Joint project Kobar of UT Pärnu College and Pärnumaa Development Centre was elected as one of Estonia’s best entrepreneurship promoters
In the competition for entrepreneurship promoters 2025, organised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, the Kobar innovation hub and the technology school // kood were named Estonia’s best entrepreneurship promoters. They will represent Estonia in the European Enterprise Promotion Awards competition in Copenhagen in October.
The Kobar innovation hub of Pärnu County brings together people from the fields of business, research, civil society, public sector and the environment to foster cooperation and strengthen regional development. Kobar members are offered various events, training courses, workshops and other activities. Thematic clusters, such as Disainikobar, Tervisekobar, Inseneeriakobar, etc., operate at the hub.
The role of Pärnu College in Kobar is to provide knowledge transfer and participate in the work of the hub through the Hõbekobar and Inseneeriakobar clusters. According to Gea Kammer, Development Manager at the UT Pärnu College, the college values its membership in Kobar because it fulfils one of the university’s main tasks: service to society.
Local community has high expectations of the University of Tartu, and it is natural that by representing the values of the national university in its regional unit, we actively contribute to the development of Pärnu County.
The most important part of the cooperation is direct communication with entrepreneurs, which on one hand expands learning opportunities and on the other, gives the knowledge held by the university to entrepreneurs. Kobar brings together entrepreneurs, municipalities, civil associations, researchers, lecturers and students, who look for common solutions and are able to interact with communities in a language they understand.
Gea Kammer believes that the recognition given to the UT Pärnu College primarily sends the message to the local authorities of Pärnu County that their support for the college has been valuable. Entrepreneurs can also be assured that the University of Tartu, as a cooperation partner, listens to them and considers their needs, being flexible, solution-oriented, and innovative. “In the future, we hope to increase cooperation with the private sector and involve them in co-creation to shape the future, where societal challenges can be solved in a smart manner. Topics for that are already waiting in the idea bank,” said Kammer.
According to Sandra Särav, Deputy Secretary General for Economics and Innovation at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and chair of the competition jury, the best entrepreneurship promoters were selected based on the originality of the idea and how well the project advances cooperation between local stakeholders and is adapted to Estonia.
The jury comprised Sandra Särav, Sigrid Soomlais (Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture), Mait Palts (Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Tiit Elenurm (EBS), Sigrid Harjo (EIS) and Maarika Truu (representative of the startup community).
Background
The competition for recognition of entrepreneurship promoters 2025 was held for the 19th time this year. Its aim is to identify and recognise the best entrepreneurship-promoting initiatives in Estonia and present them to the public. It also serves as the national preliminary round for the European Enterprise Promotion Awards held in Copenhagen in November. Previous winners include the entrepreneurship competition Ajujaht, the NULA incubator, the Superheroes entrepreneurship and leadership programme for young girls, the VIVITA creativity accelerator for children and youth, the Tartu Film Fund, the entrepreneur account, and others.
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