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.

Learn more

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

Robot Buses and Automated Public Transport: Regulation, Operations and the Transition from Pilots to Permanent Services
Mobility
News
August 27, 2026
Robot buses and automated public transport: Regulation, operations and transition from pilots to permanent services
News
August 10, 2026
Meet Albert: Researching why public sector AI initiatives struggle and how to do better
News
August 10, 2026
Meet Benedetta: Exploring what responsible AI means for cities
News
Pilot projects
Smart City Challenge
Urban analytics & data
August 10, 2026
Tallinn buses help identify missing and damaged traffic signs
Data
News
July 24, 2026
Study: Human-centric data economy needs stronger cooperation within and across sectors
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
March 17, 2026
Tartu leads the way in urban biodiversity with VR innovation
Evaluating EV-batteries’ Repurposing as Energy Storage System: The Estonian Perspective
Environment
News
September 26, 2025
Evaluating EV-batteries’ repurposing as energy storage system: The Estonian perspective
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
Events
April 20, 2026
Why resilient cities matter more than ever
Kyiv city
Events
News
February 16, 2026
Are our cities ready? Urban resilience in focus at Smart City Exchange Forum 2026
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
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
Robot Buses and Automated Public Transport: Regulation, Operations and the Transition from Pilots to Permanent Services
Mobility
News
August 27, 2026
Robot buses and automated public transport: Regulation, operations and transition from pilots to permanent services
Mobility
News
Smart City Challenge
May 26, 2026
AI explores the condition and use of bike paths
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
News
Pilot projects
Smart City Challenge
Urban analytics & data
August 10, 2026
Tallinn buses help identify missing and damaged traffic signs
Smart City Challenge 5th round, 2025
News
Pilot projects
Smart City Challenge
March 23, 2026
Five Finalists of Smart City Challenge 2025
News
Pilot projects
September 16, 2025
Reusing old buildings – is the future hidden in the past?
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
Robot Buses and Automated Public Transport: Regulation, Operations and the Transition from Pilots to Permanent Services
Mobility
News
August 27, 2026
Robot buses and automated public transport: Regulation, operations and transition from pilots to permanent services
News
August 10, 2026
Meet Albert: Researching why public sector AI initiatives struggle and how to do better
News
August 10, 2026
Meet Benedetta: Exploring what responsible AI means for cities
News
Pilot projects
Smart City Challenge
Urban analytics & data
August 10, 2026
Tallinn buses help identify missing and damaged traffic signs
Data
News
July 24, 2026
Study: Human-centric data economy needs stronger cooperation within and across sectors
News
Pilot projects
Smart City Challenge
Urban analytics & data
August 10, 2026
Tallinn buses help identify missing and damaged traffic signs
Mobility
News
Smart City Challenge
May 26, 2026
AI explores the condition and use of bike paths
News
Smart City Challenge
April 22, 2026
Robots in pipes: how to make invisible infrastructure smarter
Smart City Challenge 5th round, 2025
News
Pilot projects
Smart City Challenge
March 23, 2026
Five Finalists of Smart City Challenge 2025
Smart City Challenge 2024 finalists
News
Smart City Challenge
January 07, 2025
Meet the Six Finalists of Smart City Challenge 2024
News
Pilot projects
Smart City Challenge
Urban analytics & data
August 10, 2026
Tallinn buses help identify missing and damaged traffic signs
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

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.