Join our
smart city research community

In short

Join us in shaping the future of smart cities and urban development.

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

Get to know our research & innovation themes

At FinEst Centre, our research and innovation community explores five core themes: Natural & Built Environment, Smart Mobility, Intelligent Energy Solutions, Data & AI, and Smart & Sustainable Governance. By combining research with developing practical solutions, we turn academic excellence into real-world impact, shaping the future of human-centric, sustainable cities.

Uurimis- ja innovatsiooniteemad

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.

Local Digital Twins for Smart and Sustainable Communities (LDT4SSC)

We aim to build a Europe-wide federation of interconnected Local Digital Twins.
NetZeroCities

NetZeroCities

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

European Data Space for Smart Communities (DS4SSCC-DEP)

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

XTRUST-6G

We are pioneering next-generation 6G cybersecurity frameworks

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.
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

MAPIT

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

TREASoURcE

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

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.

Our news

Andmed ja andmeanalüüs
juuli 24, 2026
Uuring: inimkeskne andmemajandus vajab tugevamat sektoriülest koostööd
Uudised
juuli 14, 2026
Meet Oleksandr: From Power Electronics Research to Smart City Energy Solutions
Orange County, California
Uudised
juuli 13, 2026
Meet Morgan: Bringing sustainable design to urban innovation
Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash
Uudised
juuli 08, 2026
Meet Sydney: Designing climate-resilient cities through sustainable architecture
Uudised
juuni 03, 2026
Miks vajavad rohetehnoloogia iduettevõtted testimiskeskkondi ja suuremat tuge
Einari Kisel asub uude ametisse energiapoliitikate praktik-professorina
Energeetika
Uudised
september 10, 2024
Uus amet ülikoolis: Energiapoliitikate praktik-professor
Eesti inimesed on hakanud kõrge elektrihinnaga tundidel oma elektritarbimist teadlikumalt juhtima
Energeetika
Uudised
aprill 30, 2024
Raport: Elektri hinnahüpped panevad inimesi oma tarbimist juhtima
Energeetika
Uudised
juuni 07, 2023
Estonian researchers developed an open-source platform for efficient energy flow management
Energeetika
Uudised
aprill 13, 2023
Estonian researchers developed a platform for real-time energy efficiency and indoor climate assessment
Energeetika
märts 13, 2023
How can we implement a seamless Renovation Wave in Estonia?
Keskkond
Uudised
märts 17, 2026
Tartu leads the way in urban biodiversity with VR innovation
Evaluating EV-batteries’ Repurposing as Energy Storage System: The Estonian Perspective
Keskkond
Uudised
september 26, 2025
Evaluating EV-batteries’ repurposing as energy storage system: The Estonian perspective
Keskkond
Uudised
juuni 06, 2025
Biopõhiste jäätmevoogude digitaalse turuplatvormi sobivuse hindamine Eesti turule
UrbanLIFEcircles team visit to project site in Tartu
Keskkond
Uudised
juuli 23, 2024
Roheringi projekt kaasab elanikke elurikkuse suurendamisse virtuaalreaalsusega
Circular economy action in TREASoURcE project
Keskkond
Uudised
juuli 17, 2024
Innovatsioon ringmajanduses: projekti TREASoURcE mõju
Sündmused
aprill 20, 2026
Vastupidavus, linnade eluline küsimus
Kyiv city
Sündmused
Uudised
veebruar 16, 2026
Are our cities ready? Urban resilience in focus at Smart City Exchange Forum 2026
Sündmused
Uudised
aprill 28, 2025
Reigniting an Open, Bold & Collaborative European Digital Economy Amidst €200bn AI Ambitions
Valitsemistava
Sündmused
Uudised
aprill 14, 2025
Kuidas panna digikaksikud ja andmed kohalike omavalitsuste teenistusse?
Smart City Exchange Forum 2025
