Projects

Projekt OptimaMind keskendub ajapiiranguga söömisele, et parandada aju tervist ja võidelda vananemisega kaasnevate väljakutsetega. Ajalooliselt oli inimeste juurdepääs toidule sageli juhuslik, muutes vahelduva paastumise (teise nimega aeg-restrikteeritud söömise (TRE)) elu loomulikuks osaks. See ajalooline kontekst loob aluse TRE võimalike eeliste mõistmiseks tänapäeval, eriti kognitiivse tervise kontekstis. On näidatud, et TRE kutsub esile adaptiivseid molekulaarseid muutusi, mis kaitsevad rakuressursse, parandades samal ajal füüsilist ja kognitiivset jõudlust. Sellised muutused hõlmavad süsteemse põletiku vähenemist ja raku antioksüdantide potentsiaali suurenemist. Üks TRE mõju näidetest on beeta-hüdroksübutüraadi (BHB), ketoonkeha, mis parandab kognitiivseid funktsioone, tootmine. Maksas toodetud BHB on oluline energiasubstraat, millel on võrreldes teiste energiaallikatega kasulikumaid omadusi. Ja vastupidi, sagedane toidutarbimine ja vähene füüsiline aktiivsus võivad pärssida BHB tootmist, vähendades seega selle positiivset mõju. Projekti OptimaMind eesmärk on uurida erinevate meetodite abil TRE mõju kognitiivsete funktsioonide biomarkeritele, eriti vananevas elanikkonnas. Kavandatavas projektis kasutatakse Euroopas olemasolevaid biopankade proove ja erinevaid paastuprotokolli kohordi andmeid, et uurida neuroprotektiivseid biomarkereid erinevates populatsioonides. Oodatavad tulemused hõlmavad uusi teadmisi TRE-st kui mittefarmakoloogilisest strateegiast kognitiivse pikaealisuse suurendamiseks ja dementsuse ennetamiseks. Projekti eesmärk on ka teavitada tervishoiuteenuse osutajaid ja avalikkust praktilistest tõenduspõhistest strateegiatest aju tervise säilitamiseks. OptimaMind mõjutab rahvatervise soovitusi, kliinilisi tavasid ja heaolutööstust, mille eesmärk on lõpuks parandada kognitiivset tervist ja elukvaliteeti vananevas elanikkonnas.

As the concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere continue to rise, methods for alleviation are desperately needed. Instead of a greenhouse gas, CO2 can also be a valuable resource, but this requires technology to split it up. Among the proposed technologies to split CO2 is its capture and electrolysis in molten salts, turning CO2 into solid carbon and gaseous oxygen. This project aims to further this technology by looking closely at the processes taking place and creating new ways of valorizing the products to create a financial incentive for scaling. Smart utilization of this powerful technology will allow us to not only directly reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, but also to limit future emissions by empowering CO2-free energy conversion devices such as fuel cells, batteries, and supercapacitors. To keep the CO2 equivalents low and to not offset the positive effect of CO2 capture and utilization, the effect of green chemistry principles and their utilization will also be studied.

The efficient utilisation of bio-based resources is essential for achieving a sustainable, carbon-neutral society. AGRI-WASTE2H2 will focus on straw-derived cellulose – an abundant but underexploited agricultural side-product – as feedstock in an advanced electrochemical process, tailored for enhanced efficiency in the production of green hydrogen with significantly reduced energy consumption compared to standard water electrolysis. At the same time, the process will concurrently produce valuable platform chemicals and materials. AGRI-WASTE2H2 relies on the combined expertise of researchers in three Nordic-Baltic countries – Finland, Sweden and Estonia. The Synthetic Flow Chemistry group at Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia, will focus on transferring the electrochemical oxidation of cellulose into the flow regime, aiming to achieve high efficiency and productivity of the developed transformation. The scaling-up process in flow is a key step for a successful industrial application. AGRI-WASTE2H2 capitalises on the abundance of renewable electricity and agricultural side-streams in the Nordic-Baltic area to produce fuel and chemicals, thereby alleviating the region’s dependence on import of fossil feedstocks. As such, the project will result in tools for reduced CO2 emissions and increased regional resilience, while spurring the growth of new green industries of particular benefit for rural areas. The collaboration between researchers three Nordic-Baltic countries will enable results beyond what the individual partner can achieve alone and promote regional mobility and new collaborations. By leveraging our specialised know-how, we aim to drive innovation tailored to our regional needs and strengths.

