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How to Get Up to 80% of Your Employees' AI Training Costs Covered by the Töötukassa Training Grant

2026-07-09 11:49
Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday business. But simply giving employees access to AI tools is not enough — teams need practical skills to use them effectively in their daily work.
For many companies, the biggest obstacle is the cost of training.
Fortunately, through the Töötukassa Training Grant, Estonian employers can receive up to 80% funding for eligible AI and digital skills training.
Here's who is eligible, how the programme works, and how to get started.

What is the Töötukassa Training Grant?

The support is available through the Employer Training Grant (koolitustoetus tööandjale), a training support programme provided by Eesti Töötukassa. You can find the full programme details on the Töötukassa website.
For AI training, two types of support are particularly relevant:
  • ICT Skills Development (IKT-oskuste arendamine) — supports training in modern digital tools and technologies.
  • Training During Organisational Change (muutuste olukorras) — applies when a company is introducing new technologies or changing business processes.
AI skills training fits both categories, as it helps employees develop digital competencies while supporting the adoption of new technologies within the organisation.

Who is eligible?

The programme is intended for employers investing in their employees' digital skills.
Generally, companies qualify if they:
✓
are registered in Estonia
✓
have paid unemployment insurance contributions for at least 24 of the previous 36 months
✓
train employees with permanent contracts, or contracts valid for at least six months after the application
✓
choose a programme consisting of at least 50 academic hours
Additional technical requirements also apply, but most established Estonian employers meet them.

How much can be reimbursed?

80%
of eligible training
costs reimbursed
€2,500
maximum
per employee
3 years
reimbursement
period
Töötukassa reimburses up to 80% of eligible training costs.
The maximum reimbursement is €2,500 per employee over a three-year period.
Eligible expenses may include:
  • training costs;
  • employees' working time spent in training;
  • travel expenses if the training takes place outside Estonia.
The reimbursement amount depends on the programme conditions and each employer's individual circumstances.

How does the process work?

1
Consultation
We discuss your business goals, assess whether your company qualifies, and recommend the most suitable training approach.
2
Choosing the right programme
Based on your needs, we recommend a programme that aligns with both your business objectives and Töötukassa Training Grant requirements.
For example, AI Transformation Sprint helps organisations build practical AI capabilities while creating a roadmap for AI implementation across the business.
3
Organising the process
We organise the training together with our partners to ensure it meets Töötukassa's requirements.
Important: the Training Grant application must be submitted before the training begins.
4
Training your team
Employees complete the programme and begin applying AI in their everyday work. The goal is not simply to learn new tools, but to improve business processes and productivity.
5
Receiving reimbursement
The employer submits the required documentation and receives reimbursement in accordance with Töötukassa's programme conditions.

Why start now?

Companies investing in AI skills today gain a competitive advantage sooner than those waiting for the technology to become standard.
At the same time, the Töötukassa Training Grant significantly lowers the financial barrier to getting started.
The sooner your team develops practical AI skills, the sooner your organisation can benefit from improved productivity, automation and new growth opportunities.

Where to start

Whether you're just exploring AI training or already planning your next step, we're here to help.
We'll assess your situation, explain whether your company qualifies for the Töötukassa Training Grant, and recommend the training programme that best fits your team's goals.