e-Estonia podcast: The Art of Digitalisation

We explore Estonia's bold leap into AI-powered education with insights from Gert Jervan, Dean of the School of Information Technologies at TalTech. Gert shares how Estonia is preparing to teach artificial intelligence in high schools and why the country's new AI-focused bachelor's program is critical for shaping future innovators. We also hear from Liis Siiroja, CEO of EdTech Estonia, who highlights the role of the private sector in driving educational innovation and explains how Estonian EdTech companies are scaling globally. Finally, Heli Aru-Chabilan, a long-time education policy expert, reflects on Estonia's decades-long journey toward digital learning - from the Tiger Leap era to today's AI Leap. She unpacks the strategic decisions, teacher training efforts, and cultural mindset that made it possible.Tune in to discover how Estonia is once again redefining the future, this time by transforming how we teach and learn in the age of AI.

We dive into Estonia's e-governance journey with insights from Joel Burke, AI policy expert and author of Rebooting A Nation. Joel shares his experience of Estonia's rise as a global leader in digital governance, highlighting the cultural mindset and political courage that helped shape the nation's innovative e-government systems. We also explore how AI is shaping the future of public services with experts Liina Kamm and Karin Rajamäe-Soosaar, who discuss the importance of responsible AI deployment, its impact on local governments, and the role of digitalisation in improving everyday services. Tune in to discover the lessons Estonia's digital transformation holds for the world. 

This time we explore the critical role of cyber security in an increasingly digital world. Our hosts, Johanna-Kadri Kuusk and Petra Holm, talk with two experts to explore the challenges and solutions that come with combining digital transformation and security. In this episode:Nick Washer the Global Head of Defence of Nortal discussed:The role of digitalisation in modern defense and its complexities.The importance of continuous investment in cyber security and data protection.Vyacheslav Antipenko, Junior Research Fellow of  the University of Tartu covered:Cyber security challenges in Industry 4.0 and the integration of IoT in manufacturing.The role of AI in cyber security, highlighting its dual-use for both defense and attacks.Practical advice for organisations to improve their cyber security posture, such as employee education and robust documentation.

We delve into the intriguing world of electronic identification, exploring its evolution and impact from local and global perspectives. Join our hosts, Petra Holm and Johanna-Kadri Kuusk, as they guide you through Estonia's groundbreaking e-ID initiatives in the 90s to the exciting prospects of the EU digital wallet. In this episode: Kalev Pihl, CEO of SK ID Solutions, shares firsthand experiences of Estonia's e-ID's inception and its impactful evolution.Riho Kurg, Country Manager at Zetes, who is an expert in digital identity and trust, discusses the EU digital wallet and its integration with Estonia's digital infrastructure, emphasizing enhanced user privacy through selective information disclosure.Aivo Kalu, Lead Security Engineer at Cybernetica, addresses the EU digital identity wallet's potential to streamline privacy and improve interoperability across member states, highlighting Estonia's integration efforts with existing digital systems.

Join us in celebrating Estonia's remarkable achievement of full digitalization of all public services, including divorce, marking a new era of 0% bureaucracy. This episode features discussions with influential leaders like Priit Kongo, Siim Sikkut, and Luukas Ilves, who share insights on the digital transformation that has positioned Estonia as a global leader in governmental efficiency. Tune in to hear how these changes are enhancing public service and setting the stage for future innovations. 

This time we uncover how Estonia, the world's leading digital society, is transforming government and business operations through innovative technologies. In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of the real-time economy—a game-changing initiative that Estonia is leading to reduce the administrative burdens on entrepreneurs and enable more immediate business transactions. Additionally, we examine the impact of Estonia's e-Residency program on global business practices through digital innovation.  In this episode: Sirli Heinsoo, Director of the Digital Economy Department at the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, joins us to explain how Estonia's digital landscape is evolving. We'll explore the steps Estonia is taking to minimise reporting requirements and bureaucratic hurdles, making it easier for businesses to thrive.Hear from e-residents Alistair Starling, Natalia Storozhukwho and Oleksandr Storozhukwho have navigated the waters of starting and operating a business in Estonia. They will share their personal challenges and triumphs, providing a real-world perspective on the digital tools and systems that have shaped their entrepreneurial journeys being part of e-Residency.

We explore the cutting-edge of healthcare digitalisation through the lens of genomics, artificial intelligence, and e-health strategies. Liis Leitsalu, researcher at the Estonian Genome Center and the University of Tartu, will guide us through the evolving world of genomics. She shares her expert insights on how genetic research is revolutionising personalised medicine, the role of Estonia's pioneering Biobank, and the ethical considerations surrounding genetic data.Professor Kristjan Port, a sports biologist with deep roots in academic research, discusses the diverse applications of AI in healthcare, from diagnostics and treatment to managing patient data and the ethical dilemmas posed by AI technology. His insights will illuminate how AI is not just a tool of the future but a present reality shaping our medical landscape.Jaanika Merilo, Head of Digital Health at the Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs, talks about Estonia's new e-health strategy. She outlines how digital tools are enhancing patient care, supporting healthcare professionals, and ensuring data-driven decision-making. She will explain how Estonia is leveraging technology to streamline healthcare services and improve patient outcomes, setting a benchmark for digital health globally.

We explore the game-changing world of cleantech and sustainability, showcasing the crucial roles and innovative approaches of industry leaders. We'll explore the intersections of policy, technology, and market strategies that drive the green transition in sectors ranging from waste management to sustainable manufacturing. Kädi Ristkok, CEO of the Estonian Cleantech Association discusses the integral role of cleantech in driving sustainable growth across Estonia and the Baltics, highlighting the need for scaling existing technologies to meet climate neutrality by 2050.Petri-Jaan Lahtvee, PhD. Co-founder and COO of ÄIO explores advancements in biotechnology for producing sustainable fats and oils, detailing the transition from academic research to commercial application.Kristjan Variksoo, CTO of Wastelocker explains company´s innovative AI and camera technology in waste management, aimed at improving sorting and achieving zero waste goals and also discusses the company's expansion into the Middle East.

We explore the intersection of defence and digital innovation, shedding light on how modern technology is transforming national security. Our discussions will traverse the realms of AI-driven defence strategies, drone technology, and human oversight's vital role in the automation age. James Acuna, Former CIA Senior Operations Officer discusses the integration of AI and drone technologies in defense, emphasizing the crucial role of human oversight to mitigate the risks inherent in autonomous systems. Ingvar Pärnamäe, CEO of Vegvisir shares his transition from a long career at the Estonian Ministry of Defence to leading a defence tech startup, Vegvisir, which innovates with AR and VR to improve battlefield situational awareness. Kadri Tammai, Regional Director NATO DIANA explains NATO DIANA's mission to accelerate defence-related innovation, emphasising support for dual-use technologies that serve both civilian and military purposes. 

This time we focus on educational transformations and innovative approaches to integrate technology in learning environments. Taavi Kotka, Estonia's first Chief Information Officer,  discusses his initiative "Unicorn Squad." Initiative that aims to encourage girls in Estonia to pursue education in programming, robotics, and technology. Anthony Kilcoyne from Oide, elaborates on digital strategies in Irish education. Gives his insights into how digital tools are incorporated into Irish classrooms and the future of educational technologies offer a broader perspective on the global digital education landscape. Riho Västrik a producer of Estonian TV show "Rocket 69" . A TV show which promotes STEM among youth through engaging challenges and competitions, making science and technology appealing to younger audiences. As a special bonus, former Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment & Trade of the Turks & Caicos Islands, E. Jay Saunders, discusses the challenges faced during the early stages of government digitalisation. 

