13th Estonia’s Friends International Meeting (EFIM)
July 2–4, 2026 Tallinn
The EFIM is an invitation only event. The invitation is personal and non-transferable.
The patrons of the Meeting are former President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, one of the event’s original initiators, and entrepreneur and investor Sten Tamkivi.
PROGRAM
Thursday, July 2, 2026
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16:45 Bus transfer from the Nordic Hotel Forum (Viru väljak 3) to Vabamu
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17:00–20:30 Vabamu (Toompea 8b, Tallinn)
Opening reception hosted by Vabamu and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Around the World in 30 Minutes: A Fireside Chat with Jonatan Vseviov”
Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
moderated by Rainer Sternfeld, Entrepreneur and Investor
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20:45 Bus transfer from Vabamu to the Nordic Hotel Forum
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Friday, July 3, 2026
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Bus transfer from the Nordic Hotel Forum (Viru väljak 3) to Vabamu
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9:30–13:30 Vabamu (Toompea 8b, Tallinn)
Vabamu and Enterprise Estonia present:
Symposium “Quo vadis, Estonia? Defence and Technology”
9:30 Coffee, networking
10:00 Introduction by Sten Tamkivi, Moderator
Welcome address by Kristen Michal, Prime Minister of Estonia, and Ursel Velve, Chair of the Management Board of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency
Opening speech by Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia 2006–2016
Keynote speech “How the Free World Will Win the War” by Kusti Salm, CEO of Frankenburg Technologies
11:30 Coffee, networking
12:00–13:00 Panel discussion with Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Kusti Salm, and Kaari Kink, Program Manager at NATO DIANA, moderated by Sten Tamkivi, Entrepreneur and Investor
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13:30 Walking from Vabamu to the Stenbock House
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14:00–15:30 Stenbock House (Rahukohtu 3, Tallinn)
Visit to Stenbock House
Welcome remarks by Andres Sutt, Minister of Energy and the Environment of Estonia, followed by a buffet lunch and a guided tour of Stenbock House
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15:45 Bus transfer from the Stenbock House to the Nordic Hotel Forum
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17:45 Bus transfer from the Nordic Hotel Forum to the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa (~1 hour drive)
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19:00–22:00 Arvo Pärt Centre (Kellasalu tee 3, Laulasmaa)
Visit to Arvo Pärt Centre
Welcome remarks by Michael Pärt, Chairman of the Council of the Arvo Pärt Centre, and
Heidy Purga, Minister of Culture of Estonia
Concert by the ERSO Chamber Orchestra, followed by a reception hosted by the Estonian Ministry of Culture
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22:00 Bus transfer from the Arvo Pärt Centre to the Nordic Hotel Forum
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Saturday, July 4, 2026
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10:30 Bus transfer from the Nordic Hotel Forum (Viru väljak 3) to the Kadriorg Rose Garden
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11:00–12:30 Kadriorg Rose Garden (Weizenbergi 39, Tallinn)
Reception hosted by Alar Karis, President of Estonia
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12:45 Bus transfer from the Kadriorg Rose Garden to Kai Art Center and the Nordic Hotel Forum
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13:30–16:30 Kai Art Center (Peetri 12, Tallinn)
New Nordic Roundtable: “Security and Partnerships”
13:30 Introduction by Indrek Kasela, Entrepreneur, followed by a tour of the exhibition at Kai Art Center
14:00–15:15 Panel discussion featuring speakers from across the region: Fredrik Hillelson, Novare Human Capital, Aku Sorainen, Sorainen, Tuuli Tolmats, Telearmy, Marti Hääl, Alexela, Arbo Probal, Estonian Defence Forces, Rainer Saks, Security Expert, moderated by Pär Nuder, Sweden-Estonia Cooperation Fund
15:15 Coffee, networking
15:45–16:15 Presentation by the e-Estonia Briefing Centre
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16:45 Bus transfer from Kai Art Center to the Nordic Hotel Forum
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Program subject to change.
July 2–4, 2026 Tallinn
The EFIM is an invitation only event. The invitation is personal and non-transferable.