Reproduction is regulated by the endocrine system and its disturbances by endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDCs) may lead to infertility. As humans are constantly exposed to EDCs through the use of common household items and personal care products, it is important to test chemicals for their potential activity as endocrine disruptors affecting reproductive function. Project MERLON aims to study the effects of EDCs on sexual development and function in order to deliver new approach methodologies (NAMs) for EDC identification. While MERLON targets the vulnerable stages of development from fetal to puberty, MERLON2, with additional partner TalTech, will add one more sensitive window of susceptibility in female reproduction to the project: the adult preovulatory ovarian follicle, where the oocyte maturation takes place. In collaboration with TalTech, it was recently demonstrated that follicular somatic cells (FSCs) lose sensitivity to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the presence of a mixture of 13 EDCs. FSH is crucial for both, the oocyte maturation and for the synthesis of steroid hormones by the FSCs. We have also demonstrated the intricate heterogeneity of somatic cells in the ovarian follicle. The roles that FSC subpopulations play in the adverse effects of EDCs is unknown and unaddressed by the initial MERLON project. MERLON2 will complement the aims of the consortium by developing NAMs based on single cell transcriptomics, automated image analysis and machine learning to understand the effect of EDCs on FSC subpopulations and their sensitivity to FSH. This will increase the research output for MERLON in the number of proposed NAMs and quantitative adverse outcome pathways. As a result of MERLON2 the range of stakeholders will enlarge, increasing the public awareness related to the harmful health effects of EDCs, and proposing new approaches to resolve the complicates issue of testing substances in everyday products for their adverse effects on human fertility.

The CROSS project aims to strengthen the European Research Area by developing innovative tools to mainstream the new Charters´ principles, fostering organisational change and career interoperability. Key outputs include a Self-Assessment Competence Tool, a comprehensive Roadmap for transversal skills training, a Mentoring Handbook, a Roadmap for career counseling, an Intersectoral Collaboration Handbook, and an HRS4R Repository. These form a comprehensive set of career management services, which will be piloted and implemented across four intersectoral networks. The development of these resources will follow a co-creative process, engaging stakeholders across Europe, facilitated through the creation of our ResearchComp Community of Practice. This approach ensures their adaptability to diverse European ecosystems. A key component of CROSS is the creation of a platform designed to support institutions in obtaining the HRS4R award. This platform can also serve as a shared resource for all projects funded under this call, ensuring their continued use and expansion beyond the project’s lifecycle. By promoting organisational change, CROSS will benefit research-performing organisations and researchers at all career stages, significantly improving career prospects and delivering broader societal impact.

The Xpanding Innovative Alliance (XiA) project is dedicated to advancing interoperability within the healthcare sector, particularly in anticipation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) regulation. Through a comprehensive educational initiative, XiA aims to address the skills gap in advanced digital health interoperability standards among healthcare providers, digital health solution providers, and individuals. By developing high-quality educational materials and courses, XiA seeks to equip stakeholders with the necessary skills to embrace EHDS-related standards and foster a culture of interoperability.

For the development of the field of human-robot cooperation, a development and test laboratory for collaborative robotics and process-adaptive devices will be created based on the Virumaa Innovation Centre of Digitalisation and Green Technologies, Virumaa College, and Taltech's headquarters. In the created laboratory, it will be possible to study the psychological aspects of human-machine co-creation, workplace design, etc. In addition, adaptability of equipment/physical systems to production processes. All this in both real and digital (augmented reality) environments, based on the Industry X.0 concept.

