Asvel named top team at the defence technology pre-accelerator demo day

The first round of the defence technology pre-accelerator is approaching the finish line. On June 18, nine Estonian deep tech startups showcased their developments to a jury and industry experts at a demo day, competing for a speaking slot and exhibition space at the upcoming Defence Innovation Day in Tallinn on September 22.

The jury included Jaan Kokk, Partner at Superangel, and Olari Püvi, representative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and Accelerator Estonia. Based on their decision, the selected startup was Asvel, whose autonomous robot can automatically control an endoscope camera during minimally invasive surgery. The solution increases surgical precision, reduces the workload of surgeons, and opens up new opportunities for applying medical technology in the defence sector.

According to Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo, supporting product development by startups helps elevate Estonia’s defence industry to a new level. “The development of the defence industry plays a key role in advancing our economy. The pre-accelerator programme helps bring new technologies to market and develop higher value-added products that boost our competitiveness on international markets. We are proud to support initiatives that strengthen Estonia’s position at the forefront of innovation and technological progress,” Keldo emphasized.

According to Agnes Roos, CEO of Tehnopol, the startup pitch competition clearly demonstrated the vast potential within Estonia’s defence technology companies. “Our goal is to help technology-based companies grow and create solutions with global impact – including in national defence,” Roos emphasized. She added that Tehnopol is proud to serve as a platform where these ideas can grow and develop, paving the way toward future international opportunities.

Similarly, Pirko Konsa, Member of the Management Board at Tartu Science Park, highlighted the accelerator’s role in maturing early-stage ideas. “Throughout the programme, solutions gained traction – teams received valuable feedback, analysed the business aspects, and adapted their ideas to meet customer needs,” Konsa explained. He added that the accelerator helps turn ideas on paper into more realistic concepts, laying the groundwork for first collaborations with potential clients and generating increased interest from investors. “It’s great to do this together with Tehnopol,” he noted.

Miiko Peris, Head of the Defence Industry Development Department at the Ministry of Defence, noted that the pre-accelerator programme attracted strong interest and that its successful implementation in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications confirms the programme is headed in the right direction. “Our goal is to bring technology-driven companies closer to the defence industry and help them navigate this sector more effectively. We look forward to seeing the next success stories – whether through NATO DIANA, European Defence Fund programmes, or collaborations with the Estonian Defence Forces, the Defence League, or other partners,” said Peris. He added that applications are currently open for the NATO DIANA programme and encouraged all companies to take advantage of the opportunity.

According to Andres Šavel, a member of the Asvel team, participating in the defence technology pre-accelerator provided valuable input for both product development and international cooperation. “The defence pre-accelerator gave us not only highly beneficial workshops but also several important contacts – including with Ukraine – to help guide the future development of our medical device in light of the rapidly changing conditions of war. Thanks to the accelerator, we gained further confirmation that in wartime scenarios, an efficiently functioning medical system with minimal resources remains absolutely crucial. With our robot-controlled endoscope designed for minimally invasive surgery, we aim to make a significant contribution to improving treatment outcomes for the wounded while reducing the need for medical personnel,” Šavel said.

The defence technology pre-accelerator is run by Tehnopol Startup Incubator and Sparkup Tartu Science Park. The programme is funded by the Ministry of Defence and supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications. The final stage, the demo day, will take place in September and focuses on the teams’ readiness to take their next steps on international markets.