The Rector of the University of Tartu, Toomas Asser, and a member of the management board of AS Metrosert, Indrek Tulp, signed a cooperation agreement on 15 July concerning teaching as well as research and development.
The aim of the cooperation agreement is to initiate joint projects that will develop both organisations and help make Estonia a more attractive place to live and work, supporting innovation and the growth of skilled workforce.
The focus areas of the Applied Research Center at Metrosert are health data, self-driving vehicles, biorefining, drone technologies and hydrogen technologies. According to Mihkel Tammo, Head of Entrepreneurship at the University of Tartu, combining the expertise of the University of Tartu's research teams and Metrosert's experience will accelerate technology development and scaling. "This will create an opportunity for wider application of the technologies and products developed by the researchers of the University of Tartu and increase their competitiveness at international level," said Tammo.
"In addition to developing technologies, cultivating top specialists is an important part of our cooperation. The skills of these experts are indispensable in the emerging industrial sector and will help ensure Estonia's competitiveness and the sustainability of innovation," added Indrek Tulp, Head of Applied Research Center at Metrosert.
In addition to research and development, the cooperation agreement includes collaboration in the fields of traineeships, higher education, continuing education, industrial doctorates and public relations.