Merko wins title of Centre for Defence Investments Innovation Partner of the Year

The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK) has recognized its partners with National Defence Cornerstone awards. The goal of the prizes handed out for the fourth time is to spotlight companies and organizations at home and abroad who contribute to advancing Estonian national defence.

RKIK director general Magnus-Valdemar Saar said at the ceremony: “My sincere thanks go out to everyone who has and is contributing to Estonian national defence. It’s more than defence contractors – it’s builders, sewing professionals, IT enterprises, metalworkers and a host of others. You are the cornerstones of the defence of our nation.״

Merko Ehitus Eesti received the Green Concrete Award and a letter of commendation declaring us to be the recipient of the Innovation Partner of the Year title for 2024. Last year, we built a number of national defence projects for RKIK and several are underway this year. Most recently, we delivered three new barracks buildings and expanded utility networks at Ämari Air Base.

The reason we were selected as innovation partner was that we are implementing a new alliance contracting method to design and build the future Tartu National Defence Building in cooperation with RKIK.

RKIK is the central purchaser of essentials in the field of national defence in Estonia. RKIK also ensures the necessary, functional and safe infrastructure for national defence ranging from training grounds to bases. RKIK’s mission is to allow the Defence Forces to focus on carrying out its military function and to create as much defensive capability for Estonia as possible per euro spent.

On the right, Marek Hergauk, director of the Merko Ehitus Eesti general construction division, who received the award from RKIK on behalf of Merko