Estonian delegation targets Manchester partners in defence and engineering sectors
A delegation of Estonian industrial technology and engineering companies will visit Manchester next week (April 15) to connect with UK industry and tech companies in the areas of advanced manufacturing, defence, automation, and digitalisation.
The visit is part of a two-city UK trade mission and offers businesses across Greater Manchester the opportunity to explore partnerships with Estonia, one of Europe’s most digitally advanced economies with the highest number of unicorns per capita and a rapidly growing tech-driven industrial sector.
Andreas Heikki Pant, export adviser at Trade Estonia, based in the UK, said: “We see strong potential for long term cooperation between Estonian and UK companies – especially in areas like defence, mobility, and automation.
“The Manchester area is a natural fit for our delegation, and we look forward to building partnerships that benefit both sides.”
Andreas added: “One of Estonia’s fastest growing industrial tech companies, Fractory, has already successfully established its UK operations in Manchester, providing digital manufacturing services to over 10,000 clients in aerospace, automotive, and defence.”
Co-hosted by the Estonian Embassy in London and Trade Estonia, the visit includes a networking reception where UK businesses can meet the leaders of 10 export-ready Estonian companies active across Europe in engineering, robotics, smart manufacturing, and rugged computing.
Several of the visiting firms already work with global industry leaders and are now seeking deeper collaboration with the UK’s industrial and defence sectors.
The delegation is organised in collaboration with the Federation of Estonian Engineering Industry.
Several companies in the delegation offer technologies suited to the defence and dual-use sectors, such as rugged AI solutions (FORECR), compact smart manufacturing solutions adaptable for defence prototyping (5.0 Robotics), and mobility solutions/vehicle structures for defence applications (TOCI – NATO AQAP 2110 certified) – making Manchester, with its strengths in aerospace, AI, and innovation a natural partner for collaboration.
The visiting companies specialise in:
- Precision engineering and component manufacturing
- Machine building, automation, and robotics
- ERP and smart factory software
- Rugged AI and defence technologies
- Industrial subcontracting and systems integration
The companies are: 5.0 Robotics, BLRT Masinaehitus, FORECR, Jalax, MRPeasy, Radius Machining, Tech Group, TOCI, Torm Metall, Wenture, and the Federation of Estonian Engineering Industry (EML).
The network reception will take place at the Alan Hotel in Manchester, between 5-7pm on April 15.
Spaces are limited. To register interest or arrange meetings, contact: petra@europartnerships.co.uk
The visit is organised jointly with the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and funded by the European Union – NextGeneration EU.
