ülemiste city is
The city of future, where
talents can
grow, utilize their
potential and
succeed
In 2005, Ülo Pärnits started an exciting project that was called Ülemiste City – an ambition to create an intellectual environment for active young Estonian talents who would not have to leave their country, but could impact the world from here; to be a smart business city and an engine of the Estonian economy. Today, that vision has grown into a future-focused urban environment with 16 000 talents from more than 73 countries working, studying and living here.
Nearly 500 companies are doing business in Ülemiste City, today earning a total turnover of more than 2 billion per year. Based on the labor tax coming in from business ventures, the contribution of Ülemiste City to the Estonian economy is on the third
place after Tallinn and Tartu.
The elite of Estonian IT companies has gathered together here exporting a third of its production that makes half compared to the rest of Estonia and constitutes all together 1/3 of the total export of the Estonian IT sector.
In the next 5 years, this diverse community is going to almost double. An environment that was initially created for Estonian young people and active talents is now attracting talents and ambitious companies from every corner of the world so as to curiously step into a more exciting tomorrow together. To a place that is probably the most attractive talent environment in the entire world.
One owner on a huge territory
36 ha surface area, 550 k m2 area to be developed
Part of an international logistics centre
1 min from the airport.
1 min from the future RB passenger terminal.
A community of smart businesses
500 smart businesses
Cooperation with education and science
cooperation with 20+ colleges
who develop the CAMPUS
Vision
Ülemiste City is the best well-known, renowned and desired business, living and studying environment for talents – smart experts, managers and companies who impact the (world) economy through their action.
Mission
Developing an international, attractive, knowledge-based working, development and living environment that would increase the competitive ability of people and companies, bring talents home to implement their potential, and inspire the birth of new business models.
5 STRATEGIC GOALS
A smart business campus
A 24/7 campus
A campus promoting fast growth
A green and varied environment
Part of an international traffic junction
GOOD PRACTICE IN OUR COMMUNITY
The well-being and development of every talent in our community is paramount. So we have agreed with all the service providers in the city on principles and standards to create together the best environment and community for everyone.
IT ALL STARTED WITH AN IDEA …
… in the mind of a man turning 70 with a start-up mindset, dreaming of an intellectual environment for active young Estonian talents, who would not have to leave their homeland but could achieve world-impacting things from here; creating a smart business city that would lead the economy of Estonia.
See also
from a sooty railway plant to the city of the future
1897
The last Russian Emperor, Nicholas II signs the articles of association of the limited company of Dvigatel in the Tsarskoje Selo palace near St Petersburg. Near Tallinn, the construction of the largest railway plant in Estonia begins. The name of the plant represents vigorous progression – Dvigatel means engine in Russian.
1899
One of the largest plants in Estonia becomes operational. Thousands of carriages exit the Dvigatel plant that are headed to the vast expanses of Russia.
1931
In the independent Republic of Estonia, the production of the plant decreases drastically, the company goes bankrupt and becomes government-owned. On the grounds rented out, manufacturing airplanes begins, and next to the plant, an airport with the heaviest traffic at the time in Eastern Europe evolves.
1950
The plant is used to rebuild a new communist society. Thousands of workers from all over the Soviet Union are brought here for whom living districts, schools, kindergartens, a polyclinic, a culture centre, and a lot more are established. The plant is called Mailbox no 130 to keep it a secret.
1980
During the Cold War, experimental technological devices are manufactured in the plant for the Soviet army and space industry.
1991
The Soviet Union collapses, and the plant loses its market potential. A few years later, the state-owned limited company Dvigatel is privatized by Mainor AS.
2005
Under the leadership of Ülo Pärnits, the leader and visionary of Mainor, an idea is born to create a smart city on the ruins of Dvigatel and give a boost to the development of the society and economy of Estonia. Ülemiste City is founded.
2010
Technopolis Plc. joins the development of Ülemiste City. Ülemiste City becomes part of the biggest business campus network in the Northern and Baltic States.
2020
Ülemiste City has grown into the biggest business campus in the Baltic States. The once ruined plant complex has turned into a diverse and rapidly evolving campus with ample services, where value is created by more than 12,000 people who work, study and live here daily.
2025
Ülemiste City has grown into a 24/7 operating multifunctional city of the future where more than 20,000 people are living, studying and working. This is an international community of smart businesses and talents, where new bold ideas take off that impact the daily lives of everyone and the economy around the world.