Academic Literature

Here is a curated selection of scientific articles published by our team members over the years, highlighting our contributions to research and thought leadership in digital technology.
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Time of Signing: Legal Requirements and Technical Options for Hand-written and Electronic Signatures

The article examines the legal and technical aspects of determining the time of signing for both hand-written and electronic signatures. It explores how signatures are linked to the time of transactions and whether the time of signing affects the validity of signatures.
2024 –
Laura Kask
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The Electronic Seal as a Solution to Prove the Intent of a Legal Entity

The article examines in which cases the e-seal of a legal entity could be equal in legal meaning to a hand-written signature or an e-signature of a natural person. Thus, the article addresses challenges visible in Estonian and EU-level legal acts that have left the legal meaning of the e-seal unclear.
2021 –
Laura Kask
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A Method for Managing GDPR Compliance in Business Processes

In this paper, we present a GDPR model and its supporting method to manage compliance to the regulation in business processes. Based on a running example, we illustrate how the method is applied to extract an as-is compliance model that describes non-compliance issues and offers solutions to achieve process compliance.
2020 –
R. Matulevičius, J. Tom, K. Kala, E. Sing
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Systemic change, open data ecosystem performance improvements, and empirical insights from Estonia: A country-level action research study

The paper’s main contributions are the creation of a framework based on systems theory, systems thinking, and action research for enacting strategic change in OGD ecosystems, conceptualizing feedback loops as a core part of OGD ecosystems, and the conceptualization of performance in OGD ecosystems.
2020 –
K. McBride, M. Olesk, A.Kütt, D. Shysh
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Substantive and Procedural Legislation in Estonia to Combat Webcam-Related Child Sexual Abuse

The article examines whether using a digital child avatar like Sweetie to catch online sex offenders is permissible under Estonian law. While material law leaves some room for interpretation, procedural law would require a clear legal basis – a debate Estonia has yet to have.
2019 –
Kaspar Kala
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The Estonian Data Embassy and the applicability of the Vienna Convention: An exploratory analysis

The Vienna Convention has been long enshrined as the cornerstone of modern diplomacy. However, recent technological advances may have shifted this landscape, with international law requiring to adapt in the face of novel and unique challenges.
2019 –
N Robinson, L Kask, R Krimmer
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Perspectives for e-Residency strenghts, opportunities, weaknesses and threats

By using a method of SWOT, the Estonian governmental start-up is analysed in this paper in order to understand its possible future development. Under an Actor-Network perspective, we evaluate the relation of multiple actors to the strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats that e-Residency faces nowadays.
2017 –
T. Kotka, C. Vargas, K. Korjus
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Estonian e-Residency: Redefining the nation-state in the digital era

This paper explores Estonia’s innovative e-Residency initiative, an ambitious project launched in 2014 that, for the first time, enables people from anywhere in the world to become digital residents of another nation. The e-Residency project challenges traditional notions of residency, citizenship, territoriality, and globalisation.
2015 –
T. Kotka, C. Vargas, K. Korjus
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Framework of e-government technical infrastructure. Case of Estonia

This paper outlines requirements for a framework suitable for framing the technical aspects of e-government, describes such a framework and discusses its application in the context of a small nation of Estonia.
2014 –
A. Kütt, J. Priisalu
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Testimonials

Proud Engineers is a powerhouse of digital transformation expertise across policy-making, law, architecture, and technology. Their contributions to our workshops and projects for organizations like the Union for the Mediterranean and GIZ consistently receive outstanding feedback. We are honoured to have them as a member and look forward to continuing our collaboration to advance digital societies with Estonian know-how.
Jana Silaškova
— Head of Internationalization, Estonian ICT Cluster
Since 2021, we’ve worked with Proud Engineers on projects ranging from e-Passport tenders to setting up Armenia’s new Information Systems Agency. Their team combines deep technical expertise with impressive flexibility and drive. They’ve played an important role in helping us move toward a more modern and digital Armenia.
Nerses Yeritsyan
— Director of Information Systems Agency of Armenia (ISAA)
Proud Engineers helped us with the business analysis for the Pääsuke project in 2021, and working with them was genuinely a great experience. The team was sharp, proactive, and full of good energy. They really knew their stuff, weren’t afraid to suggest their own ideas, and handled everything from legal analysis to stakeholder talks with ease. Their input made a real difference.
Timo Anis
— Product Manager, Estonian Information System Authority
While national IT infrastructure projects often take center stage, the digital challenges faced by municipalities receive far less attention. Proud Engineers helped us gain a clear understanding of our current situation, identify structural challenges, and map out the future of digital development for Estonian municipalities. Their expertise has been instrumental in guiding our next steps.
Katrin Rajamäe-Soosaar
— Information Technology Advisor, Association of Estonian Cities and Municipalities
Our collaboration with Proud Engineers has evolved over several years – from conducting a Data Exchange feasibility study and implementation plan to tendering and executing pilot projects. Throughout this journey, their architectural, legal, and policy expertise has been invaluable. Thank you!

Gulalek Volmamedova
— Project Manager/Digital Advocate for UNDP Turkmenistan
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