Projects

Driving Climate Positive Futures (DREAM+PLAN), a truly interdisciplinary, international, and intersectoral PhD program, uniting European and Australian research via 32 doctoral positions, many for double degree. DREAM+PLAN brings together a community of visionary changemakers, leaders, who dream big and develop tangible pathways for solving local and global climate-related challenges, all united by a mission to create a positive impact, towards a more sustainable, fair, inclusive and thriving planet for future generations. The overarching objectives of DREAM+PLAN research training program is to create and deliver, legacy-worthy, novel, cutting-edge, 3i-centric training through best-practice multi-faceted, group and individual training options for DC’s

Easy2reUse project will develop an intelligent reusable mask for healthcare workers, critical working groups and citizens. The mask will be sustainable, easy-to-breath, comfortable to wear long working hours, low lifetime cost, easy to clean, meeting the universal fit and standard requirements. User experiences of the mask will be closely studied in Finland and Spain. Cleaning and maintaining in the hospital environment and other environments are the essential part to make the mask reusable, fulfilling the cleanliness requirements. The market readiness research for reusable facemasks focuses on designing manufacturing processes that emphasize material sourcing, cost efficiency, and sustainability. A comprehensive understanding of economic feasibility, usability, and manufacturing efficiency is achieved by combining quantitative and qualitative analyses throughout the prototype development and testing phases. During these tests, facemask prototypes with integrated electronics are evaluated for functionality, durability, and compliance with current regulations and standards. Additionally, documentation for EU type-examination is prepared, and an internal quality control system is established and verified. The project explores best practices and challenges in production, regulatory compliance, and market entry by drawing insights from similar industries. Comparative case studies, life cycle costing (LCC), and assessments of market and technology readiness (MRL and TRL) guide the creation of scalable production plans. A preparedness plan is also developed for stockpiling, scale-up, and adoption by healthcare workers and the public during pandemics, applicable across European countries. The manufacturing process is designed to ensure production takes place in Europe, supporting regional supply chain resilience. Market readiness and cost-effectiveness are evaluated to create a comprehensive plan for rapid production and widespread market adoption.

The aim of the financial competence development project led by TalTech is to provide, in collaboration with various institutions and researchers, the necessary scientific expert group to solve various problems related to improving financial literacy and to conduct measurements and experiments during the project. The project will carry out the analysis described in the initial task, answer the research questions, and additionally propose activities and measures to improve financial literacy. Researchers from TalTech, the University of Tartu, Tallinn University, Estonian Business School, and Mainor Business School will participate in the project, along with external partners from Aalto University (Finland), Trier University (Germany), and Otto Beisheim School of Management (Germany).

Platform work is a growing form of employment in Estonia, impacting social security options, career paths, and traditional forms of employment. It is essential to understand the economic and social outlook of workers engaged in platform work and the future of this sector in Estonia, in relation to developments in the European Union. This interdisciplinary project, which brings together social scientists, legal scholars, and economists, offers insights into the field of platform work and its broader impacts on the Estonian economy through various quantitative and qualitative methods. The central outcome of the work is a scenario-based analysis of the potential future development of platform entrepreneurship in Estonia, including an examination of emerging risks and opportunities-, considering regulatory developments in Europe, macroeconomic trends, and technological advancements. It also considers the impact of different scenarios on society, including the potential increase in vulnerability. The report produced within the framework of the project, and the related activities carried out within the project are based on the need to understand platform work more broadly while also considering its potential impacts on the development of social security in Estonia.

The general objective of the EquiTech project is to enhance capacity of public authorities in Estonia and Lithuania in addressing risks of bias and discrimination in ADM procedures. This will be achieved by developing research, support materials, trainings and media campaign. This will be reached by: 1. Desk research on gaps in policies and legal frameworks on AI in Estonia and Lithuania together with mapping of potential risks of discrimination and bias in ADM systems deployed by Estonian public authorities. 2. Development of practical toolkits to address potential risks for discrimination and bias in design and deployment of ADM systems; 3. Capacity building with inclusion among project stakeholders and target groups through trainings, study trips, international conference and academic webinars; 4. Raising public awareness on the risks of discrimination and bias in public sector ADM systems. As a result, we will minimize the probability of discrimination and bias in Estonian and Lithuanian ADM systems and set an example to other member states, contributing to the national action plans against racism and strategies against antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and xenophobia, LGBTIQ-phobia and all other forms of intolerance.