Interested in joining our
smart city research community?

In short

Join us in shaping the future of smart cities!

Connect with our vibrant research community, access our network and resources, and drive urban innovation.

From cross-disciplinary collaboration to impactful projects, we provide the support and platform for your research to thrive.

20+

researchers working currently in the Centre

100+

academic publications published annually by the Centre

Watch the recordings of Smart City Exchange Forum 2025

We hosted the 5th Smart City Exchange Forum, bringing together 100+ onsite participants and 500+ online attendees from 39 countries! Experts shared insights on dynamic capabilities in the public sector, data sovereignty in turbulent times, energy and mobility governance challenges, and the entrepreneur’s perspective on building a smart neighborhood. Thought-provoking discussions also tackled regulatory sandboxes—their benefits and limitations—and how to balance regulation with innovation. Missed the event? Want to revisit key insights? Watch the recordings!

Watch recordings

International
collaboration projects

FinEst Centre is already collaborating with experts from Germany, Poland, Latvia, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Ukraine, and several other countries.

Explore our international projects and join or propose ways to collaborate!

MAPIT

We enhance digital innovation for SMEs and research entities by fostering partnerships into European R&I network.

FINEX

We support Cleantech deployment and regulatory development through partners' expertise.

FINEST SCALEUP

We are establishing a deep tech innovation ecosystem in the Baltic Sea Region.
connected cities

METACITIES

We connect a balanced mix of MetaCity and Smart City ecosystems
data sharing

PLIADES

We aim to facilitate cross-domain data sharing by enabling users from diverse data spaces to exchange data safely.
energy management system

FLEdge

We are developing a hierarchical flexibility energy management system
data spaces

European Data Space for Smart Communities (DS4SSCC-DEP)

We aim to build a territorial, place-based data space for smart communities.
circular economy

TREASoURcE

We aim to initiate systemic change by developing systemic circular economy solutions in cities and regions.
NetZeroCities

NetZeroCities

We pursue the ambition of the Mission Board for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities report, to achieve climate neutrality before 2050.
Urban Learning Center

Urban Learning Center

We bring new learning and networking opportunities within the M4EG network providing an enabling learning ecosystem.
Indoor Air Quality

EDIAQI

We tackle the emerging threats of indoor air pollution and promote living and working in healthy environments in Europe.
Urban Air Mobility

CityAM

We develop and implement concepts for urban air mobility, landing sites, social acceptance and drone policy development.

UrbanLIFEcircles

We introduce biodiversity management in urban areas for improved connectivity, ecosystem health for Tartu, Aarhus, Riga.
FinEst Twins project

FinEst Twins

We are developing cross-border, knowledge-sharing infrastructure through real-life pilot projects in Estonia and Finland.

What's new?

Los Angeles, California, USA
News
July 16, 2025
Meet Austin: Stanford sustainability leader by day, 3D time traveler by night
News
Pilot projects
June 17, 2025
CitySense turns public vehicles into moving data collectors
Environment
News
June 06, 2025
Evaluating Transferability of the Digital Marketplace: Estonian Perspective
News
Pilot projects
May 29, 2025
Six new pilots tackle real-world challenges in Helsinki
Events
News
April 28, 2025
Reigniting an Open, Bold & Collaborative European Digital Economy Amidst €200bn AI Ambitions
Einari Kisel asub uude ametisse energiapoliitikate praktik-professorina
Energy
News
September 10, 2024
Introducing a New Position: Professor of Practice in Energy Policy
Energy
News
April 30, 2024
Price spikes see people take charge of their electricity use
Energy
News
June 07, 2023
Estonian researchers developed an open-source platform for efficient energy flow management
Energy
News
April 13, 2023
Estonian researchers developed a platform for real-time energy efficiency and indoor climate assessment
Energy
March 13, 2023
How can we implement a seamless Renovation Wave in Estonia?
Environment
News
June 06, 2025
Evaluating Transferability of the Digital Marketplace: Estonian Perspective
UrbanLIFEcircles team visit to project site in Tartu
Environment
News
July 23, 2024
Communicating biodiversity interventions to citizens via Virtual Reality game
Circular economy action in TREASoURcE project
Environment
News
July 17, 2024
Circular Economy in Action: Exploring TREASoURcE Project’s Impact
TREASoURcE project workshop in Tallinn, analysing possibilities of utilising biowaste
Environment
News
September 18, 2023
TREASoURcE Project: Reflections from the Workshops on Circular Economy
Environment
June 22, 2022
Henry Patzig: “I am responsible for my planet!”
Events
News
April 28, 2025
Reigniting an Open, Bold & Collaborative European Digital Economy Amidst €200bn AI Ambitions
Data
Events
News
April 14, 2025
Seminar: Increasing Digitalisation Awareness and Readiness of Estonian Communities
Smart City Exchange Forum 2025
Events
Governance
Urban analytics & data
April 10, 2025
A smart city is a collaborative city
Urban Innovators Meetup by FinEst Centre
Events
News
May 21, 2024
Urban Innovators Meetup: Greater impact leads to higher returns
EU Regions Week workshop_urban regeneration
Events
News
September 05, 2023
EU Regions Week: Engaging communities for urban regeneration
Smart City Exchange Forum 2025
Events
Governance
Urban analytics & data
April 10, 2025
A smart city is a collaborative city
Phd defence on smart and sustainable cities
Governance
News
July 08, 2024
Doctoral thesis: Exploring the Journey towards Smarter Sustainable Cities
Governance
News
January 15, 2024
How to lead a smart city? Practical playbook gives guidance
Governance
November 24, 2023
Introducing the new smart cities playbook
Governance
March 28, 2023
Empowering mayors to build sustainable and smart cities through Urban Learning Center
Serio Angelo Agriesti, successfully defended his doctoral thesis at Aalto University's department of Built Environment
Mobility
News
October 04, 2024
Doctoral thesis: Lowering modeling barriers for activity-based large-scale urban modeling
Mobility
News
February 14, 2024
Project CITYAM: Shaping the future of Urban Air Mobility
Various mobility options are offered, but not always available for students for various reasons
Mobility
September 15, 2023
Uncovering the digital transformation of Kinshasa: Impact of phones on daily mobility
Mobility
May 19, 2023
Exploring Indian women’s inclusion in smart mobility
Mobility
Pilot projects
December 12, 2021
Future mobility: Self-driving shuttle – expected quests on the doorstep or keep them away? Large survey in Rae Parish
News
Pilot projects
June 17, 2025
CitySense turns public vehicles into moving data collectors
News
Pilot projects
May 29, 2025
Six new pilots tackle real-world challenges in Helsinki
News
Pilot projects
February 27, 2025
From lab to life: FinEst Mini-Piloting Programme for research-based innovations
Photo by Yoshihiro on Unsplash
News
Pilot projects
January 14, 2025
UrbanSplash Launches Water Quality Assessment Pilot – Meet the Team Behind It
Tallinn's best business initiatives of 2024 announced
News
Pilot projects
October 25, 2024
Prestigious Recognition for Applied Research and Prominent Nomination
Los Angeles, California, USA
News
July 16, 2025
Meet Austin: Stanford sustainability leader by day, 3D time traveler by night
News
Pilot projects
June 17, 2025
CitySense turns public vehicles into moving data collectors
Environment
News
June 06, 2025
Evaluating Transferability of the Digital Marketplace: Estonian Perspective
News
Pilot projects
May 29, 2025
Six new pilots tackle real-world challenges in Helsinki
Events
News
April 28, 2025
Reigniting an Open, Bold & Collaborative European Digital Economy Amidst €200bn AI Ambitions
Smart City Challenge 2024 finalists
News
Smart City Challenge
January 07, 2025
Meet the Six Finalists of Smart City Challenge 2024
Smart City Solutions workshop
News
Smart City Challenge
September 26, 2024
Next steps for Smart City Challenge 2024 pilot project proposal
urban challenges
Pilot projects
Smart City Challenge
June 04, 2024
Discover and solve: Urban challenges awaiting solution ideas
Smart City Challenge 2023 preparing smart city pilot projects proposals
News
Smart City Challenge
April 25, 2024
Smart City Challenge 2023 finalists gaining tips for final proposals
News
Smart City Challenge
April 01, 2024
Introducing six finalists of Smart City Challenge 2023
Smart City Exchange Forum 2025
Events
Governance
Urban analytics & data
April 10, 2025
A smart city is a collaborative city
News
Urban analytics & data
February 17, 2025
Smart technologies and data – yet another tool or infrastructure of future cities?
data spaces
News
Urban analytics & data
February 19, 2024
European Data Space for Smart Communities
News
Urban analytics & data
January 22, 2024
Project PLIADES takes dataspace architecture into new era for AI and robotics

Contact us

Keep making
a difference

Be part of a team that transforms urban environments, tests groundbreaking ideas, and builds cities for people.

Collaborate with like-minded researchers

Join the FinEst Centre's research community and work with curious minds to shape the future of urban living.