In research and development the resources of the European Social Fund (ESF) have been used for supporting a knowledge-based society, a new generation of scientists and engineers and for improving the quality of higher education. A total of 102 million euros from the ESF has been planned for the implementation of this priority axis of the Operational Programme for Human Resource Development, to which more than 14.6 million euros as the participation of the public sector will be added.
Development of science policy and the quality of higher education are supported by the third level education quality development programme “Primus” and by the e-learning programme of higher education “BeSt”. The activities of the doctoral studies and internationalisation programme “DoRa” are aimed at the recruitment of qualified personnel from abroad and at local training and at raising the overall capacity of Estonian research and innovation. Researcher mobility programme “Mobilitas“ supports the development and diversification of Estonian science potential through international exchange of experience and recruitment of highly skilled workforce. Pedagogy and teacher education is supported by the programme “EduKo”. One of the activities of the science popularisation programme TeaMe is improving the field of science journalism in Estonia. Continuing education is supported by the “Assistance programme “TULE” for continuation of education of the people who have disrupted their studies of higher education” and doctoral schools.
In order to support the development of collaboration and innovation between institutions of higher education application rounds have been conducted in the sub-measures “Doctoral Schools” and “Cooperation between Institutions of Higher Education and Enterprises”. Doctoral schools and curriculum development cooperation projects between higher education institutions and companies have started. Projects funded from the sub-measure of science popularisation “Teeme” are being launched. An open call for supporting innovation in higher education institutions is being prepared. The 2nd level intermediate body of the Ministry of Education and Research for measures of higher education and research is the Archimedes Foundation, which organises the open calls and carries out the processing of payments.
European Regional Development Fund supports through the Operational Programme for the Development of the Economic Environment the improvement of the competitiveness of research and development actions in Estonia and over 306 million euros of ERDF funds have been planned for this, plus co-financing from the public sector of Estonia. Measures for modernisation of the infrastructure of research and development institutions and higher education institutions, for supporting the activities of science top and for supporting the implementation of research and development projects in the field of energy technology are currently active. Additionally, annual application rounds for small-scale research equipment acquisition and modernisation of research equipment of research and development institutions are held. An application round for supporting research and development activities in the field of biotechnology, several targeted R&D supporting programmes and a programme for supporting international collaboration are underway.
