TalTech aims to attract scientific talent through recently signed INNOCHEMBIO project, contributing to Europe’s green transition while also enhancing the global competitiveness of both TalTech and Estonia.
The European Commission co-funded research and development project INNOCHEMBIO (Innovative Chemistry and Biotechnology for a Sustainable Future) is set to launch in July.
“Our aim is to attract young research talents to Estonia, increase collaboration with international research partners, and enhance the competitiveness of our research groups,” emphasizes Mikk Kaasik, senior researcher at TalTech’s Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology and the project’s principal investigator.
First MSCA COFUND doctoral programme in Estonia
The project is funded under the European Union’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), specifically the MSCA COFUND programme, which focuses on the training and careers of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers. “ Participation in MSCA actions is considered a significant achievement internationally,” Kaasik notes.
Tiit Land, recently re-elected as rector of TalTech, also expresses his satisfaction with this impactful project. Attracting top researchers – who are also sought after elsewhere – is difficult without such initiatives. “More top-level science that helps to develop Estonia’s economy and society in a high-tech, yet environmentally sustainable way is the dream for every university. INNOCHEMBIO confirms that with persistence, dreams can become reality,” adds Land.
According to Kristin Kraav, Deputy Head of the Department of International Research Cooperation at the Estonian Research Council (ETAG), COFUND is a highly impactful action that also helps address an important gap in the current funding system. “I’m very pleased that the first MSCA COFUND doctoral training programme in Estonia has received funding, and I wish TalTech success in implementing the project.” For the same reason, ETAG has launched a support measure aimed at encouraging Estonian universities to submit more MSCA COFUND doctoral programme proposals, helping to cover part of the required co-financing. “We hope that more successful projects of this kind will come to Estonia in the coming years,” Kraav notes.
Cutting-edge science requires innovation
Kaasik says the importance of INNOCHEMBIO lies in the global challenges we face today. “Many of them are complex and lack simple solutions,” Kaasik explains. “We need to integrate new technologies in a complementary way that reduce our impact on the world and help us adapt to conditions that have already changed. To do this, we need experts who master multiple scientific disciplines and can apply their knowledge outside academia. ”
According to Kaasik, INNOCHEMBIO brings together scientific projects that integrate competencies from different fields to address sustainability-related problems. “For example, several INNOCHEMBIO projects aim to create innovative synthetic processes that increase efficiency and reduce waste. The development of analytical methods also contributes to early disease detection and thus helps save resources needed for treatment. When designing new materials, their environmental impact should be assessed before they can be considered safe.”
The project also includes research aimed at developing crop varieties more resistant to pathogens and extreme weather conditions. Many projects, Kaasik adds, are combined with computational methods to model possible scenarios and thereby reduce the need for extensive laboratory testing.
“In addition, this must be accompanied by industrial adaptation, community engagement, and smart regulation. We hope that the talents completing the programme will become not only experts in their field, but also drivers of change and advocates for sustainable innovation,” says Kaasik.
Inspiration from Poland’s success with COFUND
The idea for the project came from Associate Professor Ott Scheler of TalTech’s Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, who was inspired about ten years ago while doing his postdoctoral studies in Poland. “There, I saw how successful the Polish researchers were in using COFUND – securing funding repeatedly to attract talented PhD students and postdoctoral fellows,” Scheler recalls.
His team came up with the idea in 2020 to follow Poland’s example and bring more European funding to Estonia for research and development, thereby supporting the next generation of scientists. The feedback on the project during the first years encouraged them to continue. For example, the Seal of Excellence received in 2023 confirmed the high quality of the project proposal.
The initial project got a new focus
According to Mikk Kaasik, the success of INNOCHEMBIO is ultimately the result of strong team spirit and consistent work within the department. “Over the years, several colleagues have contributed to the project, making the outcome the result of a shared effort.” Later, senior researcher Cecilia Sarmiento took over as project lead and new people were brought on board. “Kristin Erkman and I joined at the end of 2023.” In 2024, Kaasik took over leadership of the project, and two outstanding new members joined the team: researcher Annela Avarlaid and TalTech’s Young Scientist of the Year Birgit Mets. “We decided to put greater emphasis on sustainable chemistry and biotechnology. Several previous projects had already touched on these topics, but the cross-project connection had not been as strong,” Kaasik explains.
Alongside Kaasik, the main contributors to the project are Kristin Erkman, Cecilia Sarmiento, Annela Avarlaid, and Birgit Mets.
Project scope
The aim of the project is to fill 15 doctoral positions, including three at the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics (NICPB). Under INNOCHEMBIO, students will study in TalTech’s Doctoral Programme in Natural Sciences, specializing in chemistry and biotechnology.
During their PhD training, students will receive education in both Estonia and abroad: they will conduct research, participate in a wide range of courses offered by TalTech and its partner institutions, and gain hands-on experience in the private sector. The list of collaborators includes 14 European universities and five private companies: AS TFTAK, ÄIO Tech OÜ, Icosagen Cell Factory OÜ, OPTIBRIUM LIMITED, and SafePAS OÜ.
The total project budget is €4.5 million, of which approximately €2.4 million comes from the European Union. The project will run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030.