Tallinn University of Technology

Smart Sea | Center of Excellence

Table of Contents

The aim of the Smart Sea Centre of Excellence is to enhance the international competitiveness of Estonia's maritime sector and marine research, as well as to promote research, development, and innovation in the maritime sector by 2035.

Objectives

The objectives of the Centre are:

  1. To consolidate TalTech's maritime-related competencies and potential into a cohesive whole;
  2. To achieve significant growth in the financing of maritime research and development activities;
  3. To serve as a unified and visible coordinating contact point for TalTech's maritime communications and value propositions, including for the Estonian maritime cluster;
  4. To develop a data- and model-based digital platform, supported by artificial intelligence, for the sustainable development of the blue economy;
  5. To prepare the development plan and its implementation plan (business model and business plan) for the Smart Sea Centre of Excellence to ensure its sustainable growth;
  6. To develop the Smart Sea Centre of Excellence into a European centre of scientific excellence in maritime research and innovation.

Management

The daily management of the Centre is handled by the Board of the Centre of Excellence:

  1. The Executive Director (Merit Kindsigo) is responsible for the daily management and sustainable development of the Centre;
  2. The Scientific Director is responsible for scientific excellence within the Centre of Excellence;
  3. The Administrative Director is responsible for the functioning of the Centre's technical services;
  4. The Financial Director is responsible for shaping financial policy and maintaining budgetary balance.

The Board is supported by a steering committee composed of representatives from faculties and support units.

Meetings

On August 22nd, the Smart Sea CoE Science Seminar took place at TalTech Kuressaare College, bringing together key specialists and researchers to discuss innovative ideas and shape the center's future strategies. The emphasis was on advancing top-tier research in the field and amplifying its potential.

The seminar was attended in person by CoE Executive Director Merit Kindsigo, Prof. Kristjan Tabri, Prof. Mihkel Kõrgesaar, Prof. Rivo Uiboupin, Siim Läänelaid, Raul Sõmer, and CoE Administrative Director Inga Zaitseva-Pärnaste. Joining online were Prof. Sanja Bauk and Prof. Aleksander Klauson.

The seminar day began at 9:30 AM with introductions and networking. This was followed by discussions on project ideas, where each participant presented their proposals, focusing on the key topics of Smart Sea CoE:

  • Aleksander Klauson: Hydroacoustics and hydrophones
  • Mihkel Kõrgesaar: Digital twin for ships
  • Rivo Uiboupin: Operational oceanography
  • Kristjan Tabri: Ice dynamics
  • Sanja Bauk: Framework for maritime safety risk assessment


After the lunch break, the discussions continued on project ideas and potential funding opportunities. Particular attention was given to various possible funding sources:

  • Ocean Observation Digital Platform
  • EU Funding & Tenders Portal
  • NATO SPS (Science for Peace and Security Programme)

In the final part of the seminar, the focus was on defining the CoE strategy, action plan, and roles. It was agreed that the strategy development would continue using the Miro platform, which is well-suited for modeling and scenario planning. The action plan includes continuing the development of the discussed project ideas, as well as searching for funding and consortium partners.

We would like to thank all participants for their valuable contributions and look forward to the further development of our joint projects. Stay tuned and keep up with our latest news!

On September 9th, the management of the Smart Sea Centre of Excellence hosted the TalTech Technology Transfer Office, which introduced the concept of the Retrofit Hub. The meeting centered on exploring the potential contributions of the Smart Sea CoE to the project. 

CoE Executive Director Merit Kindsigo highlighted the importance of sharing the project’s concept with all members of the Smart Sea CoE to identify relevant competencies that align with the goals of the Retrofit Hub initiative.

Kristo Reinsalu, Head of the Technology Transfer Office, and Valentin Bratkov, Program Director from the Estonian Maritime Academy, outlined the project's main objectives, key partners, and the potential involvement of industry representatives. The key outcome of the meeting was the agreement to schedule a follow-up session and engage with the TalTech research group to explore opportunities for collaboration.

Contacts