Ülo Pärnits Scholarship
HOW TO MAKE ÜLEMISTE CITY SMARTER ?
The aim of the scholarship, established by Ülo Pärnits (the founder of Ülemiste City), is to promote lifelong learning and practical training and to support research related to the development of Ülemiste City as a smart city of the future.
Together, let’s encourage lifelong learning and practical experience – a gift that lasts, creates new opportunities, and supports knowledge and innovation: EE061010220050524018 Sihtasutus Teadlik Valik
9
taking place for the 9th consecutive year
100 000+ €
has gone to support future talents
60+
scholarship recipients
PARTNER UNIVESITIES
- Tallinn University of Technology
- Tallinn University
- University of Tartu
- Estonian Academy of Arts
- Pallas
- Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences (Mainor)
- Others
SPONSORS
- Mainor
- Kristosten
- Mainor Ülemiste
THE SCHOLARSHIP TOPICS FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2025/2026
This year marks the ninth season of the Ülo Pärnitsa scholarship, and we invite students to contact us already in the early phase of the idea. We also propose very specific topics on this occasion, but all other proposals for research papers concerning Ülemiste City are also very welcome.
The size of the scholarship fund is up to €22 000 each year, and the scholarship committee awards scholarships to up to five applicants and determines the amount of each scholarship.
We expect that research or a smart solution for a smart city would be innovative and practical and contribute to the development and attractiveness of Ülemiste City. The scholarship work can be both a Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis and a team project. On behalf of the campus, we help to think through all ideas and connect them with the goals of the program; in addition, we offer co-supervision by a field expert on behalf of the campus and, depending on the topic of the work, also other help (e.g. data).
Smart City Governance
- Applying network– and value-based governance in a smart city.
- Developing a community loyalty programme for Ülemiste City.
- Smart City governance: managing a privately developed urban campus as an ecosystem.
Business Models and Innovation
- New and experimental business models in a volatile environment: how organisations adapt to changing expectations and markets.
- Key characteristics of a smart city and their impact on the competitiveness of businesses operating within it.
- User experience study of Ülemiste City’s digital solutions: Talent Portal, Test City, Green City.
Community and Health
- Implementing a walking meeting trail and creating a gamification solution for the accompanying health exhibition.
- Community integration of international talent in a smart city: challenges and opportunities.
- Collecting and applying health indicators in a smart city (based on the Ülemiste City health model).
Environment and Construction
- Methods for raising environmental awareness across different target groups.
- Attitudes towards and readiness for greater use of public transport and active mobility modes.
- Implementation of innovative stormwater systems in an urban environment: a cost–benefit analysis and environmental impact assessment for Ülemiste City.
- Principles for meeting rooms and outdoor spaces that support collaboration and creativity, and their impact on employee well-being and sense of community.
2025–2026 ACADEMIC YEAR SCHEDULE
1
By 30 November 2025
Notification of interest in preparing the scholarship work
2
By 30 December 2025
Submission of the project proposal
3
By 31 May 2026
Submission of the final work
4
Date to be confirmed
Presentation of the work
COMPLETED SCHOLARSHIP PROJECTS
| Title | Author(s) | Supervisor(s) | Educational Institution | Amount Paid | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “New Business Opportunities and Business Models Based on Data Collected in Ülemiste City Campus” | Dagmar Teppe, Anastassia Tretjak, Andrei Engels ja Martin Kiil | Jarek Kurnitski | TalTech | 5000 € |
| Title | Author(s) | Supervisor(s) | Educational Institution | Amount Paid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Europe Square – Europe’s Gateway to Estonia” | Lisanna Remmelkoor, Taltech arhitektuuri eriala |
Üllar Ambos (TalTech), Andrus Kaldalu (Mainor Ülemiste AS), Ants Pilving (Mainor AS), Katrin Sulg (Mainor AS) |
TalTech | 3335 € | |
| “Thermal Comfort Analysis Using Office Buildings as an Example in Ülemiste City” | Dagmar Teppe ja Andrei Engels, TalTechi Energiatõhususe eriala |
Are Habicht (Mainor Ülemiste AS), Tarmo Vesberg (Technopolis Ülemiste AS), Katrin Sulg (Mainor AS) |
TalTech | 2000 € | |
| “Ülemiste Smart City Digital Services Platform” |
Aleksandr Kosenkov, Taltechi Infotehnoloogia teaduskond |
Aleksandr Kosenkov, Taltechi Infotehnoloogia teaduskond |
TalTech | 1000 € | |
| “Robotex Ülemiste City Kratt Competition” | Edgars Bajaruns, Andris Jenerts, Raivis Pauls, Mārtiņš Šmuikšis, Mārtiņš Zemlītis Siguldas |
Läti robootikaklubi | |||
| “Energy Consumption Analysis Using Typical Floors of Office Buildings in Ülemiste City” | Andrei Engels | Jarek Kurnitski | TalTech | 2000 € |