Explore transformative education through technology, featuring insights from Sten Kapten of Estonia's Ministry of Education and Research, Kevin Emeraldi, COO at GovTech Edu Indonesia, and Lauri Haav, CEO of kood/Jõhvi. Discover how Estonia and Indonesia are leveraging AI and digital solutions to enhance learning experiences and prepare students for a tech-driven future. Delve into the innovative approaches that are shaping the future of global education.Related article:https://e-estonia.com/pisa-test-2022-results-estonian-students-rank-high-in-europe/More about kood/Jõhvi:https://kood.tech/

The latest podcast episode delves into global digital infrastructures and the implementation of a unified EU digital wallet initiative.How countries like New Zealand admire and seek to emulate Estonia's digital advancements to potentially transform their own digital landscapes by 2040. Yogesh Hirdaramani, a senior reporter from GovInsider, discussed various global initiatives in digital public infrastructure like  Singapore's Singpass platform and payment platforms in India.Michael Andrew Buckland from Cybernetica, speaks about the upcoming EU-wide digital wallet initiative (EIDAS2), which aims to streamline and secure digital identity management across member states by 2026-2027 and also talked about the public sector's role in driving innovation.The article mentioned in the podcast:https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2024/04/prime-minister-christopher-luxon-wants-new-zealand-to-be-estonia.htmlhttps://investinestonia.com/report-generative-ai-can-boost-estonias-gdp-by-up-to-8-per[…]ent-minister-riisalo-potential-for-digital-disruption-aheadhttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2024/0402/Estonians-trust-their-government.-That-s-why-it-can-offer-advanced-services

In this podcast episode, we delve into the topics of digital democracy, gov tech and digital visionaries.More than 80 countries and more than half of the world´s population will go voting this year. But why has Estonia, since 2005, been one of the only countries with nationwide I-voting?Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Former President of Estonia, shares the reasons for the start of digital transformation in Estonia in the 1990s and his thoughts about the future of e-Estonia.Andrew Smith, product Director of Nortal, discusses the digitalisation processes in Saudi Arabia and Junior Product Designer Arwa Alamer talks about the Changemakers programme.Raido Kaju, Software Engineering Manager at the Nordic Institute for Interoperability Solutions (NIIS), speaks about new generations of interoperability, the data spaces, and the possible more considerable connectivity in the European Union.The Euronews article mentioned in the podcast: https://www.euronews.com/next/2024/03/05/future-of-electronic-voting-uncertain-amid-biggest-ballot-year-in-history 

We start the new podcast season with a little twist of the format. With our hosts, Digital Transformation Advisers Erika Piirmets and Carmen Raal, the talk still revolves around digitalisation. Still, we'll bring you more practical international examples worldwide and exciting news from govtech and innovation.Listen to the episode and hear:Skaidra Puodžiūnas, director of Government Relations at the Council of Canadian Innovators, reflects on what she learned from Estonia and how innovation and private-public collaboration function in Canada.Sigrit Siht, director of AI and Data in Digital Nation, shares insights from governments across the globe applying AI in their innovation.

In the first episode of 2024, we're thrilled to have Andres Raieste,  Senior Vice President of the Public Sector from Nortal, as we dive into the world of digital government services. Andres, with his background in shaping Estonia's digital government initiatives, offers insights into this field. We explore the journey from traditional to digital services, the nuances of digital identity, and the future of interoperable systems in governance. We delve into the challenges of digitalisation, including the impact of AI, the importance of supportive legislation, and the emerging concept of a post-digital era where personalised, efficient, and inclusive digital government is not just a possibility but a reality. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, policy, and public service in the digital age. 

We end this year's podcast season with a bang – as we bid farewell to 2023,  it's time to reflect e-Estonia's journey of the digitalisation landscape. We've outlined categories and nominees across various fields and the time has come to reveal the winners of each category. Trends, milestones and lessons learned both from the public and private sectors.  The special guest Sandra Särav, the Deputy Secretary General for Economy and Innovation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, brings a spark to the conversation by guessing the winners.Best digital public serviceBest digital service from the private sectorAchievement of the yearThe newcomer of the yeare-Estonia Gazelle Country of the YearMaker of the yearThe lesson of the year

Dive into Estonia's digital transformation with a green twist in this podcast episode. Kädi Ristkok from Cleantech Estonia and Kaidi-Kerli Kärner from PwC discuss how Estonia, as a tech-savvy nation, unifies its digital governance with ambitious environmental goals, setting a new standard in sustainable development. From innovative case studies to insightful discussions on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, we explore Estonia's journey towards a digital and eco-friendly future. Perfect for enthusiasts of technology, sustainability, and forward-thinking governance. 

