The Things You Learn at MEKTORY
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Mektory is the Business and Innovation Centre of Tallinn University of Technology (TTÜ). It is both a training facility for students as well as an “exhibition hall.” Companies and people interested in technology can come here to get an idea of where Estonia as a digital nation – or mankind in general – is moving toward to.
I was lucky to have been able to visit the different laboratories. Many are interactive and require the visitor to really engage with the equipment. I tried a virtual reality game for the first time in my life, and it felt as weird as I thought it would; I found out that there is a shortage of ventilation students, even though ventilation is almost everywhere around us (in nightclubs, for instance); I learnt that start-ups really like beanbags; and I realised that, sometimes, showrooms – or rather country-themed spaces – exist to show off (which is fair enough).
MEKTORY holds quite a few competitions. Next year, when TTÜ is turning 100 years old, there will be a big idea competition. Students are welcome to submit suggestions on how the university should develop in the future.
You might have guessed correctly that this is the British room. It is used, for instance, by the British embassy.
At first glance, you might think that this is just another computer lab. This is the German room, though. It will be renovated soon, because MEKTORY wants to move away from the classical (and obsolete) computer lab to a more modern approach.
This is the Japanese-themed room. I was told that it is usually empty, because the wooden benches are rather uncomfortable. So you better make sure to bring some pillows.
This is the American lounge. In contrast to the Japanese room, it is used as "hang out" space.
People from all over the world visit MEKTORY. Funnily enough, they actually had to paint a second map, because they were running out of space. Note the amount of pins in Europe.
In recent years, many companies have been using LEGO games to strengthen the team spirit of their employees. The idea behind LEGO Serious Play is that a hands-on approach results in a better understanding of the world; executive managers in particular should be interested, according to this logic. At MEKTORY, however, this room is mainly used by children. What a missed opportunity.
The idea of studying ventilation fan systems might not knock you off your feet. If you keep in mind, though, that they are used in almost every room, you might reconsider your first instinct. This room has two functions. First, it shows how complicated the process of generating cool air is. Second, it reminds you that your favourite venue, the disco, is not really enjoyable without ventilation. The moral of the story being: Ventilation isn't boring.
If you want to learn more about heating, this is the place to go. Many of us, including me, take heaters for granted, but do not really know how they work.
Would it even be a Startup Co-Working Space if there weren't at least five beanbags?
This room not only teaches you about electricity, but is also used as a presentation room. There even is a charging station for e-vehicles.
I was really impressed by MEKTORY; it is most definitely worth a visit. What I liked most was that everything seemed to be in constant development. Although the centre is sophisticated, it feels as if there was more to come. You can tell that there is a "roadmap," and I'm sure that a lot will have changed by 2020. The general idea of establishing a close relationship between academia and industry, including startups, is worthy of imitation. Still today, the sharing of knowledge between the two is often extremely limited. MEKTORY has made it to its business to change that, because it understands that opportunities for growth can only be fully realised in cooperation. Thus, Europe can learn a thing or two from MEKTORY.
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