Deadline: 6 July 2025
The Enterprise Estonia is now accepting nominations for its Entrepreneurship Award.
The tradition of the oldest entrepreneurship competition in Estonia continues – for the 30th time, they are honouring outstanding Estonian companies whose achievements are recognised with the highest national award!
They acknowledge and honour innovative and forward-thinking Estonian businesses whose determination and dedication have contributed to the success of their companies, employees, and their country.
Categories
- Exporter 2025:
- To recognise smart Estonian companies that create added value and are successful in increasing their exports.
- Innovator 2025:
- To recognise innovative Estonian companies that have implemented or launched an outstanding innovation that offers significant value to clients or society and that invest their sales revenue in research, development or innovation activities.
- Foreign Investor 2025:
- To recognise successful foreign investors operating in Estonia.
- Family Enterprise 2025:
- To recognise family-run enterprises that have made a sustainable contribution to the economy, social development and the cultivation of an entrepreneurial mindset among young people in Estonia.
- Tourism Developer 2025:
- To recognise companies that contribute to Estonia’s tourism economy through attractive tourism services and products and contribute to the faster development and wider recognition of Estonia as a tourist destination.
- Industry Digitaliser 2025:
- To recognise Estonian companies that have accomplished significant process and organisational innovation, technological capacity, productivity, sustainability and competitive advantage through automation, digitalisation or the deployment of robots.
- Sustainability Developer 2025:
- To recognise Estonian companies that focus on enterprise-wide sustainable development.
Benefits
- Participating in the competition gives companies the opportunity to showcase their achievements and increase their visibility.
- Achieving top rankings in the competition has helped companies acknowledge their employees, build credibility with (international) partners, strengthen business relationships, enhance their employer brand, and gain positive media coverage.
- Being among the TOP 3 in a category comes with a broader marketing and media campaign. Companies will also receive marketing materials in Estonian and English, which they can use to highlight their success and build trust among partners and clients.
- Applicants are evaluated in different stages by juries, while category managers provide feedback on the company’s strengths and suggest areas for further improvement. If Enterprise Estonia offers grants or services that could support the company’s development, relevant recommendations will also be provided.
Eligibility Criteria
- Exporter 2025:
- They invite Estonian companies that export products or services to apply.
- Innovator 2025:
- Estonian companies that have successfully implemented a technology development project or launched a new product or service solution in the last three years that improves the company’s competitiveness are invited to apply. The participating company should belong to sectoral and/or international networks.
- Foreign Investor 2025:
- Companies that operate in Estonia with shares held by international investors and that have made a significant investment in Estonia in the last three years are invited to apply.
- Family Enterprise 2025:
- Estonian enterprises that have successfully involved several generations of family members in leadership positions and fostered an entrepreneurial mindset among young people are invited to apply.
- Tourism Developer 2025:
- Companies that are directly involved in offering tourism services and products, whose impact is wider than just their company and are an example for the entire sector are invited to apply.
- Industry Digitaliser 2025:
- Estonian industrial companies that have successfully implemented automation, digital technologies and/or the deployment of robots in their projects in the last three years and thereby increased the company’s productivity and added value are invited to apply.
- Sustainability Developer 2025:
- Estonian companies that implement the principles of sustainability and circular economy and base their activities on social, economic and environmental impact are invited to apply. They have contributed to raising awareness and implementation of environmentally friendly changes.
Application Process
- TOP 5 companies in each category will be selected from all applicants. The shortlisted companies will be announced in the second half of July.
- Between late July and mid-August, category managers will visit the TOP 5 companies to verify and refine the information submitted in the applications.
- After the visits, the juries will select three nominees per category, who will be announced in early October.
- From the TOP 3, the final jury will determine the category winners, who will be revealed in mid-October.
For more information, visit Enterprise Estonia.
