The U.S. cleantech sector is adapting to economic and security pressures, reshaping sourcing, collaboration, and innovation amid global uncertainty. As supply chains shift and climate goals rise, firms continue to innovate, increasingly turning to international partnerships to stay competitive, according to a recent survey.
Trade Estonia and The Estonian Cleantech Association conducted a survey and found that despite an uncertain trade policy horizon, U.S. cleantech companies continue to forge a path of innovation and are looking to global partners to fuel solution development and business growth.
47% of U.S. cleantech firms source over 50% of their products internationally. 45% rate their foreign suppliers as “excellent”.
The paper details Trade Estonia’s key findings from its survey of over 150 senior cleantech company executives on how U.S. cleantech companies are planning sourcing strategies and engaging with trade partners to drive innovation and capture market growth opportunities.
Key trends impacting U.S. cleantech and trade opportunities
Cleantech companies play a critical role in developing innovative, sustainable solutions across industries including such as manufacturing, healthcare, IT, energy, defense and more. Their growth depends on seven trends impacting U.S. cleantech and trade opportunities.

Over half of Cleantech companies reported business growth in the past year. Two-thirds of them expect further expansion in revenue and market reach. Source: Trade Estonia
For example the U.S. prioritizes domestic energy production and reduces reliance on foreign supply chains. This creates strong demand for innovative technologies such as renewable energy generation, grid modernization, energy efficiency, and demand management solutions from Estonian companies like Gridraven, Fusebox, Futugrid, Bisly, and R8 Technologies.
The rapid growth of the U.S. data center industry presents significant opportunities for energy-efficient cooling solutions. Estonian companies like Greenergy Data Centers are developing cutting-edge solutions such as advanced cooling technologies, which are crucial for reducing operational costs and meeting sustainability goals.
Solutions for U.S. cleantech sector
Factors preventing U.S. cleantech companies from introducing more new products or services were lack of innovation best practices (31%), lack of innovation skills/experience (31%), no incentive to innovate (24%), R&D budget constraints (23%) and no strategy for innovation (22%).
67% of U.S. cleantech companies plan to increase imports. 51% of European-sourcing companies also source from Estonia.
Estonia offers U.S. cleantech firms advanced technology, cost-efficient solutions, and resilient supply chains, reinforcing its role as a strategic partner. Its focus on innovation and global collaboration makes it a strong alternative in a shifting industry.
View and download the whitepaper to read more about why Estonia is a strategic cleantech partner for the U.S.
Want to know more about Estonian Cleantech companies? Reach out to Silve Parviainen, Estonian Export Advisor: [email protected] ; +1 646 712 1620

This content is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
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