At Blueskyy, research is not a cloistered activity confined to senior faculty. It is the lifeblood of the entire institution—a shared practice of inquiry that informs our teaching, fuels our curiosity, and connects us to the wider world. Our research ethos is fundamentally interdisciplinary, collaborative, and impact-driven. We are less interested in knowledge for its own sake and more focused on applying new insights to solve tangible, complex, and meaningful problems. We encourage a culture of ‘slow research’—giving our faculty and students the time and space to ask profound questions and pursue them with rigour and creativity.
Student involvement is a cornerstone of our research culture. From their first year, undergraduates are exposed to the research work of our faculty and are actively encouraged to become involved, whether as laboratory assistants, data analysts, or co-authors. Our postgraduate students are central to the work of our research hubs, often leading projects and mentoring their undergraduate peers. This creates a powerful, vertically integrated community of inquiry where fresh perspectives and deep expertise enrich one another.
Our research is organised around several key interdisciplinary hubs that reflect the core strengths and forward-thinking nature of our academic programmes. These hubs serve as centres of gravity for faculty collaboration, postgraduate training, and external partnerships.
The Centre for Computational Governance & Digital Sovereignty Operating at the nexus of our International Relations and Computational Business programmes, this centre investigates the profound impact of digital technologies on statecraft, global economics, and societal power structures. Current research streams include the geopolitics of artificial intelligence, the regulation of decentralised finance (DeFi), and the modelling of digital disinformation campaigns. The centre works closely with governmental bodies in Estonia and across the EU, providing vital, evidence-based analysis to inform public policy in the digital age.
The Baltic Lab for Sustainable Futures This is the primary research engine for our Sustainable Engineering & Design programme. The Lab is a dynamic, project-based environment focused on developing innovative solutions to the unique ecological and economic challenges facing the Baltic Sea region. Its work is organised around three core missions: advancing the circular economy through novel material science and logistics modelling; designing resilient, decentralised renewable energy systems for northern climates; and pioneering new techniques in ecological restoration and bioremediation. The Lab is a deeply collaborative entity, partnering with local municipalities, technology startups, and environmental NGOs.
The Immersive Narrative Studio (INS) The INS is a hybrid research and production studio that explores the future of storytelling. Aligned with our Digital Arts & Interactive Media programme, the studio brings together artists, designers, computer scientists, and social scientists to create and critically analyse new forms of narrative experience. Projects range from developing interactive documentaries on complex social issues to building virtual reality environments for therapeutic and educational purposes. The studio’s work is regularly featured at leading international new media festivals and contributes to the global conversation about the ethics and aesthetics of emerging media.