This article was updated on 18 August 2026, amending Caroline Rute’s name and her involvement in Nöösker Mead. At the time of original publication, she went by Caroline Aruoja.
Caroline Rute has taken over as the new head of the technology transfer office at the Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). She started in the job on Monday.
Rute previously led the Estonian university’s Startup Centre for two years, having joined as a manager in January 2023.
The Startup Centre will now be led by Rasmus Kalep, who has been promoted from project manager.
The appointment marks a return to the TTO for Rute, who was a technology transfer manager at TalTech from August 2016 to October 2017.
Rute says her immediate priority will be the implementation of ASTRA+, an Estonian programme to increase entrepreneurship at universities that is due for an initial assessment of its impact on the growth of spinouts in 2027.
She will also look to secure more invention disclosures and support more innovation projects, and foster meaningful collaboration between researchers and entrepreneurs.
“Estonian society is increasingly reaching a point where continued economic growth requires science-based innovation, and TalTech is in an excellent position to support this journey. This need is also recognised by the government and ministries, who are increasingly looking to collaborate with TalTech to boost Estonia’s economic growth.”
Caroline Rute
Rute is an entrepreneur herself: in 2018, she co-founded Nöösker Mead, billed as the country’s first meadery. She left that business in January 2026.
At the TalTech technology transfer office, she succeeds Kristo Reinsalu, who had led the unit since May 2024.
