Seminar Learning from Finland and Estonia:
Insights into Digital Innovation, Resilience, and Practical Lessons for Switzerland
Seminar
Helsinki - Tallinn
August 29 - September 3
Registration
Registration is closed. For more information, please contact us by email.
The Seminar
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The seminar will address key challenges and opportunities in digitalization, contributing to a secure and sovereign future.
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Our mission is to bridge international innovation with Swiss economic interests. We focus on cross-border learning to enhance economic cooperation and drive Swiss business expansion in the fields of digitalization and security.
Highlights
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Visit ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations for Earth Observation, and IQM, a pioneer in building quantum computers driving the next frontier of scalable quantum computing.
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Look at the best digitalization and cybersecurity practices of the Estonian government and companies like Helmes and Nortal, and learn how to apply them.
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Visit of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE) and conduct a tabletop exercise.
The Program in Detail
Version dated July 15, 2026
Pre-seminar, 29 - 30 Aug.
Saturday, Aug. 29 | Helsinki
15:00 - 17:00
Welcome and arrival of participants in Helsinki
Check-in at Hotel Haven
Pre-seminar opening dinner at restaurant in Helsinki
Sunday, Aug. 30 | Helsinki
12:00 - 16:00
Welcome and arrival of participants in Helsinki
Check-in at Hotel Haven
16:00 - 18:00
Free time
Free time for participants arriving on Saturday evening or Sunday morning.
Seminar, 30 Aug. - 3 Sep.
Sunday, Aug. 30 | Helsinki
18:00 - 21:30
Kickoff Conference and Following Dinner:
Official Opening of the Seminar in Helsinki at the Hotel Haven with the participation of representatives from the Swiss Embassy in Helsinki (tbc) and Gustav Henriksson, Switzerland Global Enterprise
A Swiss Perspective from Finland: Grow in Silence – Why Swiss Guy Moved to the Finnish Woods
Switzerland & Finland: Common Ground and Opportunities: Finnish Food Culture Through a Swiss Finnish Lens
Monday, Aug. 31 | Helsinki - Tallinn
9:00 - 9:30
Bus transfer
From Helsinki to VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
9:30 - 11:30
Visit of the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
The nuclear sector is witnessing a wide range of forward-looking initiatives, including Small Modular Reactors and nuclear fusion. VTT offers guidance on how to engage in these developments and advises on the optimal timing and approach for adopting emerging technologies.
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Finnish energy system: electrical power as well as district heating
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LDR-50 heat-only reactor technology: status and prospects
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Energy system resilience
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Nuclear waste management, specifically spent fuel disposal
11:30 - 12:00
Transfer to the company ICEYE
12:00 - 13:00
Lunch break organized by ICEYE
13:00 - 15:00
Visit of the ICEYE
The global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations for Earth Observation.
Seeing When Others Are Blind – Sovereign Space-Based ISR for a Safer Europe
Mr. Philipp Hermann, Vice President Missions – Germany, ICEYE
Transfer to the company IQM
15:30 - 17:00
Visit of the IQM
The global leader in building quantum computers
IQM Quantum Computers – Why Quantum Matters Now
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Mr. Jouni Flyktman, Vice President for Defense and Security
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Ms. Milja Kalliosaari, Government Relations Manager
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Mr. Toni Pesonen, Head of Security
17:00 - 18:00
Transfer to Helsinki harbor
18:00 - 19:00
Get ready for your journey to Tallinn
Check-in for the ferry transfer
19:00 - 21:30
Ferry Transfer and Dinner on Board
Transfer from Helsinki to Tallinn. Unwind after a full day of meetings and travel while enjoying dinner at The Chef’s Kitchen aboard the Megastar ferry.
21:30 - 22:00
Participants arrive in Tallinn – start of the next leg of the seminar
Transfer from Tallinn port to the hotel and Check-in at the Hotel Telegraaf in Tallinn
Tuesday, Sep. 1 | Tallinn
9:30 - 10:00
Bus transfer
From Hotel Telegraaf to E-Estonia
10:00 - 11:30
Visit of the e-Estonia Briefing Centre
The e-Estonia Briefing Centre inspires global policymakers, political leaders, corporate executives, investors, and international media with Estonia’s digital success story. We guide visitors on their own digitalisation journeys while building connections with leading Estonian IT and service providers. The Centre was designed specifically to offer a hands-on experience of everything e-Estonia represents.
Established in 2009 as an NGO, the Centre is now part of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency, where it plays an important role in promoting Estonia’s know-how and expertise in digital governance and services.
During the e-Estonia briefing, our Digital Transformation Adviser provides an engaging introduction to the foundations of Estonia’s digital society and its key success stories. The session covers major policy choices and challenges, as well as the core infrastructure, digital solutions, and services, illustrated with practical examples.
