A high-level delegation of cyber security experts and business people from the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has arrived in Estonia today for a visit. Over three days, Estonian businesses and government representatives will meet with the delegation to promote cooperation between Estonia and Germany in the field of digitalisation and cyber security.
“The first major and serious cyber attack against Estonia took place in 2007 and was successfully repelled. It is no coincidence that NATO’s Cyber Security Centre was established in Tallinn the following year, after which Estonia has gained extensive expertise in this field over the years and has become one of the world’s most respected cyber security experts. We can now share this experience with experts from other countries in the same field,” said Leana Kammertöns, German Export Advisor at the Enterprise Estonia, explaining one of the aims of the German delegation’s visit.
Another aspect is business cooperation. “North Rhine-Westphalia is economically Germany’s strongest and most populous federal state, with more than 18 million inhabitants,” added Kammertöns.
“Last year, it produced goods and services worth a total of nearly €839 billion, making it the strongest state in economic terms, ahead of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. So I see great potential for cooperation between Estonian and German cyber security companies, which would be beneficial for both sides,” she added.
The critical need for advanced cybersecurity measures
The head of the delegation, Elena Matekina, General Director of NRW.Global Business GmbH Central and Eastern Europe, pointed out that North Rhine-Westphalia is one of Europe’s cyber security hubs, with more than 400 IT security companies active today and more than 1,000 cyber security researchers in 30 research institutions and universities.
“Cybersecurity has become a major challenge in today’s world, as the dependence on digital technologies has grown exponentially and highly sophisticated and cutting-edge security measures are increasingly important to protect sensitive information, critical infrastructure and personal data from cyber threats,” said Matekina.
“Therefore, the cooperation of North Rhine-Westphalian companies and experts with companies and experts from other top cyber security regions is one of the success factors to improve protection against cyber threats and to foster innovation and economic growth,” Matekina underlined the importance of the visit to Estonia and the exchange of cyber experiences with local companies and the state.
“Cybersecurity has become a major challenge in today’s world, as the dependence on digital technologies has grown exponentially and highly sophisticated and cutting-edge security measures are increasingly important to protect sensitive information.”
Elena Matekina, General Director of NRW.Global Business GmbH Central and Eastern Europe
Cooperation between Estonia and Germany in the field of cyber security and digitalisation has been going on for several years, noted Leana Kammertöns, the Enterprise Estonia´s German export advisor.
“Last May, a delegation of North Rhine-Westphalian entrepreneurs visited Estonia for the first time, and in August, during the visit of Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, an Estonian-German business roundtable “Twin Transition” was held to discuss the common challenges of the two countries in the digital and industrial transformation of the economy,” said Kammertöns.
In February this year, a seminar was held in Dortmund, organised by the Estonian Embassy in Germany, to introduce Estonia as an attractive cooperation partner and investment destination in the fields of digitalisation, wind energy and the green economy, she explained.
Collaboration between Germany and Estonia
“The current visit of the cyber security delegation from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and the opportunity to learn more about Estonia’s experience in the field of cyber security is a logical continuation of the cooperation between Germany and Estonia,” added Kammertöns.
The three-day visit will include visits to the NATO Cyber Defence Cooperation Centre, the Ministry of Defence’s cyber security foundation CR14 and Estonian companies Nortal, OIXIO IT and DHL Express. He will also meet representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Estonian Information Technology and Telecommunications Union, the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Estonian Information Systems Agency.
The North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) expert and business delegation includes representatives from the following German companies and public authorities: the Bundesnetzagentur, the Bonn Cybersecurity Association, NRW. Global Business GmbH, IHK Nordwestfalen (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the North Westphalian Region), IHK Bonn / Rhein-Sieg (Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Bonn and Rhein-Sieg Region), KHP – Informatik GmbH & Co KG, AQA Germany Agile Quality Abdi, Petanux GmbH and the Economic Development Centre of the City of Bonn, the Düsseldorf Region and the Bergisch-Gladbach Region.
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