Estonian and Finnish science- and technology-based startups can apply to the BeScaled pre-accelerator, which offers free business development support to validate dual-use solutions and enter European and NATO defence, security, and resilience markets. Applications are open until 13 September.
The program is aimed at teams with existing technology in the civil markets and an interest in moving into defence, security, and resilience sectors. During the six-month program, startups are supported in assessing the dual-use potential of their solutions, adapting their products and business models, identifying the right end users, and preparing for market entry. Participants receive mentor support, training, and access to an international network and to testing environments in Estonia and Finland.
„In Estonia, the challenge is not so much technological — startups are capable of building strong solutions. The biggest barriers are administrative,“ said Noora Ustav, BeScaled Project Manager at Sparkup Tartu Science Park. According to her, these barriers include complex regulations, procurement rules for working with public-sector entities, required certifications, and lengthy validation cycles with end users. „The program aims to shorten these processes and help companies better understand how to position their product in this sector.“
Estonia is currently among the leading countries in Europe in terms of defence investment as a share of GDP, which is driving the growing importance of dual-use technologies. “What companies are primarily lacking today is knowledge,” said Sven Lilla, Space Sector Lead at Sparkup Tartu Science Park. “The goal of the BeScaled pre-accelerator is to raise awareness and thereby encourage companies to seek funding from the defence sector.”
„Dual-use is not a sector choice — it is a growth strategy. A startup does not need to become a defence company. Still, it does need clarity about whether its technology actually addresses a defence, security, or resilience need and who the end users would be,“ Ustav added. According to her, for many startups, the biggest risk is not missing the opportunity, but spending 12–18 months chasing the wrong one. „That is precisely why the program follows a three-step logic — explore, validate, decide. Six months is enough for a startup to make an informed go/no-go decision.“
BeScaled is a pre-accelerator funded by the European Union; its first cohort started in April 2026. The second application round is now open — the deadline is 13 September 2026. The program will run four cohorts in total, with the last in 2027. . In Estonia, the program is led by Sparkup Tartu Science Park and Tallinn University; Finnish partners include Häme University of Applied Sciences (HAMK), South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences (XAMK), and Linnan Kehitys.
More information and applications are available on the Sparkup Tartu Science Park BeScaled page. A background interview with Project Manager Noora Ustav was published in the Sparkup Tartu Science Park blog.
Additional information:
Sven Lilla
Space Sector Lead at Sparkup Tartu Science Park
sven.lilla@teaduspark.ee
+372 5345 4149
