Description of the Research Infrastructure
Scientific infrastructure of chemical synthesis and technology (SynTech) brings together chemical synthesis and chemical and biotechnology capabilities in Estonia. The aim of the research infrastructure is to develop and technologize new sustainable and environmentally friendly synthesis methods, such as mechanosynthesis, flow chemistry, electrochemistry,
photochemistry, organocatalysis.
The symbiosis of synthetic biology methods with chemistry creates new possibilities for obtaining complex natural compounds and their derivatives. Safety studies are conducted to ensure the sustainability of new methods and materials. Joint use of the infrastructure initiates new interdisciplinary projects and creates prerequisites for innovation and cooperation
with research-intensive companies. The inclusion of the use of the infrastructure in all levels of higher education, including micro-degree programs and continuing education, ensures the continuity of science and qualified offspring in business.
Objectives and the Vision of the Research Infrastructure
The objective of the research infrastructure is to bring together the competence of chemical synthesis and technologies and their analysis, which, until now, have been separate entities in universities and research institutions. This creates the conditions for innovation and its application within the Estonian economy.
Shared use of the infrastructure initiates new interdisciplinary projects, for example, in chemical biology, drug development, and the creation of innovative, environmentally friendly materials and technologies. Providing high-quality and modern education to students of experimental sciences is not possible without modern infrastructure, but there is a great shortage of professionals with this kind of training in innovative companies in Estonia. All this ensures the continuity of chemical synthesis and technologies in the long term and creates a bridge between Estonian science and economy.
The impact of infrastructure use is expressed in three areas: environment, economy, and people. The application of new sustainable and environmentally friendly synthesis methods reduces the amount of hazardous waste generated, and studies of the environmental safety of materials prevent hazardous materials from entering the environment. This ensures a safer and higher quality living environment. More efficient processes consume less energy and contribute to the green transition. The use of new methods in knowledge-based business and industry increases the efficiency of the economy and creates a basis for innovation. The education and experience of students in the use of the latest technologies create a prerequisite for the transfer of knowledge to the private sector, thereby contributing to the development of the economy.