Andmed ja andmeanalüüs
Sündmused
Valitsemistava
aprill 10, 2025
Tark linn on koostöine linn
Valitsemistava
Sündmused
Uudised
aprill 14, 2025
Kuidas panna digikaksikud ja andmed kohalike omavalitsuste teenistusse?
Smart City Exchange Forum 2025
Andmed ja andmeanalüüs
Sündmused
Valitsemistava
aprill 10, 2025
Tark linn on koostöine linn
Phd defence on smart and sustainable cities
Uudised
Valitsemistava
juuli 08, 2024
Doktoritöö: Teel targemate jätkusuutlike linnade poole
Uudised
Valitsemistava
jaanuar 15, 2024
Kuidas juhtida tarka linna? Praktiline käsiraamat annab juhised
Valitsemistava
november 24, 2023
Introducing the new smart cities playbook
Liikuvus
Smart City Challenge
Uudised
mai 26, 2026
Tehisintellekt võtab luubi alla rattateed
Serio Angelo Agriesti, successfully defended his doctoral thesis at Aalto University's department of Built Environment
Liikuvus
Uudised
oktoober 04, 2024
Doctoral thesis: Lowering modeling barriers for activity-based large-scale urban modeling
Liikuvus
Uudised
veebruar 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
Liikuvus
september 15, 2023
Uncovering the digital transformation of Kinshasa: Impact of phones on daily mobility
Liikuvus
mai 19, 2023
Exploring Indian women’s inclusion in smart mobility
Uudised
Pilootprojektid
september 16, 2025
Reusing old buildings – is the future hidden in the past?
Uudised
Pilootprojektid
juuni 17, 2025
CitySense turns public vehicles into moving data collectors
Uudised
Pilootprojektid
mai 29, 2025
Six new pilots tackle real-world challenges in Helsinki
Uudised
Pilootprojektid
veebruar 27, 2025
From lab to life: FinEst Mini-Piloting Programme for research-based innovations
Photo by Yoshihiro on Unsplash
Pilootprojektid
Uudised
jaanuar 14, 2025
UrbanDip Launches Water Quality Assessment Pilot – Meet the Team Behind It
Uudised
juuli 14, 2026
Meet Oleksandr: From Power Electronics Research to Smart City Energy Solutions
Orange County, California
Uudised
juuli 13, 2026
Meet Morgan: Bringing sustainable design to urban innovation
Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash
Uudised
juuli 08, 2026
Meet Sydney: Designing climate-resilient cities through sustainable architecture
Uudised
juuni 03, 2026
Miks vajavad rohetehnoloogia iduettevõtted testimiskeskkondi ja suuremat tuge
Liikuvus
Smart City Challenge
Uudised
mai 26, 2026
Tehisintellekt võtab luubi alla rattateed
Liikuvus
Smart City Challenge
Uudised
mai 26, 2026
Tehisintellekt võtab luubi alla rattateed
Smart City Challenge
Uudised
aprill 22, 2026
Robotid torudes: kuidas nähtamatu taristu targemaks muuta
Smart City Challenge 5th round, 2025
Smart City Challenge
Uudised
märts 23, 2026
Five Finalists of Smart City Challenge 2025
Smart City Challenge 2024 finalists
Smart City Challenge
Uudised
jaanuar 07, 2025
Targa linna ideekonkurss 2024: Tutvuge kuue finalistiga
Smart City Solutions workshop
Uudised
Smart City Challenge
september 26, 2024
Next steps for Smart City Challenge 2024 pilot project proposal
Andmed ja andmeanalüüs
juuli 24, 2026
Uuring: inimkeskne andmemajandus vajab tugevamat sektoriülest koostööd
Smart City Exchange Forum 2025
Andmed ja andmeanalüüs
Sündmused
Valitsemistava
aprill 10, 2025
Tark linn on koostöine linn
Andmed ja andmeanalüüs
Uudised
veebruar 17, 2025
Nutikad tehnoloogiad ja andmed – lihtsalt järgmine tööriist või tuleviku linna taristu?
data spaces
Andmed ja andmeanalüüs
Uudised
veebruar 19, 2024
European Data Space for Smart Communities
Andmed ja andmeanalüüs
Uudised
jaanuar 22, 2024
Project PLIADES takes dataspace architecture into new era for AI and robotics

Contact us

Find your research partner

Connect with experts across smart city disciplines. Find collaborators for your next research articles and projects.

Discover research & innovation themes

Get to know our research themes, key focus areas, projects and the researchers behind them.