EGT-TWINN – Enhancing Research Capacity at the Geological Survey of Estonia to Accelerate the Country’s Transition to Green Energy

Introduction

The EGT-TWINN twinning project has received funding from the Horizon Europe funding programme for research and innovation, Grant Agreement No. 101079459.

The coordinator is Heikki Bauert, EGT and GTK´s project manager is Juha Kaija, ERR. The following GTK´s units will participate to EGT-TWINN work: Energy & Construction Solutions (ERR), Mineral Economy Solutions (MTR), Geophysical Solutions (GFR), Environmental Solutions (YMR), Information Solutions (TIR) + Science & Innovation (TIE), Human Resources (HOL) and Strategy & Support (STT).

The EGT-TWINN project aims to enhance research and technical capacity at the Geological Survey of Estonia (EGT) to accelerate Estonia transition from fossil fuel energy to green energy. The capacity building will be mainly focused on developing state-of-the-art geological, geochemical and geophysical survey skills, data management workflows, and subsurface modelling capability for exploration and geological resource assessment of European critical raw materials and geothermal energy as a future potential green energy source for Estonia. The EGT geological capacity enhancement will be implemented via range of joint activities such as scientific conferences and exchanges as well as through delivery of specialized training programmes provided by three leading geological surveys in Europe – the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), the British Geological Survey (UKRI/BGS) and the Geological Survey of Denmark (GEUS). A further partner is the University of Oulu (UOULU), more specifically the Oulu Mining School (OMS), which provides a unique state-of-the-art platform for mining-related research and education.

The project will contribute to the development of multidisciplinary research and innovation in geological studies in Estonia and enables EGT to enhance the scientific excellence of its personnel and to collaborate with experts from leading international research institutions. One of the project priorities is to support early-career researchers at EGT who will gain state-of-the-art experience in the geology fields crucial to Estonia.

The specific objectives of the EGT-TWINN are:
1. Facilitate and improve cooperation, networking and joint high-quality research between EGT scientists and
established researchers from GTK, UKRI, GEUS and UOULU.
2. Develop research capability in modern geological surveying techniques and field work skills.
3. Enhance research capacity and achieve long-term institutional strengthening of EGT scientists by embedding state-of-the-art techniques for geological data collection, digital workflows, 3D visualization and geological modelling, and geophysical research.
4. Strengthen knowledge base in geothermal energy studies.
5. Improve the management and accessibility of geoscientific data through integrated methodologies for data
capture, management and long-term storage.
6. Develop environmental geology research capacity at EGT and initiate an urban geochemical baseline
survey programme.
7. Improve the dissemination and utilisation of geoscience information by Estonian scientists, government
authorities, infrastructure professionals and the wide public.
8. Leverage EGT’s competence in research administration, including project management, financial analysis
and legal matters.
9. Improve the capability of EGT to succeed in national, EU, and international research funding acquisition

In order to address the capability gaps identified at EGT, the project is structured into five work packages (WP):
• WP1: Coordination and management (EGT, Heikki Bauert)
• WP2: Advanced geological research capacity building (UKRI, Timothy Kearsey)
• WP3: Networking of excellence (GEUS, Florian Smit)
• WP4: Improving the project management and administration skills at EGT (GTK, Juha Kaija)
• WP5. Dissemination, communication & exploitation (EGT, Kairi Põldsaar)

Contact person: Juha Kaija

 

 

 

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