Two UT-related projects received support for smart specialisation applied research

Five projects have currently received funding from the Archimedes smart specialisation measure, UT is a development partner in three of these. Two projects received funding in the last round, the first studies population mobility on the basis of mobile data and the second aims to create lactic acid bacteria with specific characteristics.

Mooncascade OÜ received 174,090 euros for the project “Analytics, monitoring and forecast algorithms of population mobility”. The aim of the project is to develop a set of tools which includes algorithms to analyse, monitor and predict population mobility on the basis of mobile data. Lecturer in Distributed Systems Amnir Hadachi, who is the project manager, gave an example that this type of data analysis enables to develop smart and sustainable urban environments.

Co-founder of Mooncascade OÜ Priit Salumaa acknowledged UT’s significant contribution to Estonian and world science: “Because of very close and good relations with the Institute of Computer Science, it was our first choice in our search for a research partner. In recent years we have intensified internal research development activities in the fields of data research, computer vision and location-based services and we hope that with the help of UT we will soon be the leading private enterprise in these fields in Estonia and Europe.”

A 105,000 euro support was granted to the project “Improved lacto-acid bacteria through genetic engineering”, led by the Center of Food and Fermentation Technology and implemented by UT, which aims to create lactic acid bacteria with specific characteristics by using modern research methods—genetic engineering and in-depth analysis of bacterial metabolism together with the smart cultivation of bacteria and metabolic modelling.

UT’s leading partner of the project, Senior Research Fellow in Molecular Microbiology Arvi Jõers said that the task of UT as the development partner is to conduct the genetic engineering work. “This means constructing the stems of new lactic acid bacteria whose improved characteristics should enable to use them more efficiently in industry.”

The particular created stems will not actually end up in food production but they can be used to test which development directions are perspective. “The stems of lactic acid bacteria constructed at UT can be compared to conception cars displayed at car exhibitions—they will not be sold in stores in the exact same form but new ideas and thoughts can be tested,” added Jõers.

The first support for smart specialisation applied research in the amount of 176,400 euros was granted to Click & Grow and UT to further develop plant mediums and reduce the production cost of vernalised plant capsules.