Table of Contents
Collider 24/25 academic year
EuroTeQ Collider is a challenge-based learning activity in which students are presented with challenges (incl. by research groups/businesses) in the field of sustainability, for which they then need to find solutions as a team. To solve real-life problems, interdisciplinarity is essential, based on the knowledge of different fields and the ability to link them to the needs of society and the industry. For the academic year 2023/24 and 2024/25, the central theme is "ENHANCE CONNECTIONS for Sustainable Futures“ where the sub-themes are:
- People – It stands for social sustainability. The aim is to enhance social equity, inclusion, health, education, and cohesion to create societies that respect human rights and needs (e.g. strengthening and empowering interpersonal communities, connecting people's needs and desires with the help of technology (including e.g. digital solutions) in different areas such as well-being, health, culture, etc.).
- Nature – It stands for environmental sustainability. The focus is on protecting ecosystems, conserving resources, and minimizing human impact to ensure long-term environmental health (e.g. conscious connections with nature, considering our environmental resources and the connection of living organisms with the environment: interactions in the ecosystem, ensuring biodiversity and nature conservation, using renewable energy, etc.).
- Economy – It stands for governance/economic sustainability. The aim involves efficient and fair resource management to promote stable economic growth without compromising environmental and social sustainability, job creation and responsible consumption.
Collider's final product is a design, concept or prototype demonstrating a specific solution to a challenge.
- During the spring semester, it is possible to participate in Collider through various problem- and project-based courses.
As an additional option, all students are invited to improve their knowledge and skills through the Green and Sustainability module and the pitching seminar in May. These modules, offered across the courses, will help you approach your project/topic from the sustainability aspect, understand the need for communication and develop presentation skills.
Join us and be part of the journey towards a more sustainable future!
GREEN AND SUSTAINABILITY MODULE
This module gives insight into the multifaceted impacts of climate change and climate-smart strategies on global, regional, national and local scales. It addresses climate mitigation and adaptation through strategic frameworks and measures, along with practical examples.
By Kerli Kirsimaa, Strategy Manager of Climate Smart University
This module guides students towards understanding the interconnectedness of nature and helps them see beyond the goal of reducing carbon emissions. Drawing from various disciplines the students gain an understanding of how sustainable solutions can include a large variety of activities, extending from circular initiatives to the use of nature-based solutions.
By Piret Vacht, TLÜ Associate Professor of Environmental Management
This part is devoted to developing an understanding of the role of communication in applying sustainable solutions. While the theoretical principles of strategic environmental communication are briefly glanced at, the main emphasis is on practical examples and developing the ability to critically assess environmental communication cases – including, for instance, how to recognize greenwashing. This guides the students towards having the basic knowledge to avoid making similar mistakes in communicating their sustainable solutions and ensuring their projects receive the attention they deserve.
By Piret Vacht, TLÜ Associate Professor of Environmental Management
Workshops
This interactive pitch training session will equip students with the essential skills to craft and deliver compelling business pitches. Based on research and real-world pitching examples, we will explore:
- Principles of a good pitch – clarity, conciseness, confidence, and connection with the audience.
- Key content & structure – how to organize a pitch effectively, covering problem identification, solution, value proposition, market potential, and call to action.
- Storytelling & engagement – techniques to make a pitch memorable, using narratives, emotional appeal, and strong openings/closings.
- Keeping attention – the role of voice, body language, visuals, and rhetorical devices in sustaining audience interest.
- Practical hints & common mistakes – Do’s and don’ts based on successful and failed pitches.
- The session will include hands-on exercises to refine delivery, improve storytelling, and boost confidence, ensuring students leave with enhanced pitching skills and practical takeaways.
When: 9.05.25 at 10.00-12.30 (Estonian time)
Where: SOC-315
Organiser: Ekaterina Demiankova, School of Business and Governance, TalTech
The workshop aim is to:
help all study level students build their first working website with the product video on it for 90 minutes, working in groups and using free tools only (including AI tools, Miro, Padlet, etc.)
When: 24.04.25 at 12:00-14:00 CET
Where: Online*
Organiser: Ekaterina Demiankova, School of Business and Governance, TalTech
Registration by the 20th of April
Topics:
- How can modern technology help validate ideas quickly?
- What is an MVP, and why are they worth building?
- How much can get accomplished when teams divide and conquer?
- Fantastic tools make testing business ideas easier than ever, even with little technical skill. AI can help to create a name and pictures for the website and even the website itself!
- Ideas can be tested fast, as they can launch an MVP in 90 minutes.
*You will be sent the Teams link on 23.04.
TalTech Sustainable Futures (21.05)
It is a university-wide student project competition, which will take place on May 21 in the main building of TalTech. All students who work in teams in the course and/or solve a problem/challenge related to contributing to sustainability goals are invited to participate.
Read more: HTTPS://TALTECH.EE/EN/TALTECH-SUSTAINABLE-FUTURES
Students present their projects to a specially selected jury during the event, which selects the three best projects.
In addition to passes to the EuroTeQaThon, there are cash prizes for the three best teams. The entire event will be held in English.
More details:
- Team size of 3-6 students
- TwoPager introducing the team's project
- Evaluation criteria (not mandatory, but rather a helpful and context-creating aid)
- Pitch 3-5 minutes
Important dates:
- 06.05 registration deadline for pitch practice and TalTech Sustainable Futures
- 16.05 TwoPager submission deadline
- 20.05 by 12.00 deadline for submitting presentations.
EuroTeQaThon
The EuroTeQaThon is a three-day extra-curricular pitching and networking event for the best teams from six EuroTeQ partner universities, where the participating teams will pitch their projects to a dedicated judging panel.
This semester, the EuroTeQaThon will be held in Eindhoven at the Eindhoven University of Technology from June 14 to 16. The university will cover the travel and accommodation expenses of the winners of the Sustainable Futures event.
EUROTEQATHON WINNING TEAMS WILL GET:
- monetary prizes
- opportunity to participate in the Green Challenge on June 27 at DTU (Technical University of Denmark)
One of the teams from each university attending EuroTeQaThon will have the opportunity to further develop their project at the Ignite Bootcamp, at the end of July, in Barcelona at IESE Business School.
Previous Colliders
It has also been possible to participate in Collider in previous years through various problem- and project-based courses offered during the spring semester. Below is a list of courses that have been part of the Collider and TalTech Sustainable Futures initiatives:
- MMJ3060 - Venture Creation
- IHT1020 - Semester Project
- TMJ3300 - Entrepreneurship and Business Planning
- MMJ5240 - Social Entrepreneurship
- TMJ0140 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship
- MET0330 - Internet of Things
- UTT0120 - Problem- and Project-Based Learning
- EPX5020 - Startup Entrepreneurship for Built Environment
- EKE8260 - Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
- HHI0132 – techEstonia - Innovation Lab of an Entrepreneurial State
- UTT0110 - Mechatronics and Smart Systems project
- MNA5410 - Digital Transformations of Government
- XX1530 - Computer and Systems Engineering Project
As an additional option, all students are invited to improve their knowledge and skills in the following modules offered across the course. This will help you approach your project/topic from the sustainability aspect, understand the need for communication and develop presentation skills.
Materials: