Estonia’s National Cyber Security Director Raul Rikk will join Europe’s leading developer of robotics and autonomous systems Milrem Robotics as the Science and Development Director.
Raul Rikk is the founder and developer of several international and domestic organizations, including NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE) and the National Cyber Security Department at the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications.
He has extensive experience in leadership, management, coordination and teamwork at various levels of management and in various projects. Raul also has extensive international work experience in many different countries and international projects.
“Milrem Robotics is currently involved in the evaluation and concept development of robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) in 14 countries. The next step of these evaluations is the implementation of RAS on a larger scale and a crucial factor in this is cyber security. Especially for military applications. Raul’s role will be improving the usability of robotics enabling them to be applied on a larger scale and thus increasing the defence capabilities of our client countries,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics.
“Raul’s long-term background in the field of cyber defence, combined with his international experience and Defence Forces background, makes him a very strong addition to Milrem’s team in tackling these challenges,” he added.
“I am delighted to join Milrem Robotics, the defence industry’s flagship of innovation and robotics. The current security situation has made strengthening national defences even more important than before, and in this context the development of defence technologies is a key element,” Rikk said.
“In the coming years, I would like to focus on perfecting Milrem Robotics’ products and services to a level expected by NATO and partner countries,” he added.
Milrem Robotics’ current S&D Director prof. Mart Noorma will depart the company end of May 2022.
“For the last five years Mart has been focused on building our strategic development competences. Thanks to him we now have one of the world’s leading teams engaged in offroad autonomy and for that he has my gratitude,” said Kuldar Väärsi.
Raul Rikk will join Milrem Robotics’ team in June 2022.