Competing for capital: Estonia’s cleantech sector adapts to rising national security priorities
Its startups are increasingly emphasising that their technologies enhance energy security, while supporting the low-carbon transition
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[TALLINN, ESTONIA] Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine propelled national security to the top of Europe’s agenda, venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) have increasingly pivoted towards defence technologies, diverting attention from clean technologies.
VC and PE funding going towards defence tech in the EU has soared annually since the 2022 invasion, data from market intelligence platform Tracxn indicated.
Funding for defence tech rose rapidly in recent years, climbing over 50 per cent from US$248.1 million in 2022 to US$376.5 million in 2023. It more than doubled to US$763.6 million in 2024, before surging past the billion-dollar mark to US$1.28 billion in 2025. This trend is expected to continue as escalating global instability reinforces security concerns.
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