Baltic TRAM offers companies free access to analytical research

The Baltic TRAM project has opened the first application round for entrepreneurs, offering companies free access to state-of-the-art analytical research facilities in the research institutions of the Baltic Sea region, providing scientific and technical support for the development of new products or services.

Companies whose applications are selected for support are offered free studies of material samples and the opportunity to consult with experts in competent research institutions or analytical research facilities. Through the scientific advice tailored to their specific business needs, companies will be able to upscale the knowledge of their materials’ properties and have an opportunity to improve their product portfolio or in-house manufacturing processes. 

Vice Rector for Research Marco Kirm said, “Many companies have questions why the material they produce or use ‘behaves’ in a specific manner, and what they should do to change its properties in the desired direction or improve the manufacturing process in the company. In the next 5 months, companies will be able to get free answers to a lot of such questions in the course of the Baltic TRAM activities, thanks to EU support. Therefore we expect entrepreneurs to make use of this wonderful opportunity.”

Baltic TRAM partners have established a comprehensive network of structures that serve as an interface between research institutions and companies, so called Industrial Research Centers (IReC), around the Baltic Sea.  IReCs are units that support the companies’ needs and can help entrepreneurs during the entire application period – from defining the task to specifying follow-up activities that would help the company apply the newly acquired knowledge in product development or in their manufacturing process. If there are no measurement facilities in the applicant’s country, the Baltic TRAM network will help to find such facilities at another partner.

Companies from all European Union member states may apply for free measurements. Applications may be sent by the application form on Baltic TRAM’s website www.baltic-tram.eu (in the front page, “Apply” – “Application Form”). Further information about the procedure and precise contact information is also available on the website www.baltic-tram.eu, additional information is offered by the ADAPTER cooperation network of universities (Estonian IReC).

Baltic TRAM is an international project co-financed by the EU Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme. The overall objective of the project is to boost innovation, secure the implementation of smart specialisation strategies, and encourage entrepreneurship by supporting small and medium-size enterprises, thereby contributing to the regional effort of making the Baltic Sea Region innovative, sustainable and competitive.

Additional information: Ott Rebane, UT Industrial Relations Expert, 737 6607, ott.rebane@ut.ee