World's Ten Most Innovative Small Cities Includes Tallinn
Tallinn Climbs Global Innovation Rankings
Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, has made a significant leap in the global innovation rankings, climbing 77 places to secure the 10th position in the Innovation Cities: Small 200 Index. This index, published by the international data innovation agency 2thinknow since 2007, utilizes 162 indicators across 31 categories, including culture, transportation options, technology, taxation, and sustainability.
Amsterdam, the Netherlands, tops the list, followed by Tel Aviv, Israel; Basel, Switzerland; Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, Germany; Québec City, Canada; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Gothenburg, Sweden; Geneva, Switzerland; and Tallinn. Helsinki, Finland, ranks 39th, while Riga, Latvia, holds the 256th position, with Tokyo, Japan, leading the global ranking of 500 cities.
Tallinn's success in the index is attributed to its robust digital infrastructure and e-governance, which enables seamless business operations and services. The city's digital-first economy, pro-business policies, and advanced digital infrastructure, such as the e-Residency program, have facilitated easy, online business registration and management.
Estonia’s comprehensive digital public services, with 100% of government services online, a highly skilled workforce, and a strong startup ecosystem have all played pivotal roles in Tallinn's rise. The city's deputy mayor, Joosep Vimm, stated that Tallinn has made significant progress in digitizing city services.
Vimm also mentioned that the city supports the community and businesses in their digital endeavors. Tallinn's ambition, he said, is to lead in innovation and serve as an example for other cities. The city's improvement in rankings is attributed to its digitalization efforts.
Estonia’s commitment to innovation is also evident in its cybersecurity leadership through the Tallinn Mechanism, which enhances digital resilience and trust, a vital factor for tech companies and startups. The government’s substantial investment in defense innovation, with a dedicated Command for Innovation and Future Capabilities and a €50 million budget for defense industry innovation, highlights the country’s focus on future-oriented technologies and risk-taking in innovation.
In summary, Tallinn’s rise in the Innovation Cities Index is driven by robust digital infrastructure and e-governance, a strong startup culture, strategic investment in cybersecurity and defense innovation, a pro-business environment, and a talented workforce. These combined factors position Tallinn as a leader in small-city innovation and startup-friendly ecosystems.
- The robust digital infrastructure and e-governance of Tallinn, Estonia, have facilitated seamless business operations and services, contributing to its digital-first economy and ascent in the global innovation rankings.
- Estonia's comprehensive digital public services, pro-business environment, talented workforce, and strong startup culture have all played pivotal roles in Tallinn's rise and its position as a leader in small-city innovation and startup-friendly ecosystems.
- The Estonian government's substantial investment in defense innovation, including the Command for Innovation and Future Capabilities and a €50 million budget for defense industry innovation, underscores the country's focus on future-oriented technologies and risk-taking in innovation.
