Preparatory Kick-off Meetings Set the Stage for TreeBioTEC Project Launch

Before the official start of the TreeBioTEC ERA Chair project on March 1, 2025, two preparatory kick-off meetings were held at the Institute of Bioengineering, University of Tartu, to ensure a smooth transition into the execution phase. These meetings took place on November 2024 and February 13, 2025, at Nooruse 1 in Tartu.
The purpose of these sessions was to align institutional leadership and key stakeholders on the project’s scope, objectives, governance structure, and initial implementation plan. At the time, the ERA Chair Research Group and Project Manager had not yet been recruited, making it essential to clarify roles and responsibilities among existing actors and prepare for the onboarding of the core team.
During the meetings, the Steering Committee was formally established. It consists of four members:

• Prof. Tõnu Esko, Vice Rector for Development
• Prof. Hannes Kollist, Project Coordinator
• Prof. Yrjö Eero Helariutta, ERA Chair Holder
• Associate Professor Ilona Faustova, Director of the Institute of Bioengineering

Key decisions included defining the governance framework, confirming the responsibilities of the Steering Committee, and approving the job description and duties for the future leader of the new research group. These steps were critical to ensure readiness for launching the first work packages and achieving the project’s ambitious objectives.

By convening these preparatory meetings, TreeBioTEC laid a strong foundation for its five-year mission to advance tree bioengineering and strengthen research excellence at the University of Tartu.