Feasibility study for an Estonian Materials Technology Programme

Table of Contents
Executive summary .........................................................................7
1 Introduction. ..........................................................................12
1.1 Background .......................................................................12
1.2 Applied methodology ................................................................12
Timeline for the study: ...............................................................13
1.3 What is Materials Technology ..........................................................15
2 Materials technology in Estonia ............................................................16
2.1 Overview .........................................................................16
2.2 Key organisations ...................................................................19
2.2.1 Universities and research organisations. ..............................................19
University of Tartu ..............................................................19
Tallinn University of Technology ....................................................20
National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics. ...................................20
Estonian University of Life Sciences .................................................21
Tallinn University ...............................................................21
Tallinn University of Applied Sciences ................................................21
2.2.2 Funding organisations ...........................................................22
2.2.3 Relevant Programmes, competence centres and cluster programmes ........................22
2.2.4 Industry, associations and companies ................................................24
2.2.5 Venture capital. ................................................................25
2.3 Academic research and development ....................................................26
2.3.1 Scientific publications. ...........................................................26
2.3.2 Research project funding data .....................................................27
2.3.3 Patenting .....................................................................29
2.3.4 Summary .....................................................................29
2.4 Industry status and technology transfer potential ...........................................30
2.4.1 Metals and machinery ...........................................................30
Case: Pioneer Engineering Group. ..................................................33
2.4.2 Wood, pulp and paper / Forest industry ..............................................34
Case: Forest industry . ...........................................................35
2.4.3 Chemical industry ..............................................................36
Case: AS Silmet ................................................................38
Case: Krimelte OÜ ..............................................................39
2.4.4 Plastics industry . ...............................................................40
Case: Estiko Plastar .............................................................42
Case: NordBioChem OÜ. .........................................................43
2.4.5 Construction materials ...........................................................44
Case: Andrese Klaas AS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
2.4.6 Textiles industry ................................................................48
Case: Esfil Techno. ..............................................................50
2.5 Advanced materials technologies: Commercialisation and technology transfer ....................51
2.5.1 Overview .....................................................................51
2.5.2 Technologies close to market entry. .................................................53
2.5.3 Applied research ...............................................................55
2.5.4 Fundamental research ...........................................................56
2.5.5 High-tech company cases. ........................................................57
Case: Baltic Technologies Development ..............................................58
Case: Elcogen As ...............................................................59
Case: MikroMasch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Case: Skeleton Technologies ......................................................61
Case: Fits.me „Virtual fitting room for online clothing retailers“ ...........................62
2.6 Education and Human resources. .......................................................63