German defence and artificial intelligence (AI) company Helsing is set to expand its operations by opening a branch in Estonia and investing €70mn in Baltic defence projects over the coming years, the company announced in a press release. 

This investment and expansion into Estonia demonstrate Helsing's commitment to enhancing defence capabilities in the Baltic region, leveraging advanced AI technologies to support and strengthen regional security.

“The strengthening of European and Nato borders is a time-critical requirement for the safety of our democracies," said Helsing co-founder and co-CEO Dr. Gundbert Scherf, as quoted in the press release. "To this end, we are establishing Helsing Estonia to bring advanced AI capabilities to the Defence Forces of the Baltic countries. Drawing on lessons we have learned from the conflict in Ukraine, Helsing will be prioritising local production wherever possible to ensure that the Baltic’s defence systems are resilient, adaptable, and homegrown.”

Founded 3.5 years ago, Helsing is valued at over €5bn and specialises in providing AI-driven software solutions for defence and security across air, land and maritime domains, ERR.ee, the website of Estonia’s national broadcaster ERR, reported on July 18. 

Scherf underlined the company's mission to "protect democracies". While traditionally, hardware and ammunition have been the primary focus in military contexts, Scher highlighted the growing importance of software in modern defence strategies.

"We use it to process all of the very rich data that gets produced, fuse that, analyse it where it is produced, and then give the user, the men and women in uniform, the best situational picture they have so they can make the best decision," Scherf told ERR. 

The company already functions in several other European countries such as France, the UK and Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion. Scherf said Helsing now wants to move into deterrence which made investing in Estonia "very logical”, ERR.ee said.