The centre of excellence, developed in cooperation of the University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology and the University of Edinburgh, will under digital connected economy bring together research in data analysis, security and privacy, business process design and IT law. This research will in turn enable to develop three major fields: digital economy that operates in real time, smart living environments and connected digital health care systems.
“The research done at the centre of excellence focuses on the ICT topics of importance to Estonia to create new secure data-based services, develop smart environments, add value to health data, increase treatment, diagnostics and prevention and patient participation. In addition to research results, which help us create new improved services, another, or the most important, result is doctoral studies with considerably bigger extent and quality with graduates who will head to develop enterprises and state services,” said one of the initiators, Head of UT Institute of Computer Science Professor Jaak Vilo.
The aim of the centre is to follow the example of the University of Edinburgh and train experts of their research field who can accelerate innovation with their research and have a wide variety of skills. Rector of Tallinn University of Technology Jaak Aaviksoo expressed the opinion that for efficient innovative work, the universities, public sector and private sector must cooperate.
In addition to representatives of the universities, the European Commission’s Vice President of the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip, Ain Aaviksoo, Deputy Secretary General on E-services Development and Innovation of the Ministry of Social Affairs, and Taavi Kotka, Deputy Secretary General of Communications and State Information Systems, also performed at the event.
The state of Estonia is ready to support the establishment of the centre of excellence on the national level and by Midsummer Day, the universities will submit a joint funding application in the framework of the Horizon 2020 Teaming measure.
Take a look at the presentations here:
Introduction
R&D commercialisation and innovation strategies
ICT research for advancing the digital connected economy
Building data driven and personalised healthcare in Estonia
Digital single market in the EU – latest developments
Universities as cradles of innovation
Disruption as a driver to economic success
Panel discussion: impact of universities on the economy