Estonia’s President Alar Karis Explores Unicorns, Nomads, and the Digital Tech Landscape
“Estonia’s President Alar Karis on the Nation’s Digital Transformation, Unicorn Success, and Global Entrepreneurship”
Known for its cultural heritage and scenic landscapes, Estonia is home to 1.3 million people and has developed into something bigger than a tourist attraction. In the small nation led by statesman and scientist President Alar Karis, digital technology, billion-dollar startups, and international entrepreneurs have taken center stage.
Karis, Estonia’s president since October of last year, credits the country’s twenty-first-century success to more than two decades of strategic planning. He says it started with forward-thinking leadership, including making digital IDs compulsory for all residents. Estonia launched online voting back in 2005 to the world’s attention, then further developed its digital landscape. Today, the UN ranks Estonia third in the world for digital advancement, with 99% of public services available online and free of charge through collaboration between the state and private enterprises.
Collaboration between the private and public sectors goes beyond e-services, and Estonia is now home to eight unicorn companies, the most per capita in the world. Karis credits Estonia’s strong education system, saying the foundation of these unicorns lies in Estonian schools. Combined with an environment that makes it easy to start companies, this has created a culture of entrepreneurship, even among academics like President Karis, who started a company while working as a university professor.
Estonia also makes things easy for international entrepreneurs. Its e-Residency scheme was introduced for nomadic professionals in 2014. The program, which has over 90,000 residents, makes it easy to access Estonian services and set up and run businesses.
The successful combination of e-residency initiatives and a thriving digital landscape has propelled Estonia’s economy, with a projected GDP growth of 4.5% in 2022. President Karis remains optimistic despite a forecasted dip to 3.8% in 2023, citing Estonia’s openness for business and ongoing sectoral developments. However, he acknowledges the unpredictable economic landscape shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.
Expressing concern as a NATO member, Estonia stands in solidarity with Ukraine against aggression. President Karis affirms the country’s commitment to providing humanitarian, military, and political aid to the Ukrainian people. As Estonia navigates these challenging times, President Karis pledges support to both Estonians and foreign residents, underscoring the nation’s dedication to success through education, innovative policies, and digital technology.
