University of Tartu (UTARTU) is Estonia’s leading centre of research, teaching and training and the oldest university in the region. UTARTU is a multidisciplinary university and it belongs to the top 1% of the world’s best universities (out of 20,000). The University of Tartu belongs to the top 1% of the world’s best universities by ranking 358th in the QS World University Rankings 2022 and within the 201–250 range in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2022.

The UTARTU team involved in CEESEN projects has large experience in European project management and conducting research in the energy transition field, with specific focus on SSH aspects of energy transitions. UTARTU and, in particular, the Johan SKytte Institute of Political Studies and the Institute of Social Sciences that are involved in CEESEN projects, have worked closely with Estonian ministries (the Ministry of Communications and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Social Affairs, Environmental Agency, etc.), local authorities and city governments, routinely providing evidence and input for decision-making, initiating creation of new policies and strategies in the field of smart city development and supporting vulnerable groups and civic activity.

In addition, UT maintains close connection with the Estonian businesses and the energy industry, unions and associations active in the energy field, local municipalities, as well as with the environmental movements and start-ups focusing on energy-transition solutions.

The guidebook “Advocating for the Sustainable Energy in Central and Eastern Europe” published in 2019 has gained good feedback among local and international target groups: NGO activists, researchers, specialists in public institutions and EU public bodies. University of Tartu works in close collaboration with the City of Tartu on various fields and supports the City’s development into healthy and smart city through providing input for research-based decision-making and we bring those experiences to our CEESEN projects’ activities. Furthermore, UTARTU has conducted studies in Tartu as well as in the Ida-Viru regions and has therefore necessary contacts for continuous data collection in the regions.

In the past 5 years UTARTU has been one of the founders of CEESEN, and is involved in several CEESEN projects as project leader or partner: PANEL 2050 Partnership for New Energy Leadership 2050 (H2020, 2017-2019, project partner), CEESEU – Central and Eastern European Sustainable Energy Union (H2020, 2020-2023, project coordinator) and CEESEU-DIGIT – Central and Eastern Europe Sustainable Energy Union’s Design and Implementation of regional Government Initiatives for a just energy Transition (LIFE CET, 2022-2024, project coordinator)

UTARTU webpage: www.ut.ee

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