2008 part III

Brief round-up of things then. First thing - the joint innovation and science council meeting where "we" made a statement that more money should be poured into Estonian science and enterprise development support schemes. Thinking back now i feel that it was not a very wise decision, especially bearing in mind other discussions that were on the table at the time. I guess you can find the statement if you search it from Google - Mr. Villems was the official commentator. Then R.E.M in Tallinn, but that i already covered in this blog. Five days in Malmö together with a weekend in Lund. Some Swedish style partying with colleague students. Very regulated and bureaucratic US visa interview that kind of scared me actually (not a big fan of bureaucracy). Äriplaan 2009 conference about the Estonian economy outlook for the next year. Mainly pessimistic stuff, as one would guess. Hansapank's CEO made the best presentation offering insights to a study based on an IMF report. Definitely worth a read. Also noticed a small gap being established between the old and new school Estonian businessmen. Scientists night in Tallinn University - trying to popularize Estonian science...

October was another busy month, which started with the Science Council meeting. No new big discussions though... Brussels and the EVCA policy event, which was something towards a strep in the direction where I'm trying to move in the longer run. Saw Estonia being beaten by Spain in Tallinn and Fernando Torres. Two days in Malmö, meetings with the Finnish embassy trying to promote cooperation. Three days in Athens presenting in the Global Forum and talking to some really interesting people about computer/internet security. Two steps to take me to the Acropolis. Interviewing my successors in the office and then one day trip to Helsinki before taking off to Sweden and then on to London and New York on the first of November.


So two weeks in US - really have no desire to jot it all down here. Lets just say that two excellent weeks in one of the places that i have always dreamt of going - one in NYC and one in Florida (Miami and Key West). Again, three pictures here describing the mood.




Returning back to Estonia was hard, especially after the sunny Florida. Two weeks again in the office wrapping things up and then a really nice farewell party to move to Sweden, which i have already covered here. That's it i guess for 2008.