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 - e.g. strengthening and empowering communities, connecting people's needs and desires with the help of technology (including e.g. digital solutions) in various fields such as well-being, health, culture, etc.
• Nature - e.g. mindful 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. 
• Technology - e.g., effective digital and physical connections in different areas such as information technology, logistics, transport, manufacturing, communication, etc.

 Each year, the EuroTeQ Collider concludes with the EuroTeQaThon – a three-day event that gathers top Collider teams from partner universities at one location.

TalTech student teams

In the Nature category, Team Antscape (Marja-Liisa Soone, Ann Rehemaa, and Johan Valdemar Leoste), addressed the issue of environmental degradation in urban areas due to poor spatial planning. This degradation impacts people, animals, birds, and pollinators, thereby affecting biodiversity. The team proposed an innovative solution: an automated, biodiversity-sustaining urban landscape design service. This service adapts green areas to the actual spatial and local conditions and utilizes ecological data to support sustainable planning, ultimately fostering a greener and more resilient urban environment. 

In the Technology category, Team Bio-tribo-corrosion (Arash Kariminejad, Sibel Yöyler, Riddhi Hirenkumar Shukla, Tabeen Halawat Pampori, Shangavi Subramanian, and Mayank Kumar Yadav), focused on the challenges faced by biocompatible implants, such as hip or knee joints. These implants encounter issues with their tribological properties (friction, wear, and lubrication) and corrosion resistance. The team's solution is a simultaneous bio-tribo-corrosion testing setup, which will enable predictions on how biocompatible materials will perform in real-world situations. This setup aims to improve the materials' properties and extend their lifetime, providing benefits to both the environment and the economy. 

In the People category, Team UTER (Liis-Marie Kütt, Berna Sarraf, Ashlyn Elizabeth Finney), tackled the critical issue of Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), a major cause of maternal mortality worldwide. They highlighted that current standard care practices and massages provided by healthcare professionals are not sufficient in preventing PPH-related deaths. Their proposed solution is an innovative massage belt equipped with sensors. This belt automatically provides fundal massage to women when needed, minimizes discomfort, and alerts healthcare workers to take timely action.