Press trip: Estonian Defence sector companies

*The agenda is preliminary and subject to continuous updates to ensure the best experience once you are here.

Arrival in Tallinn & check-in at Nordic Hotel Forum – stylish four-star superior hotel in the heart of Tallinn, offering modern comfort, top-floor wellness facilities, and eco-conscious charm just steps from the Old Town.

The day begins with an official welcome at the e-Estonia Briefing Centre, where participants will be introduced to the week’s programme and receive an overview of Estonia’s defence and security innovation landscape.

Welcome address by Andreas Heiki Pant, UK Market Export Adviser, Trade Estonia

The e-Estonia Briefing Centre presentation will be hosted by Petra Holm,  Digital Transformation Adviser, e-Estonia Briefing Centre.

The session features the presentation by Kalev Koidumäe, followed by a short Q&A.

Frankenburg Technologies is no ordinary newcomer in the defence tech world. In just one year, the company has grown to nearly 60 employees and established a presence across the Baltic states, Poland, the UK, Ukraine, and Germany. Its network extends into the major defence powerhouses, with access to decision-makers and strategic partners that few start-ups could imagine. Top leaders from defence, military, and engineering have united here with a single mission: to provide technology for the Western world to win the war. They have decided to combat the UAV menace by developing and producing the first affordable C-UAV missile. The company’s expertise is pure rocket science—yet designed for affordability and mass production, not just technological showpieces. This is the future of counter-UAV warfare, built to scale and to win.

The visit will be hosted by Kusti Salm, CEO, Frankenburg Technologies and Andreas Bappert, Director of Engineering

Mona invites exploration of global flavors inspired by different countries and cultures.

Explore cutting-edge unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) technology at Milrem Robotics. Attendees will see combat-proven, NATO-integrated robotics up close, including live demos of tracked platforms like THeMIS. Representatives of Vegvisir will also be present, showcasing their XR-based situational awareness systems. In February 2025, Vegvisir signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Milrem Robotics to advance the integration of XR-based situational awareness technologies into UGVs.

The visit will be hosted by Paul Clayton, Director of Industrial Partnerships and Siim Saliste, Vice President of BD & Strategy, Vegvisir

Explore Tallinn’s history with “On the Bastions and in the Underground Tunnels” at Kiek in de Kök Fortifications Museum. The tour explores city defenses from the 17th century to World War II, along with other fascinating stories hidden in the passages of history. Additionally, in the Bastion passages of the Kiek in de Kök fortification museum, the Estonian Firefighting Museum and the Estonian Rescue Board presents the history of Estonian civil defence over the last 100 years.

Originally built in the 1960s as part of Tallinn’s modernist Flower Pavilion complex, Tuljak is one of Estonia’s most striking examples of Soviet-era architecture by architect Valve Pormeister. The café stood on Tallinn’s coastline throughout the Cold War years. After decades of neglect, the building was carefully restored and reopened in 2015 as a Michelin-recognised restaurant, offering contemporary dining.

Welcome address by Eva-Kristiina Ponomarjov, Director General, Trade Estonia

Speech by Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The following guests will be attending the dinner

Mariana Tulf-Pavlova, Business Diplomacy Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Kadri Karolin Kõuts, Business Diplomacy Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Enelin Tiiman, Head of Defence Industry Policy, Ministry of Defence

Leana Kammertöns, German Market Export Adviser, Trade Estonia

Andreas Heiki Pant, UK Market Export Adviser, Trade Estonia

Rene Ehasalu, Cluster Manager, Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association

Marko Kaseleht, Senior Vice President, Defense Sector, Nortal

Martin Hanson, Head of Marketing, CR14

* Optional add-on for interested journalists

Defence Innovation Day in Tallinn brings together leaders in defence, tech, and investment to explore how innovation is shaping the future of security across NATO and beyond. The full-day programme features keynotes, panels, and startup pitches focused on regional cooperation, funding models, and dual-use tech.

Organised by Tehnopol and the NATO DIANA Estonian Accelerator, with support from Sparkup Tartu Science Park, the event is part of Estonian Defence Week and held in English.

Participation is by registration only; please confirm your attendance in advance, no later than 12/09. Further information about the event can be found here.

