PR: Startup Nation Central Hosts Estonian President Alar Karis for Strategic Innovation Dialogue 

TEL AVIV, February 13, 2025 – Startup Nation Central, a nonprofit that promotes the Israeli innovation ecosystem globally, hosted H.E. Alar Karis, president of the Republic of Estonia, along with Ambassador Veikko Kala, Estonia’s ambassador to Israel, Ambassador Boaz Rodkin, Israel’s ambassador to Estonia and Finland, and an Estonian delegation for a strategic discussion on innovation, digital transformation, and economic growth. 

Estonia and Israel, two small nations with outsized global impact, share a bold, entrepreneurial spirit that drives their leadership in technology and digital advancement. The visit to Startup Nation Central, part of the presidential delegation to Israel, provided an opportunity for both nations to exchange insights and explore avenues for collaboration. 

During a roundtable discussion, leaders from academia, tech transfer offices, industry, and the private sector explored key topics in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and health technology. The discussions focused on how Estonia’s digital-first policies have fueled economic growth and driven the development of new industries and included sector-specific case studies in cybersecurity, AI, and health tech, the role of academia in shaping the future of technology and fostering industry partnerships, and the shared entrepreneurial mindset between Estonia’s innovation-driven economy and Israel’s culture of “impatient innovation.” 

The visit concluded with a fireside chat between President Karis and Avi Hasson, CEO of Startup Nation Central, discussing the future of Israel-Estonia technology collaboration and the potential for joint research and development (R&D) and strategic partnerships. 

The visit was facilitated by the Embassy of Estonia in Tel Aviv and Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking the beginning of a strengthened partnership between Estonia and Israel, united in their commitment to innovation and economic growth. 

About Startup Nation Central: Startup Nation Central helps global solution seekers tackle complex challenges by giving them frictionless access to the expertise and solutions of Israel’s problem solvers – and their bold and determined approach to innovation. We call this Impatient Innovation.  Our free business engagement platform, Finder, grants unrestricted access to real-time, updated information and deep business insights into the Israeli tech ecosystem, explore potential opportunities, and forge valuable business connections.