Our latest podcast episode, as well as the month of October, is dedicated to cybersecurity and raising awareness of cybersecurity. And who would be a better expert to tackle this vast and complex topic than Gert Auväärt, the head of the Cyber Security Centre at the Information System Authority. With extensive international experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he also served as the Deputy Head of the Estonian Permanent Mission to the UN in 2018, successfully advancing Estonia's candidacy to the UN Security Council. In this engaging discussion, we delve into the significance of cybersecurity for individuals, countries, and enterprises.

In this podcast episode, the hosts discuss various aspects of digital transformation, particularly in the context of Estonia's experience. They explore digitalisation's efficiency and cost-saving potential, the challenges of measuring its impact, and the importance of focusing on quantitative and qualitative assessments. Helping to navigate this broad topic is Kristjan Vassil, a professor of Technology Studies at the University of Tartu. He holds a doctoral degree in political science from the European University Institute in Florence. For the past six years, he served as a vice-rector for research at the University of Tartu. His research focuses on Internet voting and predictive public services that are based on narrow AI and machine learning models. 

Estonian and Ukranian tech partnership dates back to 2016 when Estonia helped Ukraine to pave the way for the architecture of digital government. Today, the collaboration is stronger than before, and, what's more significant, Estonia is learning from Ukraine by using the state app Diia as a base of mRiik. We discussed the strong tech collaboration between the two countries with Estonia's CIO Luukas Ilves, the project manager of mRiik Nikolai Kornõšev and Mstyslav Banik, the head of the eServices development in the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. 

Our latest podcast tackles a timely and groundbreaking topic of personalised medicine with Piret Hirv, the manager of the Connected Health Cluster. Piret, with her background as a trained nurse and experience in the Ministry of Social Affairs, brings valuable insights into the importance of private and public partnerships, the future of behavioural health, and the current status of personalised medical services in Estonia.

 With experts from TEHIK, Katre Pruul, manager of cross-border data exchange and Tõnis Jaagus, head of the health division, our podcast hosts explore the benefits of patient portals and their impact on healthcare, discussing how these digital tools empower patients and revolutionise how they engage with healthcare providers. They also take a closer look at the future of e-health and how digital health portals are paving the way for a more patient-centric approach to healthcare. 

Estonia is the first and still the only country with nationwide internet elections. The latest general elections in the first week of March saw a record in casting votes online compared to physical votes -... people voted through their computers. As the rest of the world is slow in joining the revolution, we invited Mihkel Solvak to explain all the nitty-gritty behind internet voting, its impact and usage of it and also but also narrower technical aspects like how vote verification impacts Internet voting. Mihkel is an associate professor of technology research at the University of Tartu. He is currently active at the Center of IT Impact Studies, where one of his focus areas is electronic elections. He also runs the Estonian Internet Voter Study.

The government is lagging behind the private sector in its use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In the latest podcast episode, we discuss the reasons behind it and the challenges and opportunities for the public sector with the leading AI expert and researcher, Colin van Noordt. Colin works as a programme director for AI at the digital transformation consultancy Digital Nation and is a PhD Researcher at the Ragnar Nurkse Department of Innovation and Governance at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) in Estonia. He has been advising the European Commission, as well as other European governments, on what factors contribute to the introduction and application of artificial intelligence in public authorities.

The 3rd season of our podcast series "The Art of Digitalisation" premiers with the boss of digital Estonia - Mr Luukas Kristjan Ilves, who serves as the Government Chief Officer. His work is not building but managing a digital country Estonia, mapping the visions, strategies, and tactics necessary for Estonia's digital transformation and resilience. Coming from the private sector, he has some very bold ideas in his pockets, which he'll share exclusively with our listeners.

It's hard to find a more perfect guest for the end-of-the-year podcast than the former president of Estonia, Mrs Kersti Kaljulaid. She's a global advocate and recognized thought leader on a wide range of topics, including (cyber) security, artificial intelligence, mental health, and the well-being of women and children. But this conversation focuses on green transition, greentech and, as Mrs Kaljulaid put it so nicely - why this "little lab of digital development" called Estonia is still lagging in green innovation.

