The Adapter partner network and AIRE consortium met at a joint winter seminar in Käärik. The aim of the first shared seminar was to get to know one another, identify areas for collaboration, exchange information, and explore ideas for supporting Estonian businesses.
Taking University-Business Collaboration to the Next Level
In his opening remarks, TalTech Vice-Rector for Entrepreneurship Erik Puura emphasised that the strength of Adapter and AIRE lies in their ability to bridge universities and businesses — and that the two organisations complement each other. Both share the same goal: to support Estonian small and medium-sized enterprises.
Puura highlighted that every research institution should ensure its staff are motivated to contribute to business development. These activities must be visible and measurable.
A Sharper Focus for EIS
Kaja Kuivjõgi, Head of Strategy and Finance at Enterprise Estonia (EIS), presented EIS’s new strategy. The organisation is shifting towards a more business-centred approach, with four priority areas: research and development, investment, export, and housing. At the same time, the number of services offered will be reduced to around fifty.
A key challenge for the Estonian economy is low productivity — businesses struggle to translate knowledge into commercial value and are reluctant to develop new products and take risks. A lack of available capital is a significant barrier. To address this, EIS plans to introduce higher-risk loans to encourage businesses to experiment more boldly.
Knowledge Transfer in Estonia
Kristel Reim, Programme Manager at the Research Department of the Ministry of Education and Research, and Indrek Ots, Adviser on Knowledge Transfer, gave Adapter’s network an overview of Estonia’s research system, the organisation of knowledge transfer, and its funding mechanisms.
Their presentation helped participants better understand the collaboration opportunities available through the ministry and how Adapter can play a more active role in supporting knowledge transfer.
The seminar also included a working session among Adapter’s client managers, covering client journey topics, objectives, performance indicators, and communication.
