On October 14, 2024, the French Embassy in Estonia, Business France, EIS, the Estonian Cleantech Association, and the France-Estonia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFE) hosted an innovative Cleantech Business Forum in Tallinn. This event brought together industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers from both countries, marking a significant step in the growing collaboration between France and Estonia in the cleantech sector. The forum was moderated by: Louise Dubrulle (French Embassy), Brice Gasnier (CCIFE), Tatsiana Zaretskaya (Meliora) and took place one year after the signing in Paris of the MoU between France and Estonia on Cleantech cooperation paving the way to strengthen bilateral business.

Forum Highlights
The event began with a warm welcome from H.E. Emmanuel Mignot, the French Ambassador to Estonia, who emphasized France’s confidence in Estonian innovation, increasing investments in Estonia, and the potential for both countries to become European leaders in cleantech through collaboration.

Overview of Key Sectors

The Estonian Cleantech Sector
Kädi Ristkok, Director of the Estonian Cleantech Association, provided an insightful overview of Estonia’s rapidly growing cleantech sector. She noted a significant increase in the number of companies since 2021, with energy and power being the largest segment.

France’s Commitment to Green Transition
Axel Berke-Lagercrantz from Business France presented France’s ambitious “France 2030” investment plan, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2050. The plan includes a €54 billion investment strategy across various sectors to drive innovation and decarbonization.

Innovative Energy Solutions
The forum showcased several cutting-edge energy solutions:

– Zero Terrain presented its build-anywhere pumped-hydro storage technology, aiming to provide affordable and secure green energy baseload without geographical restrictions.

– Edouard Dubrana from EDDU Energy introduced scalable, containerized data centers that optimize renewable energy production and provide grid balancing services.

– Sunly presented by Pritt Lepasepp shared insights on their renewable energy projects across the Baltic states, with 332 MW operational and 1.3 GW in near-term construction.

– Tarmo Ong, representing Fusebox, presented the company’s innovative virtual power plant (VPP) technology:The VPP solution helps balance the electricity grid by adjusting energy consumption and production in real-time, crucial for integrating more renewable energy sources.

– Katrin Jōgi from Fibenol presented its SWEETWOODS project, demonstrating the commercial viability of transforming hardwood residues into high-purity lignin and wood sugars.

– Riat Maasikas from UP Catalyst showcased its innovative process for producing sustainable carbon materials from CO2, with applications in energy storage and various industries.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The forum underscored the strong potential for French-Estonian cooperation in the cleantech sector. Both countries share strengths in governmental support, robust startup ecosystems, and close collaboration between universities and innovators.

Key Areas for Increased Collaboration

• Scientific research and innovation
• Public sector cooperation for policy alignment
• Partnerships between cleantech companies and traditional industries
• Co-financing of cleantech projects
• Shared startup incubators and accelerators

Examples of Bilateral Collaboration

Corsica Sole
In collaboration with Evecon and Mirova, Corsica Sole is working on innovative energy storage projects that will play a crucial role in Estonia’s energy transition and represent the most substantial private investment in Estonia’s energy security to date.

Skeleton Technologies
Arnaud Castaignet, representing Skeleton Technologies, presented the company’s ambitious plans for expansion in France:

– Investment of 600 million euros over the next five years

– Establishment of R&D activities in Toulouse to develop next-generation battery technology

– Construction of a manufacturing facility in the Occitanie region to produce Skeleton’s “SuperBattery”

Public Support for Cleantech Startups
Cyril Carabot, Secretary General of the Syndicat des énergies renouvelables (SER), addressed the crucial topic of public support for cleantech startups in their industrialization phase, highlighting the role of the state and the importance of public-private partnerships.

Cleantech Startup Financing
Tatsiana Zaretskaya, CEO of Meliora, presented insights on investment strategies and support mechanisms for cleantech startups, highlighting the unique challenges they face in securing funding.

A New Era of Collaboration with CCI France Estonie
Violaine Champetier de Ribes, president of CCIFE, announced the creation of a bilateral working group dedicated to “matchmaking,” which will be launched in November. This group aims to facilitate exchanges and collaborations between French companies and Estonian startups. Additionally, a specific subgroup dedicated to Cleantechs will be established to discuss specific challenges, share best practices, and explore new opportunities for growth and partnerships.

Conclusion
The French-Estonian Cleantech Business Forum highlighted the strong potential for collaboration between the two countries in driving innovation and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future. By leveraging their respective strengths and fostering deeper partnerships, France and Estonia are well-positioned to make significant contributions to the global cleantech sector. Together, let’s build a cleaner and more innovative future for France and Estonia!

If you are interested in participating in the bilateral working group dedicated to Cleantech send an email to president@ccife.ee

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To discover CCIFE members click: here