Spokespersons for interviews are Anne-Liisa Elbrecht, Head of Tehnopol Startup Incubator and Head of NATO DIANA Accelerator in Estonia and Sabina Sägi, Community and Communications Manager, NATO DIANA Estonia Accelerator.

CybExer specializes in advanced cyber ranges and digital twin environments, providing insights into cyber warfare training and resilience. With strong ties to the British Army and NATO, the visit may include live cyber exercise demonstrations, showcasing real-world applications in the UK and Germany.

The visit will be hosted by Lauri Almann, Co-founder and Chairman of The Board and Kristiina Omri, Vice President of Special Programs, CybExer Technologies.

The following guests will be attending the lunch

Kadri Tammai, Regional Director, NATO DIANA

Sabina Sägi, Community and Communications Manager, NATO DIANA Estonia Accelerator

Magnus Muru, Product Engineering Manager,Wayren

Enn Laansoo, CEO, Telearmy and Tuuli Tolmats-Aia, COO, Telearmy

The NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE), located in Tallinn, serves as a multinational and interdisciplinary hub of expertise for cyber defence research, training, and policy development. Accredited by NATO, the Centre supports its member nations and the Alliance with strategic insights, legal frameworks, and technical capabilities to address the evolving landscape of cyber threats.

The visit will be hosted by Tõnis Saar, Director of NATO CCDCOE

DefSecIntel Solutions specializes in mobile surveillance and counter-UAS systems powered by AI. The visit features live hardware demonstrations and showcases combat-proven C-UAS applications, offering a more hardware-focused experience with strong visual and practical appeal.

The visit will be hosted by Jaanus Tamm, President and CEO, Getter Oper Chief of Strategy and Communications, Kristjan Mägi– Head of Production and Lena Björkholm, Rasmussen Global

Hutorok, an Ukrainian restaurant in Tallinn known for its authentic flavors and welcoming atmosphere. The menu highlights traditional Ukrainian dishes, offering guests a genuine taste of the country’s rich culinary heritage.

The following guests will be attending the dinner

Erik Markus Kannike, Chief Strategy Officer, SensusQ

Erko Pajus, Brand and Marketing Manager at PowerUP Energy Technologies

Kaspar Gering, Co-founder, Darkstar

Mariin Ratnik, Undersecretary for Economic and Development Affairs at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Klen Jäärats, Executive Director at Estonian Centre for International Development

Mikk Raud, Counsellor at Estonian Embassy in Washington

Kadri Karolin Kõuts, Business Diplomacy Advisor at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Taavi Laur, CFO and Co-Founder, 5.0 Robotics

Tõnis Voitka, CEO or Mattias Luha, Co-founder, KrattWorks

Ranno Pajuri, Chief Commercial Officer, Threod Systems

Mattias Luha, Co-founder, KrattWorks

The afternoon offers flexibility with several options:

Individual research/interviews: Opportunity for 1:1 meetings with Estonian officials or industry contacts, or independent research ahead of the Defence Week expo.

Defence Week expo visit for the interviews

ABCD conference visit for the interviews

The 19th Annual Baltic Conference on Defence (ABCD) @ Tallinn Creative Hub * Optional add-on for interested journalists

ABCD is a high-level forum for intellectual debate on transatlantic, European, and regional defence issues amongst policymakers, military officials, academics, analysts and media representatives. This year’s theme is Enemy at the Gates: Turning Europe into a Fortress

The conference is organised by the International Centre for Defence and Security and the Estonian Ministry of Defence. Keynote speakers include Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and many more. 

Participation by registration. Further information about the event can be found here. Contact for media: Liisi Poll (Head of Communications, ICDS), [email protected]; +37257831881

A full day combining a comprehensive industry exhibition with high-level strategic discussions. The EXPO features 70+ companies showcasing Estonian defence innovations, dual-use technologies, and insights from Ukraine’s experiences. The Symposium offers a deep dive into the technological future of defence, exploring the latest sector developments.

The program includes guided tours of key exhibition areas, pre-arranged table briefings or 1:1 meetings with companies, and potential high-level engagements with Estonian defence officials.

