Eight Estonian startups will receive financing to conduct defense research
Eight Estonian startups will receive financing from the European Commission to conduct defense research and development. The money will be invested into 16 projects of the European Defense Fund, in which eight Estonian startups and five Estonian technology companies take part. The total amount of investment into the 16 projects is €495M.
This initiative is supported by Estonia, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Norway, France, Spain, Denmark, and Sweden.
Among eight Estonian startups are:
Milrem is a defense solutions provider. It manufactures unmanned ground vehicles and develops robotic warfare solutions. Among the main products are the THeMIS and Multiscope unmanned ground vehicles, which are intended to support dismounted soldiers and serve in forestry and firefighting.
Cafa Tech develops cellular drones with a 4G/5G communication module for urban flights to measure the coverage of a cellular network and mobile robots that work both autonomously and over 4G/5G teleoperation mode and replace the human presence in monotonous, hard, and dangerous for the health jobs, such as in the warehouse logistics, delivery products, waste logistics.
CybExer Technologies provides cybersecurity training solutions for companies and their employees. The platform offers a range of cybersecurity training modules. For example, a cyber range, where the clients can conduct live-fire exercises, simulating real-world cyber attacks. It helps identify and mitigate vulnerabilities, thereby improving their prevention and response strategies.
Falconers offers development services focusing on remote sensing AI and hardware. The solution is aimed to decrease the computational energy load by optimizing the system chain from sensors to AI algorithms/hardware development.
Marduk Technologies has developed an alternative mid-range (1...5km) UAV detection, tracking, and high-precision targeting system Marduk Shark. The system is based on sensor fusion, taking advantage of the latest machine learning algorithms, COTS hardware, and non-ITAR elements.
Spacewave provides communication solutions for nano-satellites (cubesats), which serve for space exploration. The communication system is integrated into nano-satellite missions including cubesats starting from 1U (micrometer) or even smaller satellites. The power consumption of the communication system when transmitting is below 10W.
Talgen Cybersecurity focuses on fundamental and applied research in cybersecurity and cyber defense domains and develops related software platforms, embedded hardware, and services.
Criffin consults on, researches, and develops immersive experience technologies that enable full-body presence and precise motion capture suited for a wide range of applications, including industrial simulations, military training, motion analytics, and more.
Milrem, Cafa Tech, CRIFFIN (VR LAB), Falconers, and Spacewave will receive €400K also from the Ministry of Defence.
Between 2021 to 2027, the European Union is investing approximately €8 bln into defense research and development through the European Defense Fund.
The program helps reduce the fragmentation of the European weapons systems and contributes to increasing European competitiveness and cooperation in defense research and development.
