3. ESTONIA at Glance
Population 1,31
millions
Surface area 45 000
(km2)
Density 30
. (inhabit/km2)
% rural 30%
Tartu
population
GNP per 9000
capita EUR
6. Country where people pay taxes
with smile thanks to ICT
• Majority of people
paying taxes over
internet - completing
the tax declaration
takes 5 minutes
• Setting up a company
over internet takes 10
minutes
• Free Wifi Internet
access in public
places as “human
right”
7. Leading country on e-Governance
and e-Services
• Government internal
working procedures and
meetings without papers
• First country to allow
National Parliamentary
elections over Internet in
2007, European Parliament
elections in 2009 and m-
Elections in 2011
• Currently discussed
replacing all textbooks in
schools with iPads
8. Paradox of Estonian ICT Development
• In spite of some IT solutions, which are world
leading Estonian IT companies have still failed
to transfer them to other markets
• Success in innovation does not lie in technical
excellence and solutions but more often in
cooperation networks and partnerships
10. Tartu Science Park
• Founded 1992 by Tartu University, Estonian University of
life Sciences, Tartu City and Tartu County.
• 12 000 m2 of office and laboratory space
• 65 companies -> 12 incubation companies
• Main sectors:
– Electronics and apparatus building (13 companies)
– Biotechnology (11 companies)
– Information and Communication Technology (11
companies)
– New Materials (3 companies)
– Supporting companies - book-keeping, consultancy,
etc. (28 companies)
11. Services
• Rent and Infrastructure Provision Services
• Business Consultancy and Incubation Services
– Established companies
– Start-up and University spin-off companies
• Technology Transfer and Promotion Services
• Networking and Cluster support activities
12. The most important issues/ stakes
in the region/ country regarding rural
development
1. Regional disparities in terms of rural areas being
economically less developed than cities
2. Demographic situation, in terms of ageing population
and young people moving to cities
3. Infrastructures in terms lack of investments into roads
and railways and limited access to public and private
services (Education, Medical, Postal, etc)
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13. Existing policies regarding rural
development
1. Long time „No Policy“ Policy
2. Currently main objective stimulation of job creation
3. In addition to EU Agricultural Support Measures also
measures encouraging non-agricultural rural
activities, such as tourism and recreation.
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14. Activities/ projects already
implemented in rural development
Knowledge Investment Strategies on Local Level
(KISOLL) FP6 Supported Project aiming at
developing strategies for rural areas how to
increase their knowledge pool and increase
competitiveness
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15. Tartu Science Park in GRISI
PLUS and its expectations
1. Responsible Partner for Component 3 Exchange of
Experiences and Transfer of Good Practices
2. Learning from more experiences partners and finding
suitable good practices for transfer
3. Building networks and partnesrhips for further
cooperation
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