OUR TEAM
THE AIRE TEAM BRINGS TOGETHER THE BEST LEADERS IN INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION FROM MANY AREAS TO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS. OUR DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS MAKE US UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE OF EACH SECTOR AND TO TAKE THE BOLD STEPS NEEDED TO BRING SUCCESS.
KIRKE MAAR
Tallinn University of Technology
Kirke has 20 years of experience working as a project manager, and has coordinated large project teams, helped to find the financing, and ensured efficient administration. Kirke worked for 18 years as a financing consultant in the private sector and has helped many Estonian projects in research, business, tourism and social affairs find support and set targets and clear goals, and cooperate to achieve them.
EVELIN EBRUK
Development Engineer
AIRE
OTTO MÄTTAS
Otto has worked for 13 years as an IT engineer and architect in Estonia and abroad. For the last 3 years his focus has been on artificial intelligence, including machine learning, expert systems and human-computer interaction. In addition to the creation of technical solutions, his focus has been on processes and technology management in general, as well as on ethics and legislation in artificial intelligence. Otto has created value in the private, public and third sectors. The next step is to bring Estonian industry to the world stage.
JAAN ERIK BRANNO
AIRE
With an extensive international background, Jaan Erik started working with AIRE as an intern in the summer of 2022. He is a Tallinn University of Technology student that contributes to the team with his creative ideas and motivated mindset.
KAIRI TAMMER
AIRE
INGRID HUNT
Project Manager
Ingrid is a project manager at Tartu Science Park. At the science park she brings to life projects focused on innovation and smart specialisation. Ingrid has a great deal of experience in successful financial and strategic planning.
HELEN JÕESAAR
Tartu University
Helen is the industry collaboration coordinator of the Institute of Computer Science at the University of Tartu. She has 10 years of experience in the implementation of European Union projects and in advising applications for grants in the research, tourism, and social affairs fields. At the Institute of Computer Sciences, her role is to initiate collaboration between the university and private as well as public sector institutions and coordinate the activities of the Digital Europe Programme.
ANU PUUSAAG
Science and Business Park Tehnopol
Anu is the area manager of smart technology in the Tehnopol business campus. Her main task is to support the development and growth of AI-based or other deep technology companies in export markets. For the last 20 years, Anu has created supporting activities for the development of companies.
KRISTJAN KARRON
Tartu University
Kristjan handles the industry collaboration marketing and communications in the Institute of Computer Science. He has experience in marketing the IT-sector both for private and public sectors as well as facilitating co-operation between the two. Has attained a Masters’ degree in journalism from the University of Tartu.
KIRSI ZIREL
Tarty University
Kirsi is a project assistant at the Institute of Technology of University of Tartu where she helps researches and students to implement various national and international projects. In addition, she has studied Estonian and Hungarian linguistics and she has long-term experience in the catering business and in the private sector.
SIRLI KASEPUU
ANDRI HARAN
AIRE Strategic Advisor
Andri is head of the Industry Division at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and has 20 years of experience in change and process management in the defence and aerospace industry. Having worked in both the private and public sectors, Andri understands how both work and their opportunities and challenges. Andri has a Master's degree in Digital Transformation from Tallinn University of Technology.
MARTIN GOROŠKO
Science and Business Park Tehnopol
REET PÄRGMÄE
Tallinn University of Technology
Reet is the head of the Innovation and Business Centre at Tallinn University of Technology, and one of the initiators and key supporters of AIRE. In her work, Reet helps bring scientists and businesses together and so create innovation. Reet's background is as an expert in technology law and data protection, and over the past 20 years she has helped to shape Estonian legislation and has advised start-ups that create digital solutions. She has studied law in the universities of Helsinki, Konstanz and Tartu.
JÜRI RIIVES
IMECC
Robotics Suitability Assessment
Jüri is a Professor at Tallinn University of Technology, and the founder of IMECC. Jüri spent a decade from 1999-2009 as chair of the board of the Federation of Estonian Engineering Industry. Jüri has extensive business experience, and he is an expert in the development of industrial robotics, digitalisation, cost-efficient production including Lean, and business models for industry.
MARGUS ARAK
Estonian University of Life Sciences
Margus has been the Director of the Institute of Technology of the Estonian University of Life Sciences since 2008. He is an Estonian environmental physicist and before becoming director of the institute, Margus was a lecturer in environmental physics and head of the chair in the subject at the Institute of Technology.
GERT JERVAN
Gert Jervan is a Dean at the School of Information Technologies at TalTech and a professor of dependable computer systems. He has been a coordinator of several national and international research projects. During recent years he has been heavily involved with the EC Smart Anything Everywhere initiative projects that are providing cascade funding for various tech transfer projects.
JAAK VILO
University of Tartu
Jaak is the head of the Institute of Computer Science of the University of Tartu and a Professor of bioinformatics. He heads the Chair of Data Science, which handles data mining, machine learning, algorithms, bioinformatics and computational neuroscience. Since 2018, Jaak has also been a board member of the Informatics Europe association, which represents the public and private research community in informatics in Europe and neighbouring countries.
JUHAN-PEEP ERNITS
Juhan on Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli dotsent alates 2012. aastast. Tema teadustöö on seotud tehismõistuse rakendustega robootikas. Lisaks on ta informaatika magistri õppekava juht ja kaaskoordineerib Tartu Ülikooli juhitavat tarkvaratehnika magistri õppekava tehnikaülikooli poolelt. Põhivaldkonnad on raalnägemine ja robotitele usaldusväärse tarkvara loomine.
