On Friday, 28 March, the government approved an €11 million increase in the share capital of AS Metrosert to enable the company to launch three new lines of business at the Applied Research Center: drone technologies, hydrogen technologies and autonomous vehicles.
According to Erkki Keldo, Minister of Economic and Industry, the investment will help accelerate the start-up of high added-value research and development in Estonia. “While Estonia excels in developing new technologies, one of our biggest challenges so far has been the lack of testing capacity to reach industrial scale. Today’s decision will enable the creation of support infrastructure and research and development capacity in three new areas, which will help to bring the technologies developed in the laboratory into practical production,” explained the Minister.
Keldo said that the areas were selected after in-depth analysis, consultation with companies and market mapping. “These are the most commercially promising areas where Estonian companies also have an interest in investing. Estonia’s strong IT and technology sector will certainly give us an advantage,” the minister added.
According to Aigar Vaigu, Chairman of the Board of Metrosert, Metrosert has been in constant communication with companies and has been driven by their needs in the development of applied research areas. “We work closely with companies, universities and research organisations to ensure that our services and infrastructure meet their needs and enable them to implement their innovative ideas. Applied research helps to increase the competitiveness of our companies and the Estonian economy as a whole, and we aim to support them in the best possible way,” said Vaigu.
In the field of drone technologies, Metrosert supports the development of unmanned aerial vehicles in Estonia by providing expertise in drone technologies, testing and certification services, and support in the introduction of innovative solutions. It is a fast-growing and promising field, supported by technological advances in sensors, artificial intelligence, computing and materials.
Rainer Kivimäe, Head of Metrosert’s Drone Technologies Division, said that the development of drones is of strategic and economic importance for Estonia, supporting economic growth and security. “We are focusing on creating important R&D directions and building laboratory capabilities that cover the entire life cycle of drones,” Kivimäe said. “There is strong interest from industry in the internal and external laboratories that will be created, including electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), climate chamber and field laboratories for drone technologies. Today, we offer consulting and measurement services to companies in the field of drone technologies and biorefining. Full-scale cooperation will start once the laboratory infrastructure is completed.”
The development of hydrogen technologies is characterised by a growing need for sustainable energy management and renewable energy sources. Launching a hydrogen technology will create and maintain an ecosystem in the sector and support Estonian companies in creating internationally competitive services, products and technologies.
According to Dr Rainer Küngas, Chief Technology Officer at Stargate Hydrogen, Estonia’s ambitious green targets now require widespread inward sourcing of environmentally friendly technologies. “But this does not really have to be the case. For example, there are a number of emerging and fast-growing hydrogen technology companies in Estonia that could supply some of the technology needed and even turn Estonia into a hydrogen technology exporting country. However, a very important part of the hydrogen technology development process is the thorough testing of products under operating conditions to ensure their reliability and safety. It is in this area that the Applied Research Center at Metrosert has a key role to play in Estonia,” said Küngas.
The launch of the autonomous vehicle sector, in cooperation with the Estonian Transport Agency, will enable the lawful development of self-driving vehicles and their EU-wide certification in Estonia, thus making a clear contribution to road safety. Metrosert’s aim is to become a leading European centre for testing and development of autonomous vehicles, with a field laboratory and a legal framework that supports innovation and ensures human safety.
The R&D activities of the Applied Research Centet will focus on a total of five areas: biorefining, drone technologies, autonomous vehicles, hydrogen technologies and health data. As a first line of action, biorefining was launched in 2024, enabling the start of new activities in the field of wood chemistry and, more broadly, biomass refining. The government has earmarked €5 million for this.
The Applied Research Center was established in 2023 as a research and development unit of AS Metrosert to support Estonian companies in developing knowledge-intensive products and services. The main task of Metrosert is to help companies bring innovative ideas to the market and reach international markets more successfully through breakthrough products, services and innovations. Metrosert acts as a bridge between business and science, fostering collaboration and sustainable growth.