Over the past two decades, Estonia has established itself as a global benchmark in digital innovation, transforming structural limitations into a competitive advantage. With no significant natural resources and limited leverage as a traditional tourism destination, the country made a strategic decision early on: to invest decisively in technology, digital infrastructure, and human capital.
This long-term vision has positioned Estonia at the forefront of digital governance. One of the earliest signals of this approach was the adoption of digital solutions for everyday public services, including mobile-based public transport payments at a time when such concepts were still considered experimental in most of Europe. More importantly, these initiatives were not isolated innovations but part of a coherent national strategy.
A defining milestone came when Estonia became the first country in the world to introduce nationwide internet voting. What began with limited adoption has evolved into a mature and trusted system: today, electronic voting accounts for more than half of all ballots cast in national elections, surpassing paper votes for the first time. The model prioritises flexibility, security, and citizen trust, allowing voters to update their choice during the electronic voting period and ensuring that in-person voting always takes precedence.
Perhaps Estonia’s most internationally influential initiative, however, is its e-Residency programme, which is now approaching its tenth anniversary. Designed to provide a secure digital identity to global entrepreneurs, e-Residency enables non-residents to establish and manage EU-based companies entirely online. Through this programme, users gain access to company formation, banking services, payment processing, and taxation within the European Union, without requiring physical residence in the country.
The impact has been substantial. More than 112,700 individuals have become e-residents, leading to the creation of over 30,200 companies in Estonia. These businesses act as gateways to the European single market for entrepreneurs worldwide and have generated significant economic returns. In 2023 alone, companies founded by e-residents contributed €64.3 million in tax revenues, with projections indicating that this figure could reach €100 million annually by 2025.
Beyond its financial performance, e-Residency has reinforced Estonia’s position as a global leader in digital government and regulatory innovation. The programme continues to evolve, with plans already underway to introduce mobile e-Residency by 2027, further improving accessibility and operational efficiency.
Estonia’s experience also highlights an important point for other European territories with advanced digital infrastructures. Systems such as Catalonia’s IdCAT, including its mobile variant, already provide secure digital identification, electronic signatures, and access to public services aligned with EU regulations. These foundations demonstrate that the technical and regulatory building blocks for more ambitious digital governance models are already in place.
As the e-Residency programme enters its second decade, Estonia stands as a compelling case study in how strategic investment in digitalisation can reshape a country’s economic and institutional landscape. By simplifying bureaucracy, prioritising user-centric public services, and embracing global entrepreneurship, Estonia has created a resilient, innovation-driven ecosystem with tangible benefits for citizens and businesses alike.
For regions such as Catalonia or Andorra, the Estonian model offers more than inspiration—it provides a practical framework. Adapting a similar, locally tailored approach could help attract international talent and investment, strengthen positioning as a technology hub, and generate high-value employment opportunities. Ultimately, investing in digital infrastructure is not only an investment in efficiency, but in skills, competitiveness, and long-term economic resilience.
Estonia has shown that constraints can be transformed into strategic advantages. The lesson is clear: with vision, political will, and sustained investment in technology and people, it is possible to build a future-oriented model of governance and entrepreneurship that is both globally connected and locally beneficial.