TÕNU LELUMEES
IMECC
Tõnu is the chair of the supervisory board of the Estonian Machinery Industry Association and head of the Innovative Manufacturing Engineering Systems Competence Centre (IMECC), and is a leading expert on industrial digitalisation, automation and flexibility.
ANDRUS KURVITS
Tartu Science Park
Andrus is a member of the board at Tartu Science Park. He has 20 years of experience in both banking and technology start-ups, and he has been involved in many successful ventures. He launched the Estonian business incubator of the European Space Agency, and for the first two years he was the programme manager of sTARTUp Day, the largest business festival in the Baltics.
VAHUR KOTKAS
Vahur has worked with model-based software development, logic-based programming synthesis and artificial intelligence for more than 20 years. During this time, he has created a number of solutions that are still used in industry today. The Applied Artificial Intelligence Group that he chairs focuses on creating logic-based solutions for artificial intelligence that can be used in practice.
TAUNO OTTO
Tauno on Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli tootmistehnika professor alates 2010. aastast. Ta juhib Eesti teaduse teekaardi objekti: nutika tootmise tuumiktaristu (SmartIC), ja on Euroopa Komisjoni tasandil “Made in Europe” Partnerlusnõukogu liige. Tema peamised uurimisvaldkonnad on seotud tööstuse digitaliseerimisega.
TÕNU PIHELGAS
Legal Officer
Tõnu on pikaajalise riigisektori ja erasektori kogemusega Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli ettevõtluse valdkonna jurist. Ta on lisaks juristitööle pikka aega tegelenud poliitika kujundamise, õigusloome, strateegiate kujundamise ning elluviimisega. Samuti on ta olnud läbirääkija nii Eesti diplomaadina Eesti Alalises Esinduses Euroopa Liidu juures, Brüsselis ja juhtinud ka läbirääkijate meeskonda erasektoris. Ta on ka matkaja ja maailmarändur.
AIVO AABLOO
University of Tartu
Alvo is an expert in robotics, and intelligent materials and systems, and is a Professor at the Institute of Technology of the University of Tartu and head of the Intelligent Materials and Systems laboratory. Alvo also founded Solaride, which is an engineering and green economy project for students. He holds a doctorate in physics from the University of Tartu and has co-founded and directed several different businesses.
KRISTO KARJUST
Kristo is a level 8 authorised mechanical engineer in production technology and has experience of organising and managing production, handling equipment, and monitoring and maintenance. The main areas of his research are optimising, monitoring and forecasting production and the theory and methodology behind the rapid execution of products and production processes. Kristo has worked in the private sector for more than ten years, where he runs training courses on using CAD, CAM and CAE software, and has been a production manager for outdoor swimming pools and health capsules. Since 2002 he has also worked at Tallinn University of Technology. He was a project manager at IMECC, the technology development centre, in 2011-2019, and currently has tenure as an Associate Professor at Tallinn University of Technology, where he heads the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
MEELIS KULL
University of Tartu
Meelis has been an Associate Professor of machine learning at the University of Tartu since 2017. He has worked in machine learning and artificial intelligence in England and Estonia for some 10 years, and more than 1000 students have studied machine learning and data science under him. The research team he leads develops machine learning methods that produce predictions and well-calibrated self-assessments.
TÕNIS RAAMETS
Tõnis has more than 20 years of work experience in the field of automotive and manufacturing. He has long participated in the management of the Estonian Machinery Industry Association. Currently working as a doctoral student-junior researcher at Tallinn University of Technology, his main field of research is the development and implementation of digital optimization and management models in production processes. Tõnis has been part of AIRE since the beginning of 2022.
ALAR NIIDAS
Business Development Specialist
Alar is Business Development Specialist in TalTech at the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.
KRISTI JÕEÄÄR
Kristi has more than 20 years of experience as an expert in marketing who has steered the creation and growth of several major Estonian brands. Her main job is heading the marketing and communications team at the Tehnopol Science and Business Park and advising start-up firms as a marketing mentor. Kristi holds an MBA from Tallinn University of Technology.
ALAR KUUSIK
ARUN KUMAR SINGH
University of Tartu
Arun heads the collaborative robotics group at the Institute of Technology. The main focus of the group is on studying the algorithmic and applied aspects of motion planning, control and state evaluation for robotics, and the machine learning that is applied in controlling robots. The group's research covers a wide range of applications, from human-robot collaboration and robot manipulation to autonomous driving.
KARL KRUUSAMÄE
University of Tartu
Karl places mobile robots in the human environment. He studied at the University of Tartu and has worked as a researcher in both America and Japan. Karl has long experience as a researcher and has worked extensively in research and development for robotics, covering electronics and mechanical design, software development, systems integration, device prototyping, and professional training.
ÜLLE JAAKMA
Estonian University of Life Sciences
TÕNU LEEMET
ARGO ROSIN
Argo is an expert in smart electrical networks, industrial automation and lighting technology, and has years of experience in managing collaborative projects. He is actively engaged in research and has worked in the private sector as both an employer and an employee. Argo is the Vice-Dean for Research at the Tallinn University of Technology School of Engineering, an Associate Professor at the Institute of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics, and the head of the Microgrid and Metrology Research Group.
ANNET MURU
Tartu Ülikool
Annet koordineerib igapäevaselt Tartu Ülikooli arvutiteaduse instituudi koostööd nii era- kui avaliku sektori asutustega, arendab oma meeskonnaga uusi formaate koostööks nii tudengite kui teadlastega ning populariseerib andmeteaduse valdkonda läbi erialaste seminaride korraldamise. Hariduselt turundaja, kes on viimased viis aastat töötanud IT-valdkonna teadus- ja arendusasutustes.