Head of Sales and Partnerships at Cybernetica.

As Estonia and Japan expand their digital ties, this latest initiative marks a significant step toward more integrated and future-proof digital solutions, reinforcing Estonia’s role as a global leader in cybersecurity and digital ecosystems.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Estonian companies and the public sector have been building a fully digital society since the early 1990s.
• Our borderless ICT solutions bring extensive knowledge, boldness and hunger to innovate.
• Estonia is #5 in the EU for the proportion of ICT specialists in total employment.
• Estonia ranks 10th globally in ICT services export as a percentage of total exports. (WTO, 2022)
• ICT services account for 30% of Estonia’s total services exports. (Bank of Estonia, 2022)

This content is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU

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