PhD position in Smart City Ecosystems Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia

This PhD position at Tallinn University of Technology focuses on designing post-growth management frameworks for organizational sustainability in cultural and creative industries (CCI) within smart city ecosystems. The project addresses the challenges faced by CCI organizations operating in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) environments, including funding declines, digital-green transitions, and post-pandemic disruptions. Embedded in smart city ecosystems, CCI organizations serve as socio-technical nodes that link technology, governance, and cultural vibrancy.

The research adopts an interdisciplinary approach, integrating management theory, systems thinking, urban innovation, and sustainability studies. The aim is to develop a Post-Growth Management (PoGroM) framework, tested in Nordic-Baltic smart cities, that aligns organizational and city-level indicators to foster resilience, participatory governance, and well-being beyond GDP growth. The project bridges cultural policy, technological infrastructure, and ecological priorities, redefining sustainability for CCI organizations within adaptive urban ecosystems.

Key research questions include identifying relevant PoGroM principles for CCI organizations, translating them into governance practices, determining necessary organizational capabilities, understanding contextual factors in Baltic and Nordic cities, operationalizing emergy accounting and circularity metrics, and exploring the influence of living lab and co-creation arrangements. The project also examines the impacts of post-growth practices and ethical governance mitigation strategies.

Responsibilities include designing and conducting independent research, carrying out empirical studies such as case analyses and living lab experiments, writing scientific articles, participating in international research projects, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, presenting at conferences, collaborating with CCI stakeholders and smart city ecosystems, and contributing to ongoing departmental research projects. Participation in doctoral training and departmental activities is expected.

Applicants should have a Master’s degree in Creative Industries, Management, Business, Sustainability, Cultural Policy, or related fields, with a strong interest in post-growth management, organizational sustainability, and CCI within smart city ecosystems. Skills in independent research, empirical studies, scientific writing, and English communication are essential. Beneficial experience includes exposure to organizational sustainability frameworks, systems thinking, post-growth concepts, and empirical research methods. Familiarity with smart city research, CCI, or urban innovation literature, and a proven track record in academic writing and publication are highly valued.

The position offers the opportunity to join a strong, interdisciplinary research team, conduct high-level research in a dynamic sustainability and smart city innovation context, and access conferences, research stays, and networking opportunities with leading universities and research centers. The Department of Business Administration at TalTech is renowned for its research in entrepreneurship, sustainability, knowledge and technology transfer, operations and strategic management, digitalisation, marketing, supply chain management, accounting, and performance management.

Applications are accepted from 01.06.2026 to 30.06.2026. Candidates should submit a cover letter, detailed CV, and initial research proposal via the online application link. For further information, refer to the PhD Admission homepage.