Visiting Researcher's Guide - EURAXESS Estonia

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Baseline funding was introduced in 2005. The purpose is financing R&D institutions on the
basis of research quality in order to support the development and initiative research of R&D
institutions. Also, it is aimed for co-financing of cooperation projects, international and local,
between academia and industry. There are not any specific guidelines for spending, thus
making the institutions responsible in this matter. The proportion of baseline funding in overall
public financing will increase gradually.
The Estonian science Foundation (ETF) awards research grants to individuals and research
teams on a competitive basis. Project applications are evaluated by expert commissions and
approved by the ETF Council. In the year 2007 ETF finances 630 research projects (144 new
and 486 continuing) with the overall amount of 101.6 million kroons. Grants for post-doctoral
studies are also awarded by ETF.
National research and development programmes are launched and funds allocated by the
ministry responsible for the implementation of the programme. As of 2007, Estonia has four
national R&D programmes:
• “The Estonian Language and National Memory”;
• “Collections of Humanities and Natural Sciences”;
• “Language technology support for the Estonian language”
• “Agricultural applied research and development activities 2004–2008”.
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