Established in 1632, the University of Tartu (UT) is the oldest and largest university in Estonia. UT is the only university in the Baltic region that belongs to the top 1.2% of the world’s best universities, ranking 285th in the QS World University Rankings, and within the 250–300 range in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. The University of Tartu Library (UTLIB) is the largest and oldest research library in Estonia, established in 1802. UTLIB has been the pioneer in promoting OA since 2009 by organizing Open Access Week events and raising awareness. In addition, UTLIB is a promoter of Open Science, open data, and research data management.
In 2019, the University of Latvia celebrated its 100th anniversary. The University of Latvia with its 15,000 students, 13 faculties, and 20 research institutes is one of the largest and leading universities in the Baltics. The Library of the University of Latvia is a structural unit in one of the largest higher educational institutions in the Baltic states. UL Library’s primary task is to ensure the support to the study process and research at the University of Latvia, providing high-quality information resources and services. The Library of University of Latvia is the initiator and advocate of the Open Access and Open Science movement in Latvia.
Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) is a leading Lithuanian university providing comprehensive research-based studies at the international level and closely cooperating with business. Being one of the most dynamic schools of higher education in Lithuania, KTU often becomes a research and study leader in various fields. Kaunas University of Technology Library is one of the biggest academic libraries in Lithuania. KTU has been active in promoting Open Access and Open Science. Since 2009, KTU Library has been a partner in the project OpenAIRE as National Open Access Desk (NOAD).
Established in 1922 (re-established in 1989), Vytautas Magnus University (official name in Lithuanian language: Vytauto Didžiojo Universitetas) is a public institution implementing liberal arts study policy. Today Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) is the second largest university in Lithuania. VMU has been involved in over 300 EU projects and one of the key principles of VMU is to promote civic engagement. The library of VMU administrates VMU current research information system (VMU CRIS) which accumulates and manages all University published production. VMU Library conducts various training courses on information resources, information literacy and Open Access.
Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) is the only technological university in Estonia and the flagship of Estonian engineering and technology education. TalTech aspires to become one of the leading technological universities in the Baltic Sea region, with a mission to be a promoter of science, technology, and innovation. The primary goal of TalTech Library is to provide information for academic, research, and development activities. As a public scientific library, it also offers public service to readers outside of TalTech.
Web2Learn (W2L) is a business partner that offers high-quality digital learning and professional training solutions and services. The company specializes in two areas of activity: a) openness and b) social connectivity. Web2Learn joins efforts with movements that advocate Openness, including Open Education and Open Educational Resources (OER), Open and citizen science, and Open data. The company is also active with services in OI and acts as a host of hackathons. W2L brings expertise to the project in three areas: OS, crowdsourcing, and social networked facilitation of massive user engagement.
ImmerBesser works with research organizations, research libraries, and funders for implementing the OS principles in their research approaches. ImmerBesser has great expertise in developing single points of contact for citizen science at universities and effective advocacy programs for citizen science at research institutions. The organization developed and launched the BESPOC prototype (Broad Engagement in Science, Point of Contact) which is now adopted by several institutions in Europe. ImmerBesser’s main expertise is building citizen science point of contact (BESPOC) at research organizations.