We also regularly support and advise other countries on their digitalisation efforts, connecting them with credible, leading IT partners from Estonia to help drive innovation and international cooperation.
Session organized by Helmes, including lunch
Smart Healthcare the Estonian Way
The seminar gives a concise overview of Estonia’s digital society and the foundations behind its e-ID and e-government success. Estonian digital innovation partner Helmes presents practical examples of e-health solutions and the efficiency they create. Participants will gain actionable insights for
secure digital transformation and modernizing public services.
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Mr. Meelis Lang, Chief Innovation Officer
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Mr. Tarmo Kiivit, Founding Partner
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Mr. Ian Nelis, Business Unit Lead
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Ms. Liis-Marii Männimägi, Sales Executive
15:30 - 16:00
Bus transfer
Transfer from Helmes to the hotel
16:00 - 18:00
Free time
18:00 - 19:20
Conference: Official Opening of the Seminar in Tallinn at RaulWalter office
Welcome speech: Estonian Minister (tbc)
Opening Remarks and Keynote speeches:
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Mr. Raul Kaidro, RaulWalter CEO
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The Swiss honorary consul Mr. Andreas Lehmann
- Mr. Tarmo Kiivit, Founding Partner, Helmes AS
19:30 - 21:30
Exclusive Dinner
Dinner at Dominic's restaurant
Wednesday, Sep. 2 | Tallinn
9:00 - 9:30
Bus transfer
Transfer from the hotel to the company Nortal
9:30 - 11:00
Shaping a secure and sovereign digital future.
This workshop takes a deep dive into resilience and digital security in the modern age. It offers an opportunity to explore practical strategies and share experiences for building secure, future-ready governance. Nortal, as a global leader in digitalization, will bring its expertise to help shape innovative and resilient solutions.
Mr. Andres Raieste, Senior Vice President
Ms. Kadri Haufe, Vice President of Digital Transformation
11:00 - 11:30
Bus transfer to the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence
11:30 - 12:30
Lunch break
12:30 - 15:30
Visit of the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence
The aim of this briefing is to inform, challenge, and inspire a shared understanding of where cyber defence stands today and where it must go next.
Ms. Nathalie Gratzer, National Representative
Transfer
Transfer from the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence to the Estonia's Information System Authority (RIA)
16:00 - 17:30
Visit of the Estonia's Information System Authority (RIA)
17:30 - 18:00
Bus transfer to the hotel
18:30 - 21:30
Closing Dinner
Relax and enjoy the final dinner of the seminar, discussing key topics with fellow participants at the Restaurant Tchaikovsky
Thursday, Sep. 3 | Tallinn
5:00 - 17:00
Individual departures
The flight from Tallinn to Zurich leaves early in the morning. You can take the ferry back to Helsinki and catch your return flight from there. Alternatively, you can book a return flight with a stopover in Helsinki at a more convenient time. A convenient airline: Finnair. Contact us for more information.
Registration form
Registration is closed. For more information, please contact us by email.
Terms and Conditions
Seminar «Government & Civic Innovation and the Demand for Resilience»
Availability of the offer
Registration must be completed by Friday, June 26, 2026 at the latest.
The offers mentioned are based on hotel contingents; availability is no longer guaranteed once these have been exhausted.
Cancellation and payment conditions
Cancellation from booking: 10% of the total price up to and including Monday, July 6, 2026, and thereafter 80% of the total price.
Cancellation and assistance insurance is not included.
If unforeseeable or unavoidable circumstances (e.g. war, strike, natural disasters, withdrawal of grounding rights) prevent the seminar from being held as planned, Alliance Digital Security Switzerland is entitled to withdraw from or cancel the contract. The customer is entitled to a refund of the payments made to the extent of the services not yet received, whereby the expenses demonstrably incurred by Alliance Digital Security Switzerland will be deducted from the refund amount. Further claims for damages are excluded.
An invoice for the seminar fee will be issued and payment within 10 days will serve as confirmation of booking. Invoicing is carried out by the contractor ICPRO GmbH.
Once the registration process is complete, the company named will be responsible for paying the participation fee and reserves the right to replace the registered person with another.
Only if the registered person represents him/herself, he/she is responsible for the payment of the participation fee.
Liability waiver
Arrival and departure
It is the responsibility of each participant to arrange their own international flights to Helsinki and from Tallinn, as well as to obtain all necessary travel documents.
Security
While Alliance Digital Security Switzerland takes all possible measures to ensure the safety of seminar participants, not all factors and processes can be controlled. For this reason, participants are responsible for their own safety. Alliance Digital Security Switzerland declines all liability for security incidents.
Court of jurisdiction
The exclusive court of jurisdiction for disputes arising from or in relation to this contract is Zug.