The patrons of the Meeting are former President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves, one of the event’s original initiators, and entrepreneur and investor Sten Tamkivi.
PROGRAM
Thursday, July 2, 2026
-----
16:45 Bus transfer from the Nordic Hotel Forum (Viru väljak 3) to Vabamu
-----
17:00–20:30 Vabamu (Toompea 8b, Tallinn)
Opening reception hosted by Vabamu and the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“Around the World in 30 Minutes: A Fireside Chat with Jonatan Vseviov”
Jonatan Vseviov, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
moderated by Rainer Sternfeld, Entrepreneur and Investor
-----
20:45 Bus transfer from Vabamu to the Nordic Hotel Forum
-----
Friday, July 3, 2026
-----
Bus transfer from the Nordic Hotel Forum (Viru väljak 3) to Vabamu
-----
9:30–13:30 Vabamu (Toompea 8b, Tallinn)
Vabamu and Enterprise Estonia present:
Symposium “Quo vadis, Estonia? Defence and Technology”
9:30 Coffee, networking
10:00 Introduction by Sten Tamkivi, Moderator
Welcome address by Kristen Michal, Prime Minister of Estonia, and Ursel Velve, Chair of the Management Board of the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency
Opening speech by Toomas Hendrik Ilves, President of Estonia 2006–2016
Keynote speech “How the Free World Will Win the War” by Kusti Salm, CEO of Frankenburg Technologies
11:30 Coffee, networking
12:00–13:00 Panel discussion with Toomas Hendrik Ilves, Kusti Salm, and Kaari Kink, Program Manager at NATO DIANA, moderated by Sten Tamkivi, Entrepreneur and Investor
-----
13:30 Walking from Vabamu to the Stenbock House
-----
14:00–15:30 Stenbock House (Rahukohtu 3, Tallinn)
Visit to Stenbock House
Welcome remarks by Andres Sutt, Minister of Energy and the Environment of Estonia, followed by a buffet lunch and a guided tour of Stenbock House
-----
15:45 Bus transfer from the Stenbock House to the Nordic Hotel Forum
-----
17:45 Bus transfer from the Nordic Hotel Forum to the Arvo Pärt Centre in Laulasmaa (~1 hour drive)
-----
19:00–22:00 Arvo Pärt Centre (Kellasalu tee 3, Laulasmaa)
Visit to Arvo Pärt Centre
Welcome remarks by Michael Pärt, Chairman of the Council of the Arvo Pärt Centre, and
Heidy Purga, Minister of Culture of Estonia
Concert by the ERSO Chamber Orchestra, followed by a reception hosted by the Estonian Ministry of Culture
-----
22:00 Bus transfer from the Arvo Pärt Centre to the Nordic Hotel Forum
-----
Saturday, July 4, 2026
-----
10:30 Bus transfer from the Nordic Hotel Forum (Viru väljak 3) to the Kadriorg Rose Garden
-----
11:00–12:30 Kadriorg Rose Garden (Weizenbergi 39, Tallinn)
Reception hosted by Alar Karis, President of Estonia
-----
12:45 Bus transfer from the Kadriorg Rose Garden to Kai Art Center and the Nordic Hotel Forum
-----
13:30–16:30 Kai Art Center (Peetri 12, Tallinn)
New Nordic Roundtable: “Security and Partnerships”
13:30 Introduction by Indrek Kasela, Entrepreneur, followed by a tour of the exhibition at Kai Art Center
14:00–15:15 Panel discussion featuring speakers from across the region: Fredrik Hillelson, Novare Human Capital, Aku Sorainen, Sorainen, Tuuli Tolmats, Telearmy, Marti Hääl, Alexela, Arbo Probal, Estonian Defence Forces, Rainer Saks, Security Expert, moderated by Pär Nuder, Sweden-Estonia Cooperation Fund
15:15 Coffee, networking
15:45–16:15 Presentation by the e-Estonia Briefing Centre
-----
16:45 Bus transfer from Kai Art Center to the Nordic Hotel Forum
-----
Program subject to change.