Season 2, Episode 3 - Unlocking Estonia’s E-Residency Success, Skills & Education with Liina Vahtras

In this conversation, Liina Vahtras, the managing director of Estonia's e-residency program, discusses the evolution and impact of the program on entrepreneurship and the digital economy in Estonia with Al Kingsley and Matt Jessop. She highlights the innovations being implemented to streamline the application process, the unique digital ecosystem of Estonia, and the importance of aligning education with the needs of a digital economy. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in education, data ownership, and the challenges faced by young Estonians entering the workforce.

Some of our key takeaways

• Estonia has over 130,000 e-residents from 185 countries.
• E-residents have created close to 38,000 companies in Estonia.
• The e-residency program aims to cut application time from two months to two weeks.
• Estonia's digital ecosystem is unique due to its fully digitized government services.
• The country has no corporate tax on reinvested profits, attracting startups.
• Education in Estonia is adapting to include AI and digital skills.
• Parents can choose additional courses for their children, including coding and robotics.
• Trust in technology is built on data ownership and transparency.
• Estonia's small size allows for quick decision-making and innovation.
• The e-residency program encourages international collaboration and learning.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Estonia's E-Residency Program
00:56 Innovations in E-Residency and Future Developments
02:31 The Impact of E-Residency on Startups and Entrepreneurs
05:33 The Unique Estonian Digital Ecosystem
09:57 Aligning Education with a Digital Economy
13:00 The Role of AI in Education and Digital Skills
18:45 Data Ownership and Trust in Technology
22:00 Challenges and Opportunities for Young Estonians
27:02 Final Thoughts and Resources for Interested Entrepreneurs