Projects

The objective of the project is to conduct a feasibility study on welding in space in cooperation with the European Space Agency and the company Moliri OÜ. This includes the analysis of target materials and joints, a study of human user requirements and control methods, a literature review and comparative analysis of welding processes suitable for the space environment, and the preparation of a preliminary plan for testing, qualification, and validation of welding in space.

Advancing education of engineers through AI for cyber-sustainable and energy-efficient union involves a collaborative ENERGYCOM network of Baltic, Scandinavic and Nordic institutions, including Kaunas University of Technology, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Riga Technical University, Tallinn University of Technology, University of Tartu, University of Vaasa and UiT The Arctic University of Norway. This network aims to address engineering education, focusing on cyber-sustainability and energy efficiency by integrating advanced AI-powered teaching and learning methods. Within this project, ENERGYCOM introduces AI-powered assistants into the learning ecosystem, preparing engineers to tackle global challenges in sustainability and cybersecurity while adhering to ethical principles. Key activities include workshops, express mobility programs, and academic exchanges covering fields such as like mechatronics, power systems, robotics, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and human-centric information systems. By integrating AI-driven tools into education, the initiative aims to prepare students and educators to think critically, solve complex problems, and develop sustainable and energy-efficient solutions. The network builds on the EU's strategic initiatives, such as the Digital Education Action Plan, Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Strategy, to strengthen digital competencies and promote sustainability.

The subject of the contract is the design and testing of the common control system of the Purtse hybrid park, modeling of the electrical installation, preparation of required reports, and participation in grid compliance tests of the electrical installation, measurement, and preparation of necessary reports.

Visible effects of society’s ageing is the reported increase in the necessity of orthopaedic implants boosting to a huge economical market. For a successful integration of any implant, bone regeneration, osseointegration at the interface bone and implant as well as mitigating inflammatory events are crucial aspects. The project aims at extending the biocompatibility and tribo-mechanical performance associated with a lifetime of surgical implants based on Titanium (Ti). The hypothesis states combining Ti alloy with hydroxyapatite (HAp), and medically active components (drug delivery function) in order to obtain excellent biomaterial supporting bone growth and eliminating the problem of loosening of the implant by its integration with bone. The project goes beyond the state-of-the-art by laser surface treatment, opening the underlying porosity improving the cell transport and cell growth. The result implant biomaterial, will reduce the number of removal surgeries in the future.

A platform for monitoring energy usage and operational state properties of distribution networks is elaborated, enabling users of distribution networks to access relevant and better time-resolution data to support green energy usage, energy efficiency and the flexibility technologies. The platform being developed will provide extensive support for decision-making and calculation algorithms, enabling efficient availability and management of local area operational data.

Conducting a comparative study on ICT higher education offered by universities, the competencies of emerging ICT professionals, and the needs of the labor market, using Kenya, Nigeria, and Armenia as case studies. The study will be carried out within the framework of the international talent partnership project “Digital Explorer 2.”

Reliable monitoring of drinking water quality is of critical importance from a public health perspective, as it enables the prevention of diseases associated with microbiological and chemical contamination and contributes to the mitigation of related health risks. Continuous surveillance of drinking water quality is particularly essential in order to detect deterioration in water quality at the earliest possible stage and to enable timely intervention before contaminated water reaches consumers. In addition, drinking water quality is a key determinant in a range of industrial processes, including the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, where variations in water composition may significantly affect process performance as well as product quality. The objective of this project is to conduct feasibility studies and experimental investigations that will provide a basis for assessing compliance with drinking water quality requirements through the application of optical spectral analysis and signal processing algorithms. The outcomes of the feasibility study will enable the evaluation of the suitability of optical and real-time measurement methods for drinking water quality monitoring and will establish a foundation for their further development and implementation in environmental, public health, and industrial technological applications

Feeding the continuously growing population is taking its toll on environmental resources. Expanding agricultural lands is not viable anymore as biological diversity and our own living environment suffer. The alternative is to transfer food production – proteins included – into microorganisms cultivated in bioreactors. This allows resource efficient food protein production that follows the principles of circular economy. Furthermore, both plant and animal-based proteins can be produced in microbes. The structures of these proteins can be optimised using cutting-edge molecular biology tools to improve their nutritional value and other properties like stickiness or foaming that are important in food preparation. As a result of this project, a food protein with improved properties is designed and produced in a bioreactor on an experimental scale. The acquired know-how is an important tool for the food industry to develop novel nature-friendly products.

The ENACT (https://enact-eu.net/) strengthens crime prevention and counter-terrorism efforts by supporting cutting-edge technologies like the Drug Hunter Analyzer. Developed by TalTech and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, Drug Hunter enables fast and reliable on-site drug detection in oral fluid within minutes. ENACT funding aims to enhance the visibility of Drug Hunter by supporting pilot studies, validation, and dissemination efforts, ensuring its successful adoption in law enforcement and forensic applications.

Astrocytes comprise one of the main cell types in the central nervous system (CNS), and it is now recognized that they have important roles in ensuring proper development and homeostasis of the CNS, with astrocyte dysfunction contributing to all major neurological disorders. Recent studies have shown that these cells undergo dramatic transcriptional changes in response to neuron-derived stimuli. However, what are the astrocyte-specific mechanisms that regulate these changes are still largely unknown. Here, this issue will be tackled using state-of-the art functional genomic approaches to generate a comprehensive map of the astrocyte-specific regulatory elements (with a focus on enhancers) and transcription factors that govern stimuli-induced gene expression changes. This will provide unique and original insights into the mechanisms that control stimuli-induced gene expression in non-neuronal CNS cells, with potential implications for the understanding of several neuropathologies.

Using surface plasmon resonance and calorimetry, the binding of hypertriglyceridemia drug candidates to lipoprotein lipase was tested.

This study aims to explore the chemical composition and variability of Estonian bee pollen across different seasons and potentially different regions. The focus is on analyzing the content of various bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants, amino acids, and volatile compounds, to evaluate the nutritional value and potential of pollen as a functional food.