Nordic EdTech News #32 : 2020-12-07
Your Week 48 and 49 update from the Nordic & Baltic EdTech ecosystems
Even as we approach the end of the year, the Nordic and Baltic EdTech ecosystem is still making significant progress. In addition to the updates outlined below, there are four major news stories to open this newsletter.
Kahoot! continues to use acquisitions to support its mission of making “learning awesome” by buying Estonian language learning app, Drops, for up to $50 million. (Link, Link) In this interview with Cheddar, Kahoot CEO Eilert Hanoa describes Drops as a “perfect companion for the Kahoot platform” and highlights its relevance across Kahoot’s key audiences. To learn more about Drops, this Norwegian article gives a great insight into its approach and business model.
With Estonian EdTech again in the international spotlight, it’s great to announce the formation of EdTech Estonia. More to come on this in the next few weeks, but congratulations to all involved in making this happen. It’s great news for the ecosystem! (Link)
It’s also brilliant to report on the continued success of Finland’s GraphoGame, whose literacy app was launched nationwide in Brazil by President Bolsonaro last week. (Link) As Jaana Palojärvi, Director for International Relations at the Finnish Ministry of Education, said: “This is yet another remarkable achievement by Grapho Group. Their innovative literacy skills app is quickly gaining attention and making an impact on a globally critical issue - illiteracy.”
Last week also saw further developments on the Helsinki Education Hub as it outlined plans to open in Spring 2021 and to “become a unique learning innovation centre.” (Link)
I’m sure that this initiative will be covered at this Thursday’s virtual Hybrid Learning Summit from the Helsinki Business Hub. For full details of a great local and international panel and to sign up, click here.
Whilst on events, you can catch up here on all of the recordings from XcitED 2020 and review (Link) the Top 100 EdTechs from the rest of Europe as announced by HolonIQ last week. The latest report from Brighteye Ventures - How COVID-19 is impacting customer interest in EdTech - is, as always, also excellent reading. Your support in completing this survey will help inform their next report on EdTech marketing - please do get involved.
As always, if you’ve got a news story for a future edition of the newsletter, please email hello@10digits.org. There’s only one more NEN (21st December) before Christmas!
And finally, if you’re interested in finding out more about how I work with leading Nordic and global EdTechs to grow revenues and build their brands, please do let me know (jonathan@10digits.org). I’d be delighted to discuss how I could help you or your business in 2021.
Best, Jonathan
News from Denmark
Research from Danmarks Statistik shows how Covid-19 has accelerated digitization in education and learning. (Link and Link)
Labster receives award for outstanding contribution to science education. (Link)
KL (Local Government Denmark) propose that ensuring children understand technology should be a core part of the curriculum (Danish) as the CEO of IT-Branchen argues that this would also improve gender equality in the tech industry. (Dan, Eng)
Costly repairs for Chromebooks hit municipality budgets (Link)
News from Estonia
Covid-19 had no impact on exams in Estonia (Link) as the national distance learning response is covered in the Japanese media. (Link)
“Digi ABC minu koolis” programme scheduled for 2021 to train EdTech specialists in Estonian schools. (Est)
Estonia prepares to unleash AI to “personalise education.” (Link)
Global e-learning company, Mindvalley, plans significant expansion of Estonian operations. (Link)
News from Finland
Big Ear Games work with Genelec to launch ‘Song for Santa Challenge.’ (Link)
Code School Finland start running programming courses for Malaysian students (Link) and announce new agreement to run coding camps in Japan. (Link)
Registrations open for Educa’s online event between 29 / 30 January 2021. (Link)
Fascinating article on the importance of patience when building an EdTech business from Education Alliance Finland. (Link)
Congrats to all at Funzi as they reach 1 million visitors during 2020. (Link)
Kide Science announce their first agreement in Peru as they start working with the Nordic International School of Lima. (ESP)
Seppo has been named as one of five finalists for the global GESAwards School Dropouts Track. (Link)
Yousician has been awarded the Digital Service of the Year award by an expert Finnish panel. (Fin, Eng)
News from Iceland
Beedle offer their Beedle EduSpace product for free until July 2021. (Link)
More EdTech innovation from Ingvi Hrannar. (Ice, Eng)
News from Latvia
Great profile of Taut and encouraging to see their progress. (Latvian)
The pandemic showed that Latvian students and teachers lack “self-directed learning skills” (Latvian) but also highlighted opportunities for systemic change in use of EdTech. (Latvian)
Latvian teachers learn JavaScript and Python. (Latvian)
New computers and tech infrastructure begins to make their into classrooms nationwide. (Lat, Eng)
News from Lithuania
BitDegree’s CEO, Danielius Stasiulis, argues that Lithuania can lead the way in European EdTech (Lith, Eng) as they’re nominated as Best Social Impact Startup and Startup of the Year at the Central European Startup Awards. (Link)
Teachers Lead Tech identified as one of the top 30 startups @ K-Startup Grand Challenge in South Korea. (Link)
News from Norway
The project to create a computer system for Oslo schools is now complete ($$)
New Government action plan launched to help schools improve how they “exploit the opportunities that digital resources provide.” (Nor, Eng)
Concerns raised about the proposed Fri Digital Arena (FriDA) initiative which will see 4 major municipalities collaborate on educational resource provision. (Norwegian)
If you missed itslearning’s first global community gathering, catch up with all of the recorded sessions here.
Kahoot! launch new 2020 Learning at Work Report (Link) and Kahoot! Academy partners with Tiimo to “foster more inclusive learning environments” (Link)
Karen Dolva, CEO and Co-founder of No Isolation, is named as one of the BBC 100 Women 2020! Gratulerer! (Link)
Skooler announce new partnership with EasyCorrect to create Edword Skooler. (Nor, Eng)
News from Sweden
Advania launch Advania Voice to “enable learning for students with music and rhythm” (Swedish)
Grattis to everyone at Gimi, who won the Swedish category, the People’s Choice Award and the overall Autumn 2020 programme award at the Mastercard Lighthouse Program. (Link, Link)
Grattis also to Dora Palfi, CEO and Co-Founder of imagiLabs, who won the 2020 Women In Tech Startup Award! (Link)
Great insight into Kognity’s product development process (Link) as they launch a new guide to support the flipped classroom with video. (Link)
How Lexplore has supported reading development in Lidingö. (Swedish)
Continued growth for Matteappen. (Swedish)
Stockholm City education authorities receive SEK 4 million fine for failings in their school platform. (Swedish)
The Swedish Edtech Industry lead work to order and access digital teaching materials (Swe, Eng) as new IT standards aim to support “more efficient and secure data flow in schools.” (Swe, Eng)
Thanks for reading and see you again on 21st December!
Many thanks, Jonathan
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