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Research - Estonia

Updated 10/2012

Legal requirements

The Organisation of Research and Development Act ensures the key role of research and technology as the factors promoting development in the Estonian economy.

  • The Organisation of Research and Development Act eesti

Estonia’s Research, Development and Innovation strategy for 2007-2013 “Knowledge-Based Estonia" focuses on the sustainable development of society through research and development as well as innovation. It aims at helping to achieve the goals of the long-term development strategy "Sustainable Estonia 21" and the Lisbon Strategy (the strategy for economic growth and jobs). This strategy is a follow-up to the research and development strategy 2002-2006 “Knowledge-Based Estonia".

  • Knowledge-Based Estonia 2007-2013 pdf [1 MB] eesti

Research and development institutions

A research and development institution may be established as a state agency, a local government agency, a legal person in public law, an agency of a legal person in public law, or a legal person in private law, the principal activity of which is research and development and which is registered in the sub-register of research and development institutions.

  • Estonian Research Information System eesti

Funded by the Estonian government, the Research and Development Council advises the Estonian government on research and development strategy issues.

  • Research and Development Council eesti

Alongside R&D, innovation is essential for businesses to develop and stay competitive.

Intellectual property must be protected to encourage research.

Administrative procedures

Information on institutions associated with research and development grants are submitted to the sub-register through the register’s relevant input form within five working days after the information is created.

  • Establishment of the Estonian Research Information System and statutes for its maintenance eesti

Resources

The Estonian Research Portal collects information on Estonian scientists, research and development institutions, and projects. The portal gives an overview on Estonian research and development policy, infrastructure and funding possibilities, resources for international and national cooperation, research statistics and the science grant database.

  • Estonian Research Portal eesti

Programmes

When looking for solutions for the development of business, universities should be kept in mind. For carrying out joint technical development projects, an entrepreneur can turn to universities and research institutions. Additional information:

  • Technology and Innovation Centre at the Tallinn University of Technology eesti
  • Tallinn University eesti

Enterprise Estonia offers innovation voucher grants, which is support aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With the innovation voucher grant, the SME, in cooperation with a university, test lab, or experts in the field of intellectual property, can research innovative solutions to development obstacles, test new materials, gather knowledge on technologies, carry out surveys in the intellectual property databases, etc.

  • Innovation voucher grants eesti
  • Other grants and support from Enterprise Estonia eesti

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

  • References

    Legal texts

    • The Organisation of Research and Development Act eesti
    • Establishment of the Estonian Research Information System and statutes for its maintenance eesti

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Further help

Tartu Science Park is a meeting place for business and research institutions. The purpose of the Science Park is to help businesses implement modern technologies and find support for carrying out development projects.

  • Tartu Science Park eesti

The Archimedes Foundation gives Estonia access to the European educational and research space through cooperation programmes and projects and creates conditions for participating in the programmes through the accreditation of higher education and evaluation of research.

  • Archimedes eesti