‘Hea Eesti Idee’ – Estonian Innovation Awareness Progamme Launched

On February the 8th, the Estonian Prime Minister, Juhan Parts, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, Andrus Ansip and the Minister of Education and Science, Toivo Maimets jointly announced the launch of the innovation awareness programme “Good Estonian Idea!” (“Hea Eesti Idee!” – “HEI!”) co-financed from the European Union structural funds.

The aim of the programme is to raise the awareness of the people of Estonia of innovation as the key factor in increasing the well-being and competitiveness and to increase the knowledge and skills in the science and business sectors to successfully implement innovation projects.

The innovation awareness programme “Good Estonian Idea!” will support projects that expand the knowledge of entrepreneurs, investors and company heads of innovation as the basic foundation for competitiveness and develop their innovation management related knowledge and skills. It will also support projects that develop the creativity, entrepreneurial and innovation management skills of specialists and engineers.

The “Good Estonian Idea!” programme is co-financed with 16.5 million kroons from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The allocations from Estonia’s budget will support the programme with 5.5 million kroons. The total volume of the programme is 22 million kroons. This year, the activities raising innovation awareness will be supported with 9 million kroons and the next year with 13 million kroons. The activities under the “Good Estonian Idea!” programme can be carried out until the end of June 2008.

Further information:
Madis Võõras,
Director for Technology and Innovation,
Enterprise Estonia,
Phone: 627 9760
E-mail:

Jagomäe
Public Relations Manager,
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications,
Phone: 626 6430
E-mail:

Read more here.

News Source: Ülle Must, Archimedes, ScanBalt Webeditor – Estonia