Events turned mostly digital this spring in Tallinn, with the help of innovative solutions by event venues and organisers. Using state-of-the-art video and streaming technology, many international large-scale virtual and hybrid events were organised in Tallinn throughout the first half of 2020.
Meeli Jaaksoo, head of Tallinn Convention Bureau, welcomes the growing number of virtual and hybrid events in Tallinn. “This spring, the event industry suddenly faced largely unexpected complications. Thankfully, very many event organisers in Tallinn managed to quickly rethink their usual activities and adopt virtual solutions. As a tech-savvy nation, we have the expertise and creativity to organise virtual events, even in an international level, without making sacrifices in terms of quality or scale.”
In addition to the convention and event industry, the long-existing e-governance system in Estonia ensured that nearly all government services have remained available online. This includes digital health records and the digital prescription system, which has eased and quickened the providing of healthcare.
Digital solutions have also been necessary on a local government scale. In late March, Tallinn City Council faced the fact that council meetings cannot continue face to face, so a solution was devised, which allowed the council members to attend the meeting online and digitally vote on discussed topics.
Innovative solutions are becoming a staple in the capital of Estonia. Already before the pandemic, package delivery robots drove around in the streets of Tallinn. The city is also testing driverless buses, which can be seen in various areas in Tallinn. Through the Tallinnovations initiative, Tallinn hopes to become the front-runner and the global testing ground for smart city solutions.
