{"id":14495,"date":"2025-11-19T08:56:35","date_gmt":"2025-11-19T07:56:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jtc.uni-halle.de\/zukunft-im-fokus-austausch-zwischen-jtc-und-taltech\/"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:08:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T15:08:35","slug":"future-in-focus-exchange-between-jtc-and-taltech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jtc.uni-halle.de\/en\/future-in-focus-exchange-between-jtc-and-taltech\/","title":{"rendered":"Future in Focus: Exchange Between JTC and TalTech"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kommunikation<\/p>\n

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On 13 and 14 November, a delegation from Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) and TalTech Virumaa College visited the Just Transition Center. This meeting and the associated exchange mark a milestone in the growing cooperation between TalTech, Virumaa College, and the JTC.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two intensive days full of new impressions, insights, and ideas across diverse research fields \u2013 both with the conference participants on site and online. \u201cWe were able to gain insights and learn more about the challenges and questions faced by various EU regions such as Romania, Italy, England, Estonia, and Germany in connection with a just transition and structural change,\u201d said Dr. Steffi Formann from Innovation Team A3<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Focus on Funding Programmes<\/h3>\n

The first day centred on collaboration and the exchange of experiences \u2013 particularly with regard to funding opportunities. This is an immensely important topic, as it forms the basis for making research possible in the first place. Horizon Europe, the EU\u2019s central research and innovation programme, played a major role here \u2013 currently endowed with EUR 93.5 billion (2021\u20132027) and planned to be increased to EUR 175 billion for 2028\u20132034, as proposed by the Commission on 16 July 2025. While the ongoing programme supports international projects on climate, health, digitalisation and sustainable development, the next programme is set to launch additional science-driven \u201cmoonshot\u201d projects, aimed at strengthening Europe in strategic areas such as clean aviation, the space economy, and next-generation AI. Negotiations between Parliament, Council, and Commission on the new programme proposal are now beginning.<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking more time to exchange ideas with colleagues from TalTech and bringing together the many ideas for joint projects was extremely valuable \u2013 especially because this happened so early in the process,\u201d said Martin H\u00e4uer from Innovation Team C1. He noted that he is used to funding applications being initiated and drafted at the last minute \u2013 a process highly susceptible to blind spots both in planning and in conceptual design.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWith the time and mental space available here, we can develop something meaningful and robust, and even test the ideas with partners before submitting them as a three-year project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keynote Lectures on Law, Education and Development, and Socioeconomic Aspects<\/h3>\n

On the second day, research and knowledge transfer became even more closely intertwined. In keynote presentations on specific thematic areas, ongoing projects were introduced \u2013 providing a foundation for subsequent discussions.<\/p>\n

In the \u201cLaw<\/strong>\u201d session, Dr. Siddarth De Souza<\/strong> from the University of Warwick (UK) set the thematic framework with \u201cJust Transitions and Data Justice.\u201d He was followed by Dr. Timm Surreau from Innovation Team A7<\/a>, who presented \u201cGovernance of the Just Transition in a Transregional Context.\u201d He explained his team\u2019s work and presented a case study on hydrogen governance. Afterwards, Innovation Team C2<\/a> demonstrated how questions of justice and public administration are addressed in this context.<\/p>\n

The \u201cEducation and Development<\/strong>\u201d session began with Alexandru Kelemen<\/strong> (Romania, Association for Integrated Territorial Development in the Jiu Valley), who provided insights into the Jiu Valley \u2013 a region in Romania strongly shaped by coal mining and now at the centre of programmes for structural change and regional development. Korbinian Biller from Innovation Team C3<\/a> then described the role of further education and training within the socio-ecological transformation of the chemical industry.<\/p>\n

The final session focused on \u201cSocioeconomic Aspects<\/strong>,\u201d introduced by Prof. Lidia Greco<\/strong> (University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy). She outlined the socioeconomic challenges of ecological transformation using the example of the situation in Taranto.<\/p>\n

Building, Expanding, and Strengthening Connections<\/h3>\n

A particular highlight of the second conference day was an innovative dialogue format: a hybrid scientific speed-dating session and informal conversations that strengthened competencies and facilitated the exchange of interests.<\/p>\n

