At the Tallinn Entrepreneurship Awards gala held at the Seaplane Harbour (Lennusadam) yesterday, the awards for the Best Development Project, Collaboration Project, Bright Newcomer, Tourism Achievement, Job Creator, Solution of the Future, and Eco-Innovation of the year were announced, alongside awards for the best applied research projects.

Joosep Vimm, Deputy Mayor of Tallinn, remarked that this year's entrepreneurship competition has marked one of the most successful editions in the history of the competition. "Despite the various challenges that have emerged in recent years, many entrepreneurs have shown the drive and capability to continue striving and serve as examples to others. A record number of candidates, 123 in total including the research categories, applied for the competition," said Vimm.

All candidates, especially the selected nominees, deserve recognition according to the Deputy Mayor. "However, the awards go to those companies that have stood out for their innovative approach or have had a significant impact on the development of Tallinn and its entrepreneurial environment," he added.

The winners are as follows:

Best Development Project (Arendusprojekt) 2023:
Tähesaju Kaksikud, Restate Property Developers OÜ

Tähesaju Kaksikud are multifunctional buildings in the Tähesaju business district in Lasnamäe. This innovative solution allows companies to combine warehouse, commercial, and office functions. The project cost is 15 million euros.

Collaboration Project (Koostööprojekt) 2023: 
NATO DIANA Innovation Accelerator, SA Tallinna Teaduspark Tehnopol;

NATO innovation projects are led from Estonia. The arrival of the DIANA defense industry accelerator at Tehnopol provides an opportunity to support deep-tech companies and brings the world's largest military clients and investors to Estonia through an international network. The project was brought to Estonia in cooperation with Tehnopol, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Defense.

Bright Newcomer (Särav startija 2023): Iglupark OÜ

Iglupark is a place where work, leisure, and health can be combined. Iglupark consists of small design houses made in Estonia, offering the opportunity to spend quality time. Iglupark is located in Tallinn's Noblessner district, and almost a million euros has been invested in its creation.

Tourism Achievement (Turismitegu) 2023:
Closer to the sky! Glass elevator in the Niguliste tower, SA Eesti Kunstimuuseum

The goal of the reconstruction of the Tallinn Niguliste Museum was to open previously closed parts, especially the Niguliste Tower, and allow visitors to enjoy a new viewing platform 50 meters above Tallinn's Old Town. Since March, more than 53,000 tourists have visited this popular attraction.

Job Creator (Töökohtade looja) 2023: Nordea Bank Abp Estonian branch     

Nearly a thousand people work in the Estonian branch of the Nordic region's largest banking group. Serving customers takes place in two major areas – preventing financial crime and providing support services for daily banking. Over the past year, the company has created 169 new jobs in Tallinn.

Eco-Innovation (Ökouuendus) 2023:
Green City web-based service, Aktsiaselts Mainor

Green City is a web-based service in the Ülemiste City that helps people and companies operate more environmentally friendly and become more sustainable. The platform allows individuals and businesses to monitor their resource use and take measures to reduce their environmental impact.

Solution of the Future (Tulevikulahendus) 2023: GScan OÜ   
       
The company introduced an MFT-based 3D scanner that allows for a more objective assessment of the technical condition of buildings and can detect damage and chemical composition in concrete layers. The technology meets the growing demand for assessing the safety and energy efficiency of buildings, especially heritage sites. It also supports Estonia's sensor industry and contributes to achieving green city goals.

Special Awards for Applied Research:

Special Award: Applied Research 2023 (in collaboration with Tallinn University of Technology)
LainePoiss – a wave gauge for monitoring water bodies – research led by senior researcher Victor Alari, MSI
In collaboration with WiseParker OÜ, TalTech researchers created a smart buoy called LainePoiss, which allows the measurement of wave height, wave direction, wave period, and other important wave parameters at sea and in inland waters.

Special Award: Applied Research 2023 (in collaboration with Tallinn University)
Extracellular vesicle bioanalysis – research by Danilo Mladenović
The doctoral thesis focused on new methods for the purification, separation, and analysis of extracellular vesicles, nano-sized particles that function as a communication system between cells and tissues. The research was conducted in collaboration with the biotechnology company HansaBioMed Life.

Special Award: Applied Research 2023 (in collaboration with Estonian Academy of Arts)
Community care service concept
Research leaders Eva Liisa Kubinyi and Maarja Mõtus
The research demonstrates successful collaboration between the academy and the public sector and showcases how the design process helps innovate public services, especially in the field of mental health. As part of the project, a community care service concept was created and tested in collaboration with the Järveotsa perearstikeskus (The Family Medicine Centre of Järveotsa), involving patients in the development of healthcare services.

Special Award: Applied Research 2023 (in collaboration with the Foundation of Estonian Universities of Applied Sciences)
Ecological Footprint of Ülemiste City – research by Kadri Look, Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences
The master's thesis proposed a model for calculating the ecological footprint of Ülemiste City as a smart city, simplifying data collection, and involving the community. In addition to a strong theoretical background and complex data processing, the work is characterized by the practicality of its proposals.


Photo by Kalev Lilleorg.