The lunch takes place at Café Maru, situated inside the Seaplane Harbour Museum, with sweeping views over the exhibits. The menu draws inspiration from Nordic and Estonian coastal cuisines — known for clean flavours, simplicity, and a modern touch — often thematically linked to the museum’s current exhibitions.

Seaplane Harbour outdoor vessels showcase the Baltic Sea’s maritime security history – from the Tsarist-era icebreaker Suur Tõll, to Soviet-built patrol boats like Grif, Maru, and Torm, and post-independence Estonian Navy ships such as Kalev, Suurop, and Valvas, now preserved as cultural heritage.

Open from May 16 to October 5, 2025

The exhibition “The Face of Bravery. The Undefeated Defenders of Azovstal” tells the story of the men and women who, in the spring of 2022, were among the last defenders of Mariupol, encircled by Russian forces. The battle centered around Azovstal, one of Europe’s largest steel plants, which became a true fortress with its network of underground tunnels where defenders managed to resist attacks for nearly three months. Azovstal became a symbol of Ukrainian courage, resilience, and unbreakable resistance. The exhibition presents a powerful story of heroism through personal belongings, partly unpublished documentary footage shot during the siege at Azovstal, and the world-famous photographs of Dmytro Kozatskyi. It is a painfully poetic reminder of the real cost of war and the need to continue supporting Ukraine. The Face of Bravery is based on the exhibition “Azovstal. New Meanings” by the National Museum of the History of Ukraine. It is a project born out of deep respect and solidarity with Ukraine.

All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the National Museum of the History of Ukraine.

The Estonian Ministry of Defence is the government institution responsible for developing and implementing Estonia’s national defence policy. It oversees the country’s defence strategy, military readiness, and cooperation with international allies, particularly within NATO and the European Union.

Frankenburg Technologies was founded in January 2024 with the purpose of developing and commercialising a low-cost counter-UAV missile, which will use a combination of sensors and machine learning models to acquire, identify and engage targets with minimal human input. The primary purpose of Frankenburg ́s products is to provide wartime air defence capabilities for military installations and wartime protection of critical national infrastructure (CNI) such as key military logistics pathways, hospitals, power stations; and potentially use them on a battlefield, but the company has also considerable customer need for peace-time protection of airports, mining operations, oil refineries, etc. Frankenburg ́s team is a combination of top-level R&D know-how, international production and supply chain management experience and, uniquely in the industry, three just-retired army generals.

Wayren is an Estonian technology start-up developing a robust decentralised communications platform for mission-critical markets.

TeleArmy.ai is an Estonian–founded defense-tech company that develops “human-in-the-loop” remote-driving systems capable of retrofitting existing vehicles—from light ATVs to heavy armored trucks—for operation over 3G, 4G, Starlink and encrypted radio links in GPS-denied or high-risk environments. Combat-tested since 2023 and validated by NATO, their system is ideal for logistics, evacuation, remote weapons platforms, and other unmanned missions.

CybExer Technologies offers advanced cyber ranges that harness the unique capabilities of digital twin-based testing and training environments. These solutions enable organisations to achieve cyber excellence by honing their skills in a simulated, risk-free setting.

Milrem is a defence-technology company specializing in autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) and combat robotics systems. Stands at the forefront of combat robotics, turning Europe’s unmanned ground vehicle ambitions into reality. Its battle-tested systems (especially in Ukraine), modular autonomy, and scalable production make it a strategic asset for modern militaries. Backed by a global defence conglomerate and expanding rapidly, Milrem is shaping the future of autonomous land systems both in Europe and worldwide.

Leading Estonian defence company developing and manufacturing mobile autonomous surveillance systems, ultra short-range air defence (C-UAS), and unmanned surface vessels (USVs) – all integrated with AI-powered command-and-control (C2) capabilities. Systems are in operational use along the EU’s external border and in Ukraine’s battlefield, ensuring real-world reliability and end-user-driven functionality. Solutions are for border security, defence and critical infrastructure protection. Company has a strong presence in Ukraine (maintenance, manufacturing and R&D Hub).

