Note: This article is based on the draft regulation and explanatory memorandum published on 15.05.2026. The grant conditions may change before the regulation is adopted.
A new AI grant is planned for Estonian companies
A new AI adoption voucher grant is being planned for Estonian companies, aiming to help businesses develop, test and implement solutions based on artificial intelligence (AI).
Under the draft regulation, the grant amount is up to 20 000 euros per project.
Although the application round is not yet open, companies should consider starting their project preparations now. A well-planned project will allow an application to be submitted promptly once the round opens.
The opening date for the application round has not yet been announced.
AI adoption grant conditions
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Grant amount | up to 20 000 € |
| Own contribution | at least 30% |
| Project duration | up to 9 months |
| Applicant | Estonian company |
| Sales revenue | at least 200 000 € in the previous financial year |
| Payment | after approval of the final project report |
Who can apply for the grant?
Under the draft regulation, companies registered in the Estonian Commercial Register with sales revenue of at least 200 000 euros in the previous financial year can apply (§ 10 subsection 1).
The company must also meet the following conditions:
- all annual reports and tax returns have been submitted;
- the company has no significant tax arrears without an agreed payment schedule;
- companies within the same group can receive the grant only once in total (§ 10 and § 12 subsection 2).
Important: if the company's sales revenue in the previous financial year was below 200 000 euros, it cannot apply under the current draft regulation.
Which AI projects are eligible?
The grant can be used, for example, to:
- develop a new AI product or solution;
- enhance an existing product or service with AI;
- introduce AI into the company's internal work processes (§ 6 subsection 2).
In practice, eligible projects could include:
- an AI-powered customer service assistant;
- automated document processing;
- automated qualification of sales enquiries;
- AI-assisted quality control in manufacturing;
- integration of AI into an existing ERP, CRM or web solution.
The project must deliver a verifiable result. By the end of the project, at least a prototype or test results must be submitted to demonstrate whether the solution has been completed and works (§ 6 subsection 3).
This means that analysis, consultancy or a description of an idea alone may not be sufficient. The application must describe a specific business problem, the proposed solution, the activities and the expected result (§ 11).
How much is the own contribution?
The grant amount is up to 20 000 euros per project.
The company's own contribution must cover at least 30% of the project's eligible costs (§ 9).
For example:
- total project cost: 28 600 €
- grant: 20 000 €
- company's own contribution: 8 600 €
The grant is paid on a unit-cost basis, meaning that payment depends on achieving the agreed result rather than on individual supporting expenditure documents.
It is also important to note that the grant is paid only after approval of the final project report (§ 17). The company must therefore be able to finance the project activities initially from its own funds.
How long can the project last?
The maximum project duration is nine months.
In justified cases, EIS may extend the project duration once by up to three months (§ 8 lg-d 3–4).
Applications are planned to be accepted on a rolling basis until the budget is exhausted.
According to the explanatory memorandum, the scheme's budget is 2 million euros, although the draft regulation does not explicitly specify this amount.
What could your company do now?
Although the application round is not yet open, it is worth starting preparations early.
Checklist:
- ✅ choose a specific AI use case;
- ✅ describe the business problem you want to solve;
- ✅ draw up an initial project action plan;
- ✅ assess the project budget and own contribution;
- ✅ check your remaining de minimis aid (VTA) allowance;
- ✅ make sure the company meets the applicant requirements.
Applications can only be submitted after the regulation has been adopted and EIS has issued an official announcement. EIS must announce the opening of the round at least ten calendar days in advance (§ 12 subsection 4).
Frequently asked questions
Can a sole trader (FIE) apply for the grant?
Under the current draft regulation, companies registered in the Estonian Commercial Register can apply. Sole traders are not among the applicants specified in the draft.
Can the grant be used to purchase ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot?
The draft regulation does not name specific software or services. To be eligible, a project must meet the objectives set out in the regulation and deliver a verifiable AI solution.
When will the application round open?
No official date has yet been announced. EIS must give at least ten calendar days' notice before the application round opens.
Is the grant paid before the project starts?
No. Under the draft regulation, the grant is paid after successful completion of the project and approval of the final report.
Summary
The AI adoption grant is a planned scheme offering up to 20 000 euros to help Estonian companies develop and implement AI-based solutions.
Under the draft regulation, companies with annual sales revenue of at least 200 000 euros can apply. The project's result must be verifiable, and the company must provide an own contribution of at least 30%.
Although the scheme's exact opening date is not yet known and the conditions may change before the regulation is adopted, the draft gives companies a sufficient basis to start preparing projects now.
Are you planning to introduce AI into your business?
AI adoption starts not with technology, but with a clearly defined business problem. A well-prepared project improves both the chances of receiving a grant and the impact of the resulting solution on business performance.
If you would like to assess whether your company's AI project could meet the grant conditions, or need help planning a suitable solution, get in touch with us. We can help assess the project's feasibility, select a suitable technical solution and prepare for the application round.
Sources
This article is based on the draft regulation “AI Adoption Voucher Grant” prepared on 15.05.2026 and its explanatory memorandum.
The scheme's application round is not yet open at the time of publication. Once the regulation has been adopted, the Enterprise and Innovation Foundation (EIS) will publish the application conditions, deadlines and guidance.