Across the Baltics, there is a growing community of organisations working in defence and security. This ecosystem is developing in response to a clear need in the region: to strengthen resilience, build strong businesses, and create solutions that benefit society as a whole. Supporting this community means giving companies, research institutions, and innovators the tools they need to grow stronger and deliver lasting impact.
One of the ways we contribute to this effort is through our annual Shared Mission pro bono programme: initiative that offers free legal and tax advice to innovators across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Each year we allocate over EUR 100,000 to the Shared Mission and other pro bono initiatives, focusing on a different area of strategic importance.
In 2025, we welcomed applications from the defence and security sector, as well as from organisations working to strengthen crisis preparedness and societal resilience in other areas. Following a highly competitive application period, we received almost 40 applications from startups, research institutions, and technology developers. After a thorough evaluation process, we will continue working with 15 projects from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These teams will receive free legal and tax advice from Sorainen experts to help accelerate their development and navigate regulatory and commercial challenges.
Selected projects
Seven projects were selected from Estonia, focusing on autonomous systems, cybersecurity, tactical robotics, AI-powered analytics, and drone-based technologies – areas that reflect Estonia’s growing strength in digital defence and innovation.
Four Latvian projects will join the programme, including initiatives in secure data infrastructure, advanced optics, electric mobility for defence applications, and academic research in defence technologies. Latvia continues to demonstrate strong collaboration between academia and industry in this space.
Three Lithuanian projects were selected, working on satellite intelligence, autonomous navigation, and defence-grade communication technologies. Additionally, one team was chosen as the winner of a recent defence hackathon, bringing forward a vision-based targeting solution. Lithuania’s contributions highlight its emerging role in space and AI-driven defence technologies.
According to Evaldas Dūdonis, Head of Sorainen’s Defence sector group, this year’s cohort is tackling some of the most urgent challenges for the region:
”These are not just innovative and technically advanced initiatives – the potential solutions offered by the selected projects might become strategically vital for the whole Baltic region and beyond. Supporting such projects is both professionally rewarding and aligned with our commitment to contribute to increasing the security and economic prosperity in our region. For us as lawyers, we expect to do some work that combines legal complexity with real-world impact — and that’s exactly what motivates us and where we want to be.”
Success stories from Shared Mission 2024
Last year’s programme, which also focused on defence and national security, laid strong foundations for innovation in this field. Its impact continues to grow: in 2024, Sorainen supported nine projects, including BROSWARM, MILDEC PRO, Submerge, Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association (EDIA), and Fintelligence.
Among them, BROSWARM has already achieved significant milestones: in June 2024, the company won first place in the NATO Innovation Challenge; in November it secured an investment of EUR 800,000 to further develop its “X-Ray Eagle” sensor technology; and in December it received the “Recognition of the Year” award at the Lithuanian Defence and Security Industry Awards for its pioneering work in advanced mine detection technologies using artificial intelligence and sensory solutions.
About Shared Mission
We launched the Shared Mission programme in 2020 to support a faster recovery of our region from the health and economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. We aimed to contribute by giving free legal and tax advice to projects working towards this goal. After the programme’s successful first season, we decided to make it a part of our sustainability strategy and run it annually, focusing on a different area of strategic importance.
So far, we have supported almost 70 projects across our region, helping them overcome regulatory challenges, attract funding, and scale their operations. Through Shared Mission, we aim to contribute to a stronger, more resilient, and innovative Baltic region.
Our international Defence team is at your disposal, should you need advice on any legal issues you are facing.
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Contact our experts:
Head of Defence sector group in Latvia
Head of Defence sector group in Estonia
Head of Defence sector group in Lithuania
