In 2025, the Estonian Cleantech Association is focused on developing Estonia’s clean industry and taking a leading role in the European Union.

The development and competitiveness of clean industry is a priority in the European Commission’s plans for the next five years. Countries around the world are making significant contributions to the development of clean industry and the deployment of clean technologies.

According to Kädi Ristkok, CEO of the Estonian Cleantech Association, Estonia must not stay behind. “Estonia has all the prerequisites to seize the leading role in the discussions on the development of clean industry in Europe. We have in-house industrial and innovation competence and recent experience in structural transformation of the economy on which to build a vision for clean industry,” said Ristkok.

The Estonian Cleantech Association was founded on 7 May 2024 in Tallinn. The new business association unites, supports and represents cleantech companies engaged in the development, commercialization, usage, financing and other ways of supporting products, services and processes that save the environment and climate. 

“Across the EU, there is recognition that we are falling behind global leaders in many industrial sectors. There is now a political will to boost economic competitiveness, and clean industry is seen as having a crucial role to play. It is important for Estonia that the clean industry directions chosen also favour Estonian companies,” added Ristkok.

Estonian cleantech sector has the knowledge to take the lead

According to Erki Ani, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Cleantech Association, innovation has always been central in Estonia and has largely determined the country’s wider recognition. “The Estonian clean technology sector, which has grown strongly in recent years, attracts foreign capital and offers great solutions for the innovation of local and foreign industries, and is playing an increasing role in the development of clean industry. There are nearly 130 startups in Estonia that are engaged in innovation, and their impact and role in the startup sector is illustrated by the fact that in 2023, these companies attracted more than 60% of the total local startup sector investment involved,” Ani said.

“Estonia has shown itself to be a very strong innovator, and our past experience gives us the knowledge we need to take the lead.”
Erki Ani, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Cleantech Association

“If we want to secure a competitive future economy, we need to be ambitious. Estonia has shown itself to be a very strong innovator, and our past experience gives us the knowledge we need to take the lead,” added Erki Ani.

The Estonian Cleantech Association unites, supports, and represents cleantech companies that are engaged in the development, commercialization, usage, financing, and other ways of supporting products, services, and processes that save the environment and climate. The members of the Board are Erki Ani (Sunly Future Ventures), Ants Vill (Bisly), Helery Pops (Practica Capital), Jorma Piir (Sunly), Katrin Isotamm (Esgrid), Teele Niidas (UP Catalyst), Taavi Veskimägi (2C Ventures), Jana Budkovskaja (Beamline Accelerator), Helen Sooväli-Sepping (TalTech), Hedwig Meidra (Zero Terrain).

GOOD TO KNOW

• Members who have joined with the association: Bisly, Bugbox, Esgrid, Funki, Gelatex, GreenDice, KappaZeta, Reedest, Skycorp Technologies, Sustaxo, Sunly, Sunly Future Ventures, UP Catalyst, Vok Bikes, Zero Terrain/Energiasalv and 2C Ventures.
• Estonian Cleantech Association grew out of the activities of the non-profit Cleantech Estonia. Cleantech Estonia operated from 2016 to 2024, supporting the development of the cleantech sector in Estonia from its early stages. Establishing the business association is necessary in the current phase of rapid development of the cleantech sector to overcome the challenges of cooperation and ensure the sector’s growth.

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