Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part IV: Cybersecurity and Digital Resilience: What Europe can Learn from Estonia

The Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) is pleased to host the next webinar in its Research and Innovation Series (RIS), focusing on Estonia’s experience in cybersecurity and digital resilience, and the lessons this offers for Europe.  

Organized by the Stockholm Center for Research and Innovation Security (SCRIS), this webinar series aims to promote dialogue and the exchange of ideas on research and innovation, while deepening understanding of the policies and factors that shape security developments. Scholars, practitioners, and experts from diverse fields are invited to join the conversation.  

This session will explore how Estonia has built one of the world’s most advanced digital societies while maintaining robust cybersecurity governance, public-private cooperation, and institutional resilience.  

We are delighted to welcome Siim Alatalu, Project Manager at the Estonian Centre for International Development Cooperation (ESTDEV) and Non-Resident Research Fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS). The discussion will be moderated by SCRIS’ Melita Phachulia. The event will begin with a presentation by followed by a Q&A session. 

Key questions include: 

• How has Estonia successfully built and maintained trust in its digital infrastructure and public institutions? 
• What role does cybersecurity play in safeguarding democratic resilience? 
• How can European states strengthen cooperation on cyber capability-building? 
• What institutional and policy lessons can Europe draw from Estonia’s model? 

Speaker:

Siim Alatalu is a Project Manager at the Estonian Centre for International Development Cooperation (ESTDEV), and a Non-Resident Research Fellow at the International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS), contributing to the Tallinn Digital Summit programme. He previously led EU CyberNet at the Estonian Information System Authority (RIA) and served as CEO of Foundation CR14, Estonia’s Ministry of Defence-established cyber range centre. He also worked at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) and helped shape EU cyber policy during Estonia’s 2017 EU Council Presidency. Siim holds degrees from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, the Baltic Defence College, and the University of Tartu. 

Find the recordings of previous webinars in the series here.

More information about the next webinar in the series (March 31st): Research and Innovation Series (RIS) – Part V: UK Perspectives on Research and Innovation Security