Discover Your Inner Einstein

“Discover Your Inner Einstein”

MECTORY—the Modern Estonian Knowledge Transfer Organisation for You—is perhaps the most inspiring innovation hub in Estonia. Established by Tallinn University of Technology, this unique centre encourages every participant to discover his or her “inner Einstein.” Though housed within university walls, its ideas travel across the world, attracting students and delegates from Japan, China, India, Australia, and many other countries to learn, experiment, and innovate. Small in size but exceptionally well equipped, MECTORY has rapidly earned an international reputation.

The centre has launched a tuition-free MSc programme in E-Governance Technologies and Services, admitting around 50 students each year. The course provides a comprehensive understanding of how modern states transition to digital governance, covering its design, management, and future development. Graduates emerge as e-government architects, technologists, developers, and policy analysts.

International students, including Indians, can apply before 1 May each year. The academy offers dormitory accommodation for about €120 per month, free public transport, and an estimated monthly food expense of €100–300, depending on whether one cooks or dines out. Students receive an Estonian ID card that serves as both a residence and work permit, with no restriction on working hours, provided academic attendance is maintained.

Farewell by the Baltic Sea

With our departure approaching, a farewell dinner was hosted at the charming Hotel Villa Mary. The short taxi ride from Hotel Meriton became unforgettable as we drove through Tallinn’s modern cityscape and along the Baltic coastline beneath the golden hues of the setting sun, accompanied by soulful sharabi melodies rendered in the seasoned, honeyed voice of Shri Vineet Pandey. One wonders how Mirza Ghalib found so many elegant arguments in favour of sharab, thoughts of shabab, and the pleasures of kabab!

The hotel’s spectacular seaside setting triggered a photography frenzy. Many compared its Baltic shoreline to Goa, while Partho ensured that Estonia’s beauty was captured through his ever-alert lens.

The man of the day was undoubtedly Sanjeev Jha, who seemed to enjoy the undivided attention of the group favourite, Ms. Annela, for most of the evening.

The dinner was further graced by the presence of H.E. Viljar Luby, Estonia’s Ambassador to India. In his delightful address, he remarked that “there are a thousand Indians behind every Estonian,” appreciating India’s remarkable strengths in marketing, entrepreneurship, and scaling innovation.

As always, the feast was lavish: champagne, prawns, grilled vegetables and brinjal for starters; fish, chicken, and vegetarian delicacies for the main course; red and white wines; and a memorable dessert of fried banana with ice cream followed by black coffee.

Even after overeating, one thought remained unanimous—we simply could not leave Tallinn without returning to Olde Hansa for a medieval dinner and its legendary honey beer.

We left Estonia deeply impressed: a nation of quiet patriotism, extraordinary innovation, and a global leader in information and communication technology.

Punamchand Parmar Tallinn · 27 August 2014