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  • Estonian American Innovation Award

Estonian American Innovation Award

As a means to highlight innovation in Estonia – and the collaboration between U.S. and Estonian firms and individuals the Baltic-American Freedom Foundation, the U.S. Embassy in Estonia and the American Chamber of Commerce in Estonia have decided to establish an annual Estonian-American Innovation Award for an Estonian individual or firm that has developed an innovation in cooperation with a U.S. partner.

This award seeks to recognize innovation and collaboration in the broadest range of areas including, but not limited to, business and commerce, academic and scientific research, medicine and health, the environment, energy, the arts, media, education, and civil society. The winner receives 10,000 Euro (gross) and a runner-up 5,000 Euro (gross).

The winner of the first Estonian American Innovation Award is GrabCad. Headquartered in Boston, MA with development offices in Estonia, GrabCad has built an online community and marketplace that connects mechanical engineers with people and companies that need things built—everything from auto parts and motorcycles to custom furniture, toys, and mobile devices. GrabCAD received a plaque and 10,000 euros. Runner up, receiving a plaque and a prize of 5,000 euros was the University of Tartu Institute of Physics.

Entry information for the 2012 Estonian American Innovation Award will be
announced Summer 2012.

To be eligible, submitted projects must demonstrate a clear Estonian-American link according to a combination of at least two of the following factors:

• The development and implementation of the innovation has taken place in Estonia.
• The project is the result of work conducted in the framework of US-Estonia academic, commercial, professional, or artistic partnership or clear collaborative effort.
• The Estonian initiator and responsible person/entity has strong ties with the United States.
• The project has been funded or sponsored by a U.S. source.
• The end-user or beneficiary is an American organization.

Innovations will be evaluated per the following criteria, in descending order of importance:

• Creativity: The innovation should be as original as possible or the adaptation should be creative.
• Impact: The innovation should have a clear or potential impact in its given field; and/or there is evidence that the innovation will contribute to a more efficient way of doing things.
• Collaboration: The innovation successfully demonstrates collaboration and cooperation between Estonian and American individuals or entities.
• Timeliness: The innovation should not be more than five years old.
• Recognition: The results of the innovation have been recognized by peers, critics, or in professional journals; or has demonstrated success in the market place.
• Cost Effectiveness: There is evidence that the innovation adds value while at the same time containing or reducing costs.