In this episode, Erika Piirmets and Carmen Raal explore how countries solve the issue of digital identity, how they can learn from each other and what's the future of digital identity. Their guest is a former government Chief Legal Officer (GLO) and CEO of Proud Engineers Laura Kask. She has been responsible for the legislative framework of the Estonian information society and created the legal architecture for the first data embassy in the world. Today she is helping other governments and large corporations solve complicated challenges and build a digital future at Proud Engineers.

The guest of our latest podcast episode is Kalev Pihl, CEO of SK ID Solutions and one of the key figures behind the Estonian ID-card project. He has played a crucial role in its planning and also has had a significant influence on the outcomes that are available today.

Sustainability, tokens, and the well-being of nature and the world were some of the topics Carmen Raal and Erika Piirmets touched upon with their guest Merit Valdsalu, founder and CEO of Single.Earth. A company with a mission to transform how we approach consumption and how to integrate nature protection into the economy.

Our monthly podcast "The Art of Digitalisation" has been taken over by our Digital Transformation Advisers Carmen Raal and Erika Piirmets. Their first guest is Dr Dominik Panosch - the recent world record holder in founding the fastest company in just 15 min 33 sec. 

Sandra Särav is a force to be reckoned with. Sandra has worked as the Public Policy Manager at Bolt (the Estonian unicorn mobility startup), becoming the latter's Head of Sustainability before being snatched up by Facebook, where she also served as the Public Policy Manager for the CEE region.  Luckily for our state, Sandra is one of our top civil servants with a bright future. In the most recent episode of the e-Estonia podcast “The Art of Digitalisation,” Sandra Särav talks to the host Florian Marcus about:How Estonia is looking to be more human-centric in its public services;That Estonia will never be selling its citizens' private data;About the governmental Data Tracker and how it will be mandatory for all governmental information systems;How Estonian citizens can consent to give their data in governmental databases with private sector service providers;About Sandra's work as a lecturer and university researcher;About autonomous robots;Estonian startups and what has been their secret sauce (hint: a lot has to do with the government and regulations);Metaverse, and much much more.

Mari-Liis Kukk is the Head of the Innovation Department at the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority. She describes herself as a long-time fan of the world of finance, being into novel ways of making financial services work and ensuring more efficient experiences for everyone involved.In the most recent episode of the e-Estonia podcast “The Art of Digitalisation,” Mari-Liis Kukk talks to the host Florian Marcus about:Whether Estonia has overregulated the crowdfunding and crypto industries;Tokenization and micro-shares;Her Ph.D. in finance;What her daily job at the Financial Supervision Authority entails and what their fairly new Innovation Hub does;Do fintechs depend on location or the ecosystem;What is her favorite public e-service, and much more.

Taavi Tamkivi is the founder and CEO of a startup called Salv that aims to kill an industry valued at a trillion dollars a year.  Salv is an anti-money laundering platform that helps financial institutions, banks, etc., to be compliant and catch fraudsters simultaneously. Taavi likes to say that he is no longer building a product but a community of crime-fighters. Almost like a Marvel universe.

Merle Maigre works as the Senior Cyber Security Expert at e-Governance Academy.  In our podcast, Merle talks to Florian Marcus about:Resilience in cyberspace;Why the war in Ukraine is a 21st century war;The importance of backing up your family photos and data embassies;The lessons learned from the 2007 Russian cyberattacks on Estonian public and private websites;e-Governance Academy's digital transformation projects in the Balkans, Tonga, Kyiv, Armenia, Moldova, and many other places;The ongoing cyberattacks against Ukraine (since 2014);The Tallinn Manual and Estonia's role in NATO.

Tanel Sepp is the Ambassador at Large and Director-General for the Cyber Diplomacy Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia. He has been in the Estonian Foreign Service for 19 years - having served from Brussels to Kabul, Washington D.C. to Ethiopia. In this episode, he talks to our host Florian Marcus about the balkanization of the Internet, how he helped the Estonian troops to vote in Afghanistan and how half of them still preferred to do it online, and also about what does a cyber diplomat do every day.

Florian Marcus's quest is  Jaanika Merilo, the evangelist of e-government, head of PR and Communication of Funderbeam, advisor to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and advocate of EU and Ukrainian relations.

The guest of our podcast series first episode of 2022 is one of the most influential men behind e-Estonia, actually. His name is Andres Kütt and he has held a myriad of impressive positions - the Head of Architecture at Skype, the Head of IT at the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, Advisor at the Estonian Information System's Authority, lecturer on the topic of e-governance at various universities, etc. Your host Florian Marcus sat down with Kütt to talk about the birth of our digital nation, the CIO Index, life-event-based services, the Frankenstein monster, and whether life goes up or downhill after getting married. 

X-Road – considered the foundation of the Estonian e-state, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Taavi Meinberg, Product Owner of the X-Road at the Estonian Information Systems Authority, and Arne Ansper, the Development Manager at Cybernetica, talk with Florian Marcus, e-Estonia's Digital Transformation Adviser about the X-Road's history, milestones, and future.

Estonian Government's Chief Data Officer Ott Velsberg speaks to Florian Marcus about the next level of development of the digital state in e-Estonia - #bürokratt, which he calls Siri on steroids. 

In our latest podcast episode, Florian Marcus talks to communication expert Daniel Vaarik. Vaarik served as the consultant for the famous Estonian e-Residency programme from its very inception. He was hired to conceptualise Estonia's messaging and namely also how we talk about e-governance. 

In the seventh episode of our podcast series, “The Art of Digitalisation” our host Florian Marcus gets the Estonian CIO, Siim Sikkut, before his mic. You will hear why the governmental CIO/CTO meetings resemble AA meetings, the situation with innovation in Estonia when the country will have governmental virtual assistants at work, and the new initiative called Digital Testbed Framework. 

In the newest episode of our podcast “The Art of Digitalisation” our speaker Florian Marcus discusses the current threats and trends of cybersecurity with none other than Lauri Almann, the co-founder of CybExer Technologies - a company where enterprises, governments, and individuals can engage in immersive cyber training. In fact, the world did not realise the importance of cybersecurity until 2007, when the infamous cyberattacks against Estonia took place and resulted in the formal establishment of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. At this time Almann served as the secretary-general of the Estonian Ministry of Defence.

Our speaker Florian Marcus talked with Kevin Tammearu, the Head of Business Development for Data Exchange Technologies of Cybernetica.  Estonian company, known as the main architects of the X-Road - the backbone of e-Estonia. The company has been solving complex challenges for almost fifty decades - both in Estonia and abroad - yet maintaining the privacy of citizens and data. 

In this episode, our Digital Transformation Adviser Florian Marcus talks to Dermtest´s CEO Priit Kruus. Dermtest gives doctors the digital tools to manage the skin, skin problems, and wounds better. The company has ca 60 different hospitals, family doctors and private clinics in their client portfolio.

In our podcast's third episode, Florian Marcus talks to Kristo Vaher, the Chief Technology Officer of the Republic of Estonia. The conversation can really be wrapped up as the title says - dare to be second because one thing that this small digital nation keeps doing is learning and innovating.This episode also talks about what a governmental CTO does and when Estonia will start using virtual assistants to help people interact with the government.

In our second podcast episode, our Digital Transformation Adviser Florian Marcus talks to computer-vision AI company Fyma´s co-founder and CEO Karen K. Burns. Karen dreamt of becoming a Hollywood producer and moved to the UK at 18 and put herself through film school while working for several IT companies.  There did come a brief stint in the movie industry when she worked on the production of "Star Wars" and "The Fast and the Furious". Fast-forward to 2021 and to Estonia, where Karen leads an AI company where ethics is one of the central values when choosing investors and clients. 

Estonia's IT minister Andres Sutt talks to e-Estonia Briefing Centre's Digital Transformation Adviser Anett Numa in its inaugural podcast about this small digital nation's e-history and the future ahead. You'll also hear what he considers the most potent e-service and what would, in his opinion, help us out of the current global pandemic.