The Tallinn City Enterprise Service and the Department of Science Cooperation at the City of Heidelberg have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to initiate cooperation between the two cities in the fields of business development and innovation. The aim of the partnership is to foster the exchange of knowledge related to sustainable urban development, with a particular focus on technology-based solutions and digitalisation.

At the heart of the cooperation is the opportunity for companies to test their solutions in real urban environments in both cities. The first initiative is the creation of a testing environment in Heidelberg, based on the successful "Test in Tallinn" programme. This will enable companies to trial their innovation projects in areas such as mobility, energy, and digital services. Heidelberg will be the first city in Germany to adopt this type of testing model.

A startup exchange programme will also be launched between Tallinn's Tallinnovation and Heidelberg’s Innovasion initiatives. The focus is on testing and further developing company-driven solutions aimed at tackling urban challenges – from smart energy use and sustainability to urban governance and socially impactful initiatives. The first Estonian startups are already preparing to pilot their innovative products and services in Heidelberg. The cooperation is supported by the strong innovation ecosystems in both cities and, in Heidelberg, by partners such as Digital Agency Heidelberg, Sparkasse Heidelberg, and Stadtwerke Heidelberg. The first Estonian company is expected to begin testing in Heidelberg in the coming months.

Tallinn’s Deputy Mayor for Entrepreneurship, Margot Roose, emphasised the importance of international cooperation, stating that cities must act quickly and do so together. “We need to develop smart and human-centred solutions that are scalable across Europe. I’m very pleased about the launch of the strategic innovation partnership between Tallinn and Heidelberg. This kind of cooperation is essential for accelerating the testing of innovation projects in real urban environments,” said Roose.

According to Heidelberg’s Mayor Eckart Würzner, the partnership between Heidelberg and Tallinn strong signal for European innovation power. “Tallinn is one of the leading cities in Europe in the areas of innovation and digitalization. It is important that cities cooperate, share best practices, and explore new paths, especially in these future areas. With the successful Estonian program Tallinnovation, we strengthen Heidelberg as an innovation hub and the start-up landscape in our city. The cooperation helps us find innovative and forward-looking solutions that benefit the city administration and the citizens of Heidelberg,” said Würzner.

Karl A. Lamers, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Estonia and long-time member of the German Bundestag, also welcomed the cooperation. He noted that Estonia has been a pioneer in digital transformation for many years. “I am particularly pleased that Heidelberg is now part of this movement – also as a bridge-builder between our two countries,” said Lamers.

The memorandum lays the foundation for a forward-looking partnership aimed at advancing international innovation and the development of sustainable urban environments. The agreement will remain in effect for an initial period of two years and may be extended by mutual agreement between the parties.