Estonian Ministry of Defence

The Estonian Ministry of Defence (Kaitseministeerium) is the government body responsible for organizing the national defence of Estonia. Its mission is to deter attacks and ensure the country is capable of defending itself against external threats. While not an investment fund itself, it plays a key role in developing the domestic defence industry through policy, contracts, and funding mechanisms like the Defence Innovation Competition. It also provides funding for R&D projects, such as its participation in a €6 million grant for the 'BadB' navigation project involving the company Solita, which was co-funded by the European Defence Fund. The Ministry was a key supporter in the 2025 establishment of a separate €100 million Defence Fund, managed by the national fund manager SmartCap, to make equity investments in defence and dual-use technology companies.