View source for Report:4ad293ad-5227-40db-a597-302d0b281bf3

{{Report
|Report Type=Country Report Cards
|Title=Estonia
|Has Location=Estonia
|Research Infrastructure=In 2018, there were 4,968 full-time researchers in Estonia (1). Estonia had 20 positively evaluated R&D institutions (2): 6 public universities and 1 private university (3), 7 public research organisations and 6 private research institutions (4). 

In addition to the evaluated R&D institutions, there are other public and private R&D intensive institutions, as well as 4 science and technology parks (5,6,7,8), 6 competence centers (9) and 9 centers of excellence (10).

Most research in Estonia is performed at universities and the leading centre for research and training is the University of Tartu (11). Centers of Excellence present collaboration of different research groups and have been established for the improvement of scientific research (10). Competence Centers present cooperation of public authorities, research institutions and enterprises (9).
<br />
{{{!}} class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="604"
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}'''Organisation'''
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}'''City'''
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}'''Public universities''' 
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}[https://www.ut.ee/en University  of Tartu]  
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}Tartu
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}[https://www.taltech.ee/en/ Tallinn  University of Technology]
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}Tallinn,
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}[https://www.tlu.ee/en Tallinn  University] 
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}Tallinn
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}[https://www.emu.ee/en/ Estonian  University of Life Sciences] 
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}Tartu
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}[https://www.artun.ee/en/home/ Estonian  Academy of Arts]  
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}Tallinn
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}[https://eamt.ee/en/ Estonian  Academy of Music and Theatre]
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}Tallinn
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}'''Private university''' 
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="321" valign="top" {{!}}[https://www.ebs.ee/en Estonian  Business School]  
{{!}} width="283" valign="top" {{!}}Tallinn
{{!}}}
|Research Funding=In 2019, the gross expenditures on research and development were €452,97 million, which comprises 1.61% of the country’s GDP (12). Must funding was spent in the business sector (53,3%), higher education (35,3%), government (10,2%) and private non-profit organisations (1,2%) (13). 

In 2020, Estonia had 638 grants and 806 participations in H2020 projects, receiving €240,3 million funding from H2020 (14).
|Research Strategy=The Estonian Research and Development and Innovation Strategy 2014-2020 “Knowledge-based Estonia” was approved by the Estonian government in 2013 and Parliament in 2014 (15). The Strategy set four main goals for Estonia. First, research in Estonia should reach high level and be diverse. This means internationally competitive and visible research, covering higher education