When people think of global innovation hubs, they picture sprawling metropolises like London, Berlin, maybe San Francisco. But one of the world’s most advanced digital cities is small, compact and tucked on the edge of the Baltic Sea. Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, has turned its size into a superpower. “Being small allows us to move fast,” says Margot Roose, Deputy Mayor for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Circularity. “We can test, fail, adapt, and scale before others have even finished their first pilot.”
That agility has made Tallinn a global benchmark in digital governance, consistently ranking among the world’s top smart cities. But Roose and her team aren’t content to rest on that reputation. The next frontier, she says, is artificial intelligence. Not as a buzzword, but as a tool to improve real lives. From waste management to sports facilities, Tallinn is using AI to build solutions that are both efficient and human-centered. The city’s philosophy is clear: innovation should not live in isolated projects but flow through every department, every service and every citizen experience.
One of Tallinn’s most imaginative examples comes from its circular economy initiative. Imagine a waste management site that’s also a park, where people come not just to dispose of things, but to connect, repair and even play. That’s the idea behind the city’s new circular economy center, a blend of smart logistics and community design. Cars are guided to the right containers through automatic license plate recognition, while nearby repair workshops teach people how to fix rather than throw away. Around the site, a natural park invites visitors to linger. And if that sounds unconventional, the next step pushes the boundaries even further: plans are underway to integrate a full-scale BMX track into a bio-waste area, complete with a café and viewing platform.
“We want to change perceptions,” Roose explains. “Why should a recycling site be a place you avoid? It can be a place of activity, learning and fun.” It’s a vision that turns traditional urban planning upside down, blending circularity with recreation and showing how sustainability can look and feel good.
That same spirit drives Tallinn’s startup and innovation ecosystem, one of Europe’s most dynamic per capita. Estonia is famous for its unicorns, from Bolt to Wise, but none have yet emerged from the sports sector. For Roose, that’s an opportunity waiting to be seized. Through the city’s TAL Innovation platform, companies are invited to solve real municipal challenges. So far, projects have ranged from waste and mobility to AI and public safety. And now, the city wants to add sports innovation to the mix.
Another program, aptly named Testing Tallinn, gives companies free access to city infrastructure to test prototypes in real conditions. More than a dozen active pilots are currently running, from AI-powered basketball video analysis to mobility apps that improve pedestrian safety. The secret of its success lies in its simplicity: no public funding, no heavy bureaucracy, just access and collaboration. This low-barrier approach has made Tallinn a magnet for innovators who want to move fast and learn fast.
Through TestingCities.com, Tallinn now shares its experiments with partners in Heidelberg, Valencia and Helsinki. The platform allows cities to exchange feedback, scale successful ideas and avoid duplicating efforts. “Innovation shouldn’t stop at city borders,” Roose notes. “If we all test separately, we all move slowly. If we test together, we move the world forward.”
Smart mobility remains one of Tallinn’s strongest calling cards. The city’s sensor-based waste bins adjust collection routes dynamically, while geofencing automatically slows rental scooters in over a thousand designated zones, including parks and bus stops. Rather than banning scooters, a common reaction in many cities, Tallinn chose partnership over prohibition, setting global standards for safety and accountability. Even small details reflect the city’s mindset: during summer, waste bins near ice-cream shops are automatically enlarged because the data says they need to be.
“... gives companies free access to city infrastructure to test prototypes in real conditions.”
The same blend of technology and empathy drives innovations in public transport. The Bikeep system, which integrates bicycle parking with the city’s transport card, lets users lock and unlock bikes without carrying personal locks. It’s seamless, secure and scalable, now being exported to cities as far away as New York and Dublin. Automated entry systems at sports halls let users pay by phone and access facilities even after hours, giving residents more flexibility while reducing operational costs. Tallinn is, quite literally, open all hours.
None of this happens by accident. Behind the scenes, Tallinn has built a unique innovation culture that cuts across departments. Every city division, from transport to sport, has designated “innovation agents”, employees trained to identify opportunities, connect with startups and bring new ideas to life. The approach is decentralized but coordinated, encouraging creativity while maintaining focus. It also extends beyond government walls, connecting with the port authority, the airport and Tallinn Technical University to align technology with research and real-world needs.
Some of the most memorable projects come from unexpected places: AI used to help locate lost pets, digital aids for visually impaired travelers, and “surprise innovations” that tackle needs citizens don’t yet know they have. This willingness to experiment, occasionally fail, is what keeps Tallinn’s ecosystem alive. As Roose puts it, “Innovation is not about perfection. It’s about curiosity and courage.”
In sports, that curiosity is beginning to take new shape. Digital platforms like FitSphere, which reward people for outdoor activity that benefits local economies, are gaining attention as models of civic engagement. The city sees potential in connecting these ideas with its broader health and vitality agenda. Collaboration with the Sports Culture Department and Tallinn Technical University could position Estonia to meet its national ambition: to become the most physically active country in Europe by 2035. With smart facility management, automated access and data-driven community engagement, that goal no longer sounds utopian. It sounds achievable.
Sports innovation, in Tallinn’s view, isn’t just about performance; it’s about participation. By linking digital tools, mobility and community spaces, the city aims to make movement a natural part of everyday life. It’s the same thinking that shapes its circular economy projects, its AI pilots and its startup culture. A holistic approach where technology doesn’t replace people but empowers them.
In a world where big cities often get stuck in their own complexity, Tallinn’s advantage lies in its agility. With fewer layers of approval, tighter collaboration, and a culture of experimentation, it can pivot faster than most global capitals. That’s why major international delegations visit Tallinn not to see grand infrastructure, but to study its mindset. A mindset that values speed, openness and humility.
As Roose reflects on the city’s trajectory, she smiles. “Innovation is never finished,” she says. “The moment you think you’re done, you’ve already fallen behind.”
Margot Roose deputy mayor for entrepreneurship, innovation and circularity @ City of Tallinn