The EXEP3D project aims to expand skills, transfer knowledge, and raise the innovation capacity of TTK’s Institute of Civil Engineering in the field of construction engineering with the aim to become a leading competence centre in Estonia and Europe, more specifically in 3D concrete printing (3DCP) and locally produced sustainable mixtures. By linking the unique competencies of Eindhoven University of Technology and TU Dresden – the two leading universities in automation and 3D printing technologies for construction engineering and environmentally friendly mixtures – the project has potential to innovate the construction engineering industry as a whole. With a wider aim to fill in the gap within EU and raise the scientific and technological excellence of TTK as a representative of Estonia, a Widening country, EXEP3D proposes a combination of staff upskilling, academia-industry partnership-building and applied research activities while consulting with academia and industry experts. Within 36 months, the consortium will deliver 8 staff study visits, 13 training seminars for staff and students/researchers, a student competition, 2 open-access publications on the newly established research direction in cost-efficient 3D concrete printing formwork and locally produced mixtures, technical descriptions and data sheets on the novel approach, and annual events with the industry to introduce and further disseminate project results, to name a few.

TexMat will develop a decentralized textile collection concept where automated collection units separate reusable textile items from textile waste delivered by the consumer to combat the European textile waste problem and its associated environmental impacts. This innovation builds on the unique opportunity provided by the mandatory collection of textile waste, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and the digital product passport (DPP), which are vital components of the EU textile strategy.TexMat will develop a decentralized textile collection concept where automated collection units separate reusable textile items from textile waste delivered by the consumer to combat the European textile waste problem and its associated environmental impacts. This innovation builds on the unique opportunity provided by the mandatory collection of textile waste, extended producer responsibility (EPR), and the digital product passport, which are key components of the EU textile strategy. TexMat will engage partners from the entire textile value chain to develop new business models, hardware and software technologies, and policy tools to engage and commit consumers to participate in the separate collection of textile waste for boosting textile reuse. These solutions will provide consumers with an economic incentive through the adoption of novel payback schemes connected to second-hand markets and enable profitable business opportunities to extend the lifecycle of textile products and to support the adoption of targeted EPR schemes in the textile sector. In the longer term, TexMat will accelerate a consumer-based transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy of textiles, which will contribute to reaching the EU greenhouse gas reduction targets in 2030 and 2050 aligned with the European Green Deal. These outcomes are directly aligned with improving consumer and citizen benefits and enhancing European industrial sustainability, competitiveness, and resource independence.

Mechanical engineering and metalworking sector is one of the leading industrial sectors in the Baltics. The studies of industry indicate that mechanical engineering and metalworking sector companies in the region are not satisfied with the level of training of CNC machine tools operators. The project Competitiveness through Engineering CNC EURO vocational certificate (CNCert) aims were to contribute to a reduction in the number of low-skilled adults and to develop short-cycle post-secondary qualifications. The project aims were to bring the CNC machine tools operators training competence to the European level in the whole Baltic region by creating new innovative CNC machine tools operators training curriculum for the Baltic countries based on DEKRA Akademie GmbH CNC unique training concept and to work out 5 new study materials for CNC machine tools operators training. Furthermore the project aims were to increase the readiness of the Baltic project partners for applying for the right to issue to the trained CNC machine tools operators certificate that would be recognized in European level by working out related study environment development plans for Baltic partners’ and analyze study environment certification procedures according to the CNC machine tools operators certification requirements.The project was carried out by 5 partners who have extensive experience with CNC machine tools operator training's. The project partners were:TTK University of Applied Sciences Tallinn Industrial Education CentreVilnius College of Technologies and Design Professional Education Competence Centre “Riga Technical College” DEKRA Akademie GmbHThe project results have significant positive impact on the level of knowledge and skills of the workforce of mechanical engineering and metalworking sector in all Baltic countries and thus supports the development of the Baltic economy as a whole. The project has positive impact on the development of the national qualification system, by raising the training quality, encouraging training development as well as lowering barrier between Baltic countries and Europe. The project facilitates unification of occupational qualification certificates awarding for CNC machine tools operators in the whole Baltic region.

Sustainable, environmentally friendly high-performance hybrid timber building construction is at the heart of the HiHTC project. In the near future timber buildings will form a much bigger part of the EU and international built environment. Timber buildings will be designed and constructed with sustainable, high-performance engineered timber components, but some amount of steel and concrete construction materials will remain to satisfy structural, fire prevention, moisture absorption and economic requirements. Combining wood, concrete and steel will provide sustainable solutions to building structures improve building performance and design. Also, the project promotes cultural diversity and shapes professional life and society, as work environments are increasingly involve internationally networking. Architects and engineers have already started designing hybrid timber buildings. However, now higher education mostly focuses on steel and concrete buildings, and sometimes on low-rise timber buildings. In order to satisfy the needs of the employment market, it is necessary to prepare students with innovative applied skills in the area of design, construction and onsite construction management of high-performance hybrid timber buildings. To educate a new generation of students, it is necessary to develop and integrate an innovative multi-disciplinary BSc/BA study module.Project aims to fulfill the future demands in higher education of students in sustainable, high-performance hybrid timber building construction by transnational and trans-disciplinary innovative student-centered learning approaches dealing with changes and solving innovative complex problems will promote and strengthen global learning.Objectives:- To develop and deliver new international trans-disciplinary module on sustainable, high-performance hybrid timber building construction, which meets the needs of the HEIs and employment market representatives. An internationalized curriculum will enable the students participating in the project to develop global perspectives in global environmental issues and think across cultures.- To improve competencies of students/teachers in problem solving and team work, innovative thinking, motivation, awareness of cross-professional project input and project management by using PBL, learning by doing and blended learning approaches.- To educate all participants (students, teachers, entrepreneurs) in the field of the sustainable, high-performance hybrid timber building construction.- To ensure open awareness of the project results to local, national, EU level and international target groups.The project will be implemented by HEI's from France, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Portugal.Main target groups are HEI's (teachers/trainers and students), whose specialization is directly related to architecture, civil engineering or similar subjects. The project will be also relevant for business companies and will foster further development of sustainable, high-performance hybrid timber building construction.4 intellectual outputs will be developed: 1) Competency framework; 2) BSc module “Sustainable, High-Performance Hybrid Timber Building Construction”; 3) E-learning platform; 4) Joint academic publications. At least 18 teachers/trainers will participate in intensive training course in Portugal, where competences on innovative PBL, learning by doing and blended learning approaches will be developed. New trans-disciplinary module and e-learning platform will be jointly developed by partners from 5 countries in consultation with business enterprises. The module will be tested in 3 intensive learning/teaching courses that will take place in Poland, France and Estonia. International building and construction project phases, which are used in most EU countries, will be adapted in the HiHTC project as a main template, namely brief phase, outline proposal, scheme design, detail 1 and detail 2 phases. In total 85 students will be educated. They will gain innovative trans-disciplinary knowledge in sustainable, high-performance hybrid timber building construction; using innovative learning approaches they will develop their research, teamwork, communication, cooperation, creative thinking, problem-solving skills required in modern work environment.Stakeholders whose activities are related to construction and, in particular, timber construction, e.g. associations and private enterprises, will be involved in the development of new module; therefore, they will have an opportunity to share their expertise and include the topics that will help to acquire competences required in employment market. Thus, collaboration between academic and business sector will be strengthened. At least 100 participants from HEIs, educational authorities and business companies will attend the international conference in France, where innovative intellectual outputs will be presented. It will result in increased public awareness of the project.