In traditional food systems, additives derived from petrochemicals and animal products are widely used. While these compounds may possess desired techno-functional properties, they come with environmental, ethical, health, and sustainability issues. The goal of this project is to develop alternative protein-based food additives, such as colorants and sweeteners, that meet the needs of the food industry while addressing the concerns. Rational design, structural biology, and AI methods are utilized for protein development. In collaboration with TFTAK, a precision fermentation platform is developed to produce proteins in microorganisms. Protein samples are tested in model foods. Successful prototypes are commercialized through partnerships with the local food industry and startup accelerators. The gathered experimental data is used to model relationships between protein structure and techno-functional properties, facilitating the design of novel food proteins in the future.

Wood or lignocellulosic biomass more generally, is a readily available renewable resource, offering sustainable solutions for our growing human population. The core wood polymers - cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin - serve as fundamental components, extending beyond paper production to produce valuable wood sugars, textile fibers, thermoplastics, and fine chemicals. In our project, we are developing enzyme technologies utilizing extremophilic microbe-derived enzymes to break down and modify lignin, remove toxic phenolic compounds, convert cellulose into wood sugars, and advance enzyme-catalyzed cellulose technologies. Additionally, the project focuses on advancing technologies for converting kraft, hydrolysis (and organosolv) and synthetic lignins into porous materials, thermoplastics, and cutting-edge catalysts.

The project is aimed at changing the current paradigm of using oil shale by direct transformation of its valuable structural components into high-value chemicals, with the goal of developing an environmentally friendly chemical industry. The focus is set on expanding advanced methods for obtaining base chemicals through the chemical transformation of kerogens from various sources, as well as developing environmentally friendly holistic solutions. These efforts aim to enhance the efficiency of using other geological resources and allow for the utilization of already generated waste. The objective is to develop innovative uses for raw materials that create added value, find applications for residual oil shale in waste rock piles, and align with green transition strategies. The focus is on Estonian mineral resources, but the project also envisions the utilization of other difficult-to-transform organic materials for obtaining chemicals.

In engineered wood production, the wood goes through many process steps, which affect both the wood and the final product quality. Holistic studies on the co-effect of these processes on adhesive bond quality are lacking. Despite a 20 year old theoretical basis to understand poor adhesion and adhesive testing variability, the tools to understand the impact on surface defects on bond quality are underdeveloped, resulting in uncontrolled bonding conditions, high variances, and slow technical progress. In addition, the fire resistance of engineered wood structures is investigated. Design and assessment methods are improved, and their scope widened to new innovative wood products based on experimental studies and thermo-mechanical simulations. This will accelerate the implementation of bio-based adhesives, improving the competitiveness and safety of the engineered wood products and promoting the utilization of low-quality wood species.

Data has become the most valuable resource for the automation and optimization of tasks arising both in the private and public spheres. The proposed research area/project aims at strengthening both the synergy and quality of the current research of Taltech in this area, while significantly enhancing the capabilities of Uni to cooperate with Estonian industry and public sphere by joint work, consultations, continuous and regular education. The focus of the project is on using machine learning for data science: ML, in particular deep learning, has shown the most promise in advancing the capabilities of future software systems and empowering the whole business of software development. The concrete goal is to increase the manpower and competence in machine learning, while enhancing and cooperating with the existing areas of data science like data and rule mining, data semantics and knowledge representation, natural language data queries, data integration, statistics and data management.

The present project aims to develop novel and enhance existing methods of explainable artificial intelligence for the analysis of human motor functions. Pilot studies have demonstrated promising results to support the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, we plan to extend the area of application from medicine to cognitive development and cognitive fatigue analysis. The integration of the explainer component will provide medical professionals with the necessary transparency of the decisions made by AI. Application in the area of cognitive development to support the school education process. Cognitive fatigue is known to cause severe injuries and serious financial losses. In-depth understanding of this phenomenon and ability to recognise mental fatigue targets to make the work environment safer and reduce monetary and non-monetary losses in the process of work.