The delegation also gained insights into the research conducted by JTC teams: visits included the biochemistry laboratory (Dr. Constanze Zwies, B4<\/a>), the cleanroom, and the electrochemistry laboratory (Dr. Haojie Zhang, B3<\/a>).<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the visit, we held in-depth discussions on converting industrial waste into valuable and renewable resources,\u201d said Dr. Haojie Zhang. TalTech presented its extensive expertise in the pyrolysis of various waste streams \u2013 including wood, plastics, and biowaste \u2013 to produce hydrogen and other clean energy carriers. Team B3 showcased its work on electrocatalytic production of renewable energy and chemicals as well as the recovery and recycling of precious metals. \u201cThese complementary strengths form an excellent basis for integrated value chains: gaseous products from pyrolysis can be transformed into high-quality chemicals through electrocatalytic processes, while solid products such as carbon can serve as precursors for highly active catalyst materials,\u201d Zhang continued. \u201cBy combining our respective strengths in pyrolysis and electrocatalysis, both partners aim to develop innovative solutions for sustainable waste utilisation and resource-efficient green energy systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to scientific insights, the guests also had the opportunity to get to know the city of Halle \u2013 during a guided city tour led by Dr. Cornelia Deimer, regional scout in Halle and the Saale district.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we see networking as key to further developing complex issues and region-specific challenges, we will once again hold our JTC EU Networking Conference in a hybrid format in spring 2026,\u201d said Formann. Zhang added: \u201cThis visit further strengthened the relationship between the Just Transition Center and TalTech and underscored our shared vision to address the central challenges of the energy transition.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Retrospect<\/strong><\/span>: From 23 to 24 April 2025, researchers from the Just Transition Center (JTC) visited scholars at Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) to develop joint strategies for European structural change. The background to this was the planned shift in EU funding from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) to the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).<\/em><\/p>\n

During the workshop, research groups from the social sciences, humanities, materials research and law presented their current work and identified numerous points of connection for future cooperation. These include joint studies on regional development and social cohesion, the establishment of partnerships for developing sustainable materials and bio-based binders, and collaboration in the fields of digital governance, open-source standards, and LegalTech.<\/em><\/p>\n

Lab tours and on-site discussions \u2013 including a visit to a newly built magnet factory partially funded by the JTF, as well as an exchange with Katri Raik, the mayor of Narva \u2013 highlighted the economic and social challenges facing the transformation region of Ida-Virumaa.<\/em><\/p>\n

The workshop underscored that Estonia and Central Germany are undergoing similar structural transformation processes and can leverage joint innovation potential through close scientific collaboration. The partners involved plan to continue the initiatives launched and expand them under upcoming EU funding instruments.<\/em><\/p>\n

Further information:<\/strong> Experiences and Perspectives: A Workshop on Future Cooperation Between Just Transition Regions and Research Centers in Estonia and Germany<\/a><\/p>\n

Note: This article is an automatic translation of the original post. Please be aware that there may be linguistic inaccuracies or differences in interpretation. You can find the original post here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Herausforderungen im Fokus<\/h3>\n

Besonders intensiv wurde diskutiert, wie internationale Umweltstandards \u2013 etwa zum Biodiversit\u00e4tsschutz \u2013 mit den nationalen Zielen von Energiesicherheit und wirtschaftlicher Modernisierung vereinbar sind. Der Vertreter von ACWA Power betonte die Spannungen zwischen strengen Anforderungen von Investoren, Kreditgebern oder NGOs und dem dringenden Bedarf am Infrastrukturausbau. Diese Standards, obwohl wertvoll, erh\u00f6hen oft die Projektkosten und f\u00fchren zu Verz\u00f6gerungen.<\/p>\n

Der Vertreter des Wirtschafts- und Finanzministeriums bezifferte den Investitionsbedarf zur Erreichung der Klimaziele auf 60\u201395 Milliarden US-Dollar und wies auf politisch sensible Reformen wie Tarifumstellungen und die Einf\u00fchrung robuster Emissions-Monitoring-Systeme (MRV) hin. Vertreter aus der Industrie \u00e4u\u00dferten Bedenken hinsichtlich hoher Compliance-Anforderungen sowie mangelnder technischer und finanzieller Umsetzungskapazit\u00e4ten. Umweltgerechtigkeit und Biodiversit\u00e4tsvorgaben wurden \u2013 trotz ihrer integrativen Wirkung \u2013 als Kosten- und Verz\u00f6gerungsfaktoren kritisiert, besonders wenn sie ohne ausreichende Unterst\u00fctzung eingef\u00fchrt werden.<\/p>\n

Auch die soziale Fairness von Energiepreisreformen wurde kontrovers diskutiert, da sie vulnerable Verbraucher:innen in der \u00dcbergangszeit besonders belasten k\u00f6nnen.<\/p>\n

Fazit: Zusammenarbeit als Schl\u00fcssel<\/h3>\n

Die Diskussionen verdichteten sich in einer zentralen Frage: Wie kann Usbekistan eine national verankerte Transition gestalten \u2013 im Spannungsfeld globaler Anforderungen, begrenzter Ressourcen und konkurrierender Politiken? Einigkeit herrschte dar\u00fcber, dass der Weg nur \u00fcber die fortgesetzte Zusammenarbeit von Staat, Wirtschaft und Wissenschaft f\u00fchrt.<\/p>\n

Die Partnerschaft wird am 22. Oktober 2025 fortgesetzt, wenn Dr. Timm Sureau im Rahmen der 4. Tashkent Business and Economics Conference an der WIUT zum Thema \u201eHydrogen, Identity Politics of Green Transitions\u201c<\/em> referieren wird \u2013 ein weiterer Schritt zur Vertiefung der institutionellen Kooperation.<\/p>\n

Zentrale Herausforderungen und Ausblick<\/h3>\n