Insights for the UK’s eID debate from Estonian experience

In this special episode, we examine what happens when a country with decades of digital-state experience meets a nation only beginning to debate digital identity. Estonia’s Chief Information Officer, Lauri Luht, and long-time e-Residency advocate Adam Rang, unpack the UK’s sudden pivot toward eID, the misconceptions shaping public fears, and the practical realities behind privacy, data protection and cyber resilience. They explain why digital identity is not a threat to civil liberties but a prerequisite for transparency, how trust is built through consent and accountability, and why culturally aligned design, not “one-size-fits-all” solutions, determines success. The conversation also explores the soft-power impact of Estonia’s digital reputation and the opportunities that a well-implemented eID unlocks for both citizens and the private sector. 

In this episode, we explore how national defence changes when society itself becomes digital. Mikk Tikk, Deputy Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Cyber Command and lead mentor at NATO DIANA, explains why cyber security protects a way of life rather than just infrastructure. He outlines how redundancy, joint exercises, and close cooperation with the private sector shape modern defence, why Cyber Command must be ready to operate without the internet, and how innovation, from AI to drones and space-based networks, is redefining both threats and capabilities. 

In this episode, we examine how digitalisation accelerates the green transition. Mikk Vainik from Rohetiiger outlines how secure data, interoperability, and sector roadmaps turn sustainability goals into measurable business practice. Sven Parkel from the Estonian Hydrogen Cluster explains renewable hydrogen and Hydrogen Valleys, why EU-driven collaboration matters, how research translates into real-world pilots, and where startups can create the most impact. 

In this episode, we dive into the future of e-health and pharmaceuticals. Kertti Merimaa from Nortal shares how AI is already transforming healthcare through diagnostics, clinical decision support, and predictive tools, while also dispelling common myths about AI in medicine. Jason Grenfell-Gardner, CEO of J. Molner Company, explains how Estonia became a base for pharmaceutical innovation and why fixing fragile drug supply chains is just as critical as breakthrough therapies. 

In this episode, visionary founder Vattan PS explains why countries cannot afford to depend solely on a handful of global AI providers. We discuss Estonia’s role as a potential prototype nation for AI governance, why AI literacy is becoming core infrastructure, and how upcoming shifts in cost, regulation, and adoption will reshape the landscape faster than any digital transformation before. Vattan PS is building the infrastructure for human potential at a planetary scale. As Founder of Founderly, the operating system for founder success, and Founding Visionary at V, he's defining systems where humans and AI multiply each other's capabilities through Agency. The pattern is clear: companies depending on OpenAI's API today look like businesses running on AOL in 1999. While others debate AI safety, Vattan is building sovereign AI infrastructure, making every human as powerful as a team, not unemployed. The Estonian AI initiatives, New Nordics AI Week, AI Forum, and EstoniAI Meetup, aren't events but infrastructure installations, creating the builder density for Estonia to prototype what every nation needs: AI sovereignty.Find out more: https://v.ee https://founderly.comhttps://newnordicsai.comhttps://aiml.eehttps://estoniai.com

We explore how digital technology is reshaping the creative industries in Estonia, from live AI-generated theatre to immersive VR dance and the future of digital fashion. Mart-Matteus Kampus shares the behind-the-scenes challenges of co-creating a stage production with ChatGPT. Choreographer Liis Vares and interdisciplinary artist Taavet Jansen introduce a performance where the audience becomes part of the show through virtual reality. And fashion designer Xenia Joost reflects on how digital tools can drive both innovation and sustainability in the fashion world. Tune in to discover how Estonian artists are merging creativity and code to push the boundaries of what’s possible in performance, design, and cultural heritage.

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 Katrin 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 associated 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 defence and its complexities.The importance of continuous investment in cyber security and data protection.Vjatšeslav 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 defence 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.