DefSecIntel is also a leading partner of the Eastern Shield / Baltic Drone Wall initiative, launched by the Estonian Defence Cluster and an initiator and leading partner of the Air Defence Tech Alliance for Ukraine.

Defence tech startup developing XR-based situational awareness solutions for military vehicles and command centres. Develops immersive 360° situational awareness systems using a combination of camera arrays, sensors, and ultra-low latency head-mounted displays. Selected as the only Estonian company among 20 participants in the European Defence Accelerator (EUDIS), chosen from over 4,000 applicants.

Nortal is a digital transformation and IT consulting firm serving both the public and private sectors, operating across 60 countries with 26 offices worldwide including Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Africa. Nortal has been the driving force behind more than 100 digital transformation projects for governments, healthcare institutions, and companies around the world. They have created 40% of Estonia’s digital government experiences.

Cybernetica is an Estonian R&D-driven IT company and global leader in secure data exchange, digital identity, and egovernance technologies. Architects of e-Estonia, and catalysts for digital societies across the globe. Estonia is known as the most advanced e-state in the world and Cybernetica has played a paramount role in this development. Company’s roots go back to the Institute of Cybernetics established at the Academy of Sciences in the 1960s. Today, their solutions have reached more than 35 countries around the globe. They have developed the world-renowned technologies such as Timestamping for digital signatures, X-Road, Internet Voting, e-Customs, e-Tax and more.

Cleantech startup founded in, specializing in hydrogen fuel cell technology and zero-emission power generators. With 20 years of experience in fuel cell technology development, PowerUP is the innovator in the fuel cell technology market.

CR14 is a foundation established by the Estonian Ministry of Defence on January 1, 2021, building on more than 10 years of cyber range experience. It’s a government-owned entity that provides a virtual environment for cybersecurity training and the development of dual-use innovative technologies. Recently, CR14 has expanded into space cybersecurity, participating in consortia to develop a Space Cyber Testing and Training Ground in collaboration with the European Space Agency.

Established in 2009 and now operating under Enterprise Estonia, the e-Estonia Briefing Centre serves as a leading platform for digital diplomacy and innovation in Tallinn. It presents Estonia’s comprehensive digital transformation, including e-ID, cybersecurity, and interoperability, while hosting international delegations and fostering collaboration among governments, enterprises, and the media.

KrattWorks offers a jamming resilient short range multirotor reconnaissance drone with multi-band radio and GNSS-free capabilities. The ISR Ghost Dragon drone is developed based on the lessons learned from Ukraine.

KrattWorks also offers aerial target drones, which include fast-flying fixed-wing DART platform for air-defence missile and cannons shooting practice. Additionally, KrattWorks provides small PARM multirotor targets for small arms counter drone drills.

Our loitering munition drone Dart-X delivers 10 kg payload to 100 or 200km distance. The decoy version Dart-R is equipped with radar reflectors to match the desired radar footprint.

Established in 2020 by a team of military veterans, SensusQ tackles the toughest challenges in intelligence and decision making software to deliver the operational advantages of ML/AI, deployed in the toughest environments. Focused on the real world situations of our customers, we build software that empowers decision makers with certainty and foresight in their decision making.

5.0 ROBOTICS is an Estonian deep-tech startup that provides robotic automation solutions for all, combined with advanced AI and a rapid focus on R&D. The company ́s technology enables the On-Demand production of digitized parts right at the Frontline, regionalizing production, ensuring lightweight, adaptable, and affordable manufacturing systems. 5.0 Robotics is present on three continents: Europe, Australia, and the United States, having manufactured and supplied products to a diverse clientele, from SMEs to a leading British F1 racing team, an e-commerce giant and a U.S. defense sector producer.

Threod Systems is a leading Estonian defence-tech company that specializes in designing and manufacturing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)—including fixed-wing drones, VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) platforms, electrooptical payloads, launch systems, and full C4I solutions. The company also develops launch systems (including field-deployable pneumatic catapults), autopilot systems (TSAP6000), ground control stations, simulation and training environments, and data comms / C4I solutions. Founded in 2012, Threod Systems is headquartered in Estonia and manages all R&D and production in-country. Named Estonian Defence Industry Company of the Year (2022).