| Title | Author(s) | Supervisor(s) | Educational Institution | Amount Paid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Future City Hackathon Addressing Challenges of Estonia’s Two Largest Campuses (Tallinn University of Technology and Ülemiste City) | Martin Tammiste, Jelena Kazak, Alen Siilivask |
– | TalTech | 5000 € | |
| Future City Hackathon Addressing Challenges of Estonia’s Two Largest Campuses (Tallinn University of Technology and Ülemiste City) | Nursultan Barun, Daniel Geller, Markus Bachmann |
– | TalTech | 5000 € |
| Title | Author(s) | Supervisor(s) | Educational Institution | Amount Paid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Helping Students Learn” | Jose Manuel Paredes, Jieru Li, Fan Zhang Felix, Yu-Chen Yang Bella, Liviu Pintilie, Kadre Saar, Trisha Lucky-Kristina Banya |
Eneken Titov (Mainor), Rauno Mätas (Mainor Ülemiste) |
Tartu Ülikool | 2500 € | |
| “Wind Analysis and Urban Element Design to Improve Pedestrian Comfort in Ülemiste City Campus” | Nursultan Barun, Daniel Geller, Markus Bachmann |
– | TalTech | 5000 € | |
| “Cross-Laminated Timber Structure: 13-Storey Office Building in Ülemiste City” | Tristen Vardja | Kimmo Lylykangas | TalTech | 2500 € | |
| Team “Wibe” at the Hack4Future student hackathon | – | – | – | 1000 € | |
| At Future Co-Creation – team working on social health and offering the best solution | – | – | – | 1000 € | |
| At Ecohack – student team ThinKlean | – | – | – | 500 € |
| Title | Author(s) | Supervisor(s) | Educational Institution | Amount Paid | Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Sinilind” | Valdek Laur | Oliver Soomets, Lembit Kaur Stöör | EKA | 1500 € | Loe siit |
| “Aja kulg” | Kaija Kohlmann-Genno, Anette Aas | Oliver Soomets, Lembit Kaur Stöör | EKA | 1500 € | Loe siit |
| “Flexible Workspace That Supports the Productivity and Well-Being of Employees” | Birgit Vider | Jaan Kuusemets | TalTech | 1500 € | Loe siit |
| “Engaging Employees in Green Change in Ülemiste City” | Nursultan Barun | Damiano Cerrone, Tanel Kärp, Nesli Hazal Oktay, Meghan Lazier | EKA | 2000 € | Loe siit |
| „Wind Analysis and Design of Urban Area Features and Layout for Improving Wind Comfort and Livability in Ülemiste City“ | Jelena Kazak | Jenni Partanen ja Francesco de Luca | TalTech | 2000 € | Loe siit |
| Title | Author(s) | Supervisor(s) | Educational Institution | Amount Paid | Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
“Communication Plan for Community Events in Ülemiste City”
ChatGPT ütles:Communication Plan for Community Events in Ülemiste CityChatGPT ütlesCommunication Plan for Community Events in Ülemiste City” |
Angelina Lon, Reijo Väljak, Kadri Tillemann, Veiko Ojaperv, Laine Lindvest |
Anneli Lorenz | Tartu Ülikool | 2500 € | Loe siit |
| “Artistic Solution for the Staircase of the Alma Tomingas Building” | Alex Toodu | Mark Antonius Puhkan |
EKA | 1500 € | Loe siit |
| “Support Employees’ Health” | Marielin Kepp, Milena Podzigun, Anastasia Rõbakova |
Anneli Lorenz | Tartu Ülikool | 2500 € | Loe siit |
| “The Role of Smart City Business Ecosystem Services in Supporting the Export of IT Companies Based on the Case of Ülemiste City” | Kadi Hõbenik | Algis Perens |
Taltech | 1500 € | Loe siit |
| Title | Author(s) | Supervisor(s) | Educational Institution | Amount Paid | Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Integration of ESG Practices in HR Policies for Developing a Sustainable Work Environment as an Example of Ülemiste City Companies” | Carol Randlepp | Merle Ojasoo, Marianne Kallaste | TalTech | 1000 € | Loe siit |
| “Motivational Factors for Campus-Based Enterprises in the Use of Recyclable Packaging” | Liisi Siil | Ulrika Hurt | TalTech | 2000 € | Loe siit |
| “Health Centre 2 Stairwell Art Project 2024” | Daria Titova | Mark Antonius Puhkan | EKA | 2500 € | Loe siit |
| “Sociability in innovation districts” | Agnes Alajõe, Andres Soop | Marko Uibu | Tartu Ülikool | 3500 € | Loe siit |
| Title | Author(s) | Supervisor(s) | Educational Institution | Amount Paid | Project |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Foresight and Strategic Planning for Urban Development: A Case Study of Ülemiste City District” | Helena Roosaar | Mari-Klara Stein | TalTech | 1500 € | Loe siit |
| “Promoting Sustainable Mobility Choices on the Example of Ülemiste City Organizations” | Ketelin Kivi | Liis Ojamäe, Marianne Kallaste | TalTech | 1000 € | Loe siit |
| “Impact of Global Trends on Ülemiste Smart City and Companies” | Enes Toci, Inger Porkanen, Defir Ilmi Faridha, Najmin Khalafi | Anneli Lorenz | Tartu Ülikool | 3000 € | Loe siit |
| “Supergraphics in Ülemiste City – Worker Bees” | Adele Maria Arengu | Katrin Maask | Tartu Ülikool | 2000 € | Loe siit |
| “Ülemiste Business Campus Community: Research Results” | Anna Petermann | Marko Uibu | Tartu Ülikool | 1500 € | Loe siit |
| “Guide Robots’ Acceptance in Organizations: User’s Self Efficacy and Robots’ Organizational Value” | Leo Benjamin Leoste, Kristel Marmor | Janika Leoste | TalTech | 1500 € | Loe siit |
| “Sculpture at Lõõtsa 6” | Lume Tuum | Kirke Kangro | EKA | 2000 € |