Our people

FinEst Centre team

Our team consists of researchers, experts and innovators specializing in various fields related to smart cities.

Prof. Ralf-Martin Soe

Founding Director and Assistant Professor
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology

Keywords
DS4SSCC-DEP project
grant development
research collaboration
smart cities
Einari Kisel
Prof. Einari Kisel

Professor of Practice, Energy Policies
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology

Keywords
business strategy
energy
LightLine Project
RESTO project
Külle Tärnov, MBA

Head of Innovation, Estonia
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology

Keywords
Research & Innovation
Smart City Challenge
UrbanDip project
Henry Patzig

Deliverables Manager
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology

Keywords
CitySense project
DS4SSCC-DEP project
EU R&I collaboration
project development
Anneli Simm

Business Development Manager
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology

Keywords
business planning
financial planning
Reusing old buildings project
smart city roadmap
strategy
Anne Ilu

Marketing and PR Manager
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology

Keywords
communications
marketing
media contact
Reili Lehis

Communications and Community Manager
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology

Keywords
communications
community
content creation
Kätlin Jürgens

Workplace Well-being Specialist
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology

Keywords
general information
workplace well-being
Dr. Kalle Toiskallio

Head of Research Delivery
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Tallinn University of Technology
Aalto University

Keywords
research coordination
research to be applied
Satu Reijonen

Head of Innovation, Finland
FinEst Centre for Smart Cities

Forum Virium Helsinki

Keywords
Helsinki piloting
living lab
piloting programme
smart mobility

FinEst Research Community

We connect experts and innovators from different organisations and backgrounds dealing with various smart city research areas. To become an affiliated researcher, please contact us.
Dr. Avleen Kaur Malhi

Tallinn University of Technology

Urban Analytics & Data

Keywords
Explainable Arificial Intelligence
Intelligent Systems
machine learning
Roya Ahmadiahangar

Tallinn University of Technology

Smart Energy

Keywords
Energy flexibility and demand response
Positive energy districts
Palwasha Ahmadzai

Tallinn University of Technology

Smart City Governance, Urban Analytics & Data

Keywords
Governance of Smart Cities
Intelligent Systems
Dr. Lita Akmentina

Tallinn University of Technology

Built Environment, Smart City Governance

Keywords
Public participation
Sustainability Transitions and Cities
Urban planning
Dr. Luiza Schuch de Azambuja

Tallinn University of Technology

Smart City Governace

Keywords
Capacity building
Governance of Smart Cities
Innovation Capacities of Smart Cities
Prof. Maie Bachmann

Tallinn University of Technology

Urban Analytics & Data, Health & Wellbeing

Keywords
Intelligent Systems
Interoperability
Systems of Systems
Pauline Baudens

Tallinn University of Technology

Smart Mobility

Keywords
Emerging mobility technologies
Traffic and mobility management
Dominik Beckers

Tallinn University of Technology

Smart City Governance

Keywords
Governance of Smart Cities
Sustainability Transitions and Cities
Adj. prof Mauro Bellone

Tallinn University of Technology

Smart Mobility

Keywords
CCAM (Cooperative / Connected and Automated Mobility)
Emerging mobility technologies
Dr. Pramod Bhusal

Aalto University

Built Environment

Keywords
Integrative lighting
Lighting in built environment
Prof. Themistoklis Charalambous

Tallinn University of Technology

Smart Mobility, Smart Energy

Keywords
Distributed coordination and optimization
Networked control systems
Traffic and mobility management
Dr. Mohammadreza Doostmohammadian

Aalto University

Urban Analytics & Data Stream

Keywords
Intelligent Systems
Systems of Systems
Load more

FinEst Centre for Smart Cities is managed by the Board of Founders (or Steering Committee) who has the overall responsibility for the technical, financial, administrative and dissemination aspects. The Steering Committee has following representatives since 01.09.2020
  • TalTech: Jarek Kurnitski (Vice Rector for Research, Chair)
  • Aalto University: Marko Nieminen (Professor at the Department of Computer Science)
  • Forum Virium Helsinki: Kerkko Vanhanen (Programme Director)
  • Ministry of Climate: Ülle Rätsep (Executive Officer, Transport Development and Investments Department)
  • Ministry of Education and Science: Kristel Reim (Head of Knowledge Transfer Area, ERDF Funding).

Advisory Board is a high-level steering group of external research and innovation experts who provide strategic guidance to FinEst Centre for Smart Cities.
  • Chair: Prof. Rainer Kattel (UCL-IIPP)
  • Francesca Bria (Stiftung Mercator, UCL-IIPP)
  • Jarmo Eskelinen (Former Director of Data Driven
    Innovation, Edinburgh University and founder of Forum Virium Helsinki)
  • Marko Turpeinen (Aalto University, previously founder of EIT Digital Helsinki node)
  • Michael Batty (UCL-CASA)
  • Pontus Westerberg (UN-Habitat)
  • Roope Ritvos (Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra)
  • Umberto Fugiglando (MIT Senseable City Lab)
  • Seth Lackman (Fujitsu Estonia; Estonian ICT Association)
  • Anne Sulling (Entrepreneur, former Minister for Entrepreneurship and former member of EU’s Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission Board)
  • Marja-Leena Rinkineva (City of Helsinki)
  • Marko Nieminen (Aalto University)
  • Johann Peetre (Estonian Transport Administration)
  • Matti Hämäläinen (former Innovation Lead of FinEst Centre at FVH)