The project will enhance Estonian research potential and capacities in translational medicine with particular focus on immunological diseases and neurological disorders, which represent a challenging burden on individuals and healthcare systems worldwide. Strategic partnership with UCL and KI - both international leaders in medical research and education, enables developing long-lasting knowledge exchange framework for allowing University of Tartu (UT) to capitalise on its current achievements and deliver a new internationally-leading European Centre of Translational Medicine (CETM).<br/><br/>The specific objectives of the project are to:<br/>1. measurably and significantly enhance the overall scientific R&I capacity of UT and Estonia in the field of translational medicine<br/>2. raise the research profile of academic staff<br/>3. strengthen UT´s networking capacity, visibility and credibility<br/><br/>In order to achieve these objectives, the twinning activities with UCL and KI will:<br/>- create a strategic framework for sustainable development (long-term development plan, links with industrial partners, public funding and investment strategy, IPR strategy)<br/>- enhance UT´s research capacity in 6 key areas/techniques (6 joint summer schools/seminars, 11 medium-term visits, 38 short bidirectional visits, participation in conferences)<br/>- develop transferable skills of UT´s research staff (training seminars in networking/H2020 participating, IPR, research commercialisation, ethics, communication skills and doctoral training)<br/>- extend UT´s strategic partnerships and visibility among the professional community, industry, policy-makers and public (strategic networking, publications, science days, open workshops, targeted stakeholders)<br/><br/>As the expected result of the CETM-TWIN project, the twinning activities between the consortium will lead to research improving synergy that supports building one of the leading translational medicine competency centres in the North-Eastern European region by 2020.