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...
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 Po...
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, highlight...
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 s...
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/p...
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 ...
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 Direct...
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 an...
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 digitalisatio...
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 Com...
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 f...
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 candi...
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 th...
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 eServi...
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 In...
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 Technol...
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 lagg...