NIB Provides EUR 11.4 Million Loan to Support Estonia’s New Defence-Focused Drone Research Facility

Image: Metrosert AS

(IN BRIEF) The Nordic Investment Bank and Metrosert AS have signed a 10-year EUR 11.4 million loan agreement to finance the creation of a new Drone Technology Unit at the Applied Research Centre in Tallinn, Estonia, as part of a broader government-backed effort to strengthen national R&D capabilities with a strong focus on defence-related applications. The unit will house specialised laboratories dedicated to research and validation in unmanned aviation, communications, navigation, flight physics, and hardware security across air, ground, and maritime domains, with total investment for the unit reaching EUR 17.4 million by 2027 and EUR 42.9 million for the entire Applied Research Centre. Expected to be fully operational by summer 2027, the facility aims to provide Nordic-Baltic companies with a realistic testing environment to accelerate drone development, reinforcing regional defence and resilience while advancing Estonia’s position as a hub for autonomous systems innovation.

(PRESS RELEASE) TALLINN, 6-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — The Nordic Investment Bank (NIB) and Estonian research organisation Metrosert AS have concluded a 10-year financing agreement to support the establishment of a new Drone Technology Unit at the Applied Research Centre in Tallinn, marking a significant investment in Estonia’s defence-oriented innovation infrastructure. The EUR 11.4 million loan will contribute to the construction and equipping of specialised laboratories aimed at advancing the development, testing, and lifecycle management of unmanned systems.

The new unit forms part of a broader, government-backed initiative to strengthen Estonia’s national research and development capacity, particularly in strategically important technological domains. While the facility will support a range of civil and dual-use applications, the majority of its activities are expected to focus on defence-related research and testing.

Designed as a multidisciplinary hub for unmanned systems innovation, the Drone Technology Unit will concentrate on key areas including autonomous aviation, secure communications, navigation systems, flight physics, and hardware security. The facility will house purpose-built laboratories capable of validating and industrialising drone technologies across air, ground, and maritime environments, providing a comprehensive testing ecosystem for next-generation autonomous platforms.

The unit will operate as part of the newly established Applied Research Centre in Estonia, which brings together expertise across multiple high-tech fields. Construction and installation work are underway, with the Drone Technology Unit expected to be fully operational by summer 2027.

The total investment required to establish the Drone Technology Unit between 2025 and 2027 is estimated at EUR 17.4 million, while the overall cost of developing the entire Applied Research Centre amounts to approximately EUR 42.9 million.

André Küüsvek, President and CEO of NIB, emphasised that the facility responds to growing demand for testing and validation of military-grade drone technologies. He noted that the unit will provide companies across the Nordic-Baltic region with a dedicated platform to accelerate development cycles, strengthening regional defence capabilities and resilience.

Rainer Kivimäe, Head of the Drone Technologies Unit at Metrosert’s Applied Research Centre, highlighted that the combination of scientific expertise, advanced laboratory infrastructure, defence-driven use cases, and strong industrial partnerships will enable companies to mature their unmanned systems more efficiently and reliably. He described the initiative as a major milestone in building a coordinated, world-class drone ecosystem in Estonia and across the Nordic-Baltic region.

Metrosert AS, Estonia’s national metrology institute and a state-owned research and technology organisation, employs around 130 specialists and operates across five strategic research areas: drone technologies, autonomous vehicles, hydrogen technologies, biorefining, and health data. Through applied research, precision measurement, quality systems, and collaboration between academia and industry, Metrosert supports sustainable innovation and technological development in Estonia.

NIB is the international financial institution of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. The Bank finances projects that improve productivity and benefit the environment of the Nordic-Baltic region. The Bank is headquartered in Helsinki with a regional hub in Riga. NIB has the highest possible credit rating, AAA/Aaa, with S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s.

For further information, please contact

Liisa Vuorinen, Senior Banker, +358 10 618 0248, liisa.vuorinen@nib.int

Tommy Hellström, Communications Officer, +358 10 618 0214, tommy.hellstrom@nib.int

Metrosert

Kadri Siirak, Head of Communications and Marketing, +372 53 577 9626, kadri.siirak@metrosert.ee

SOURCE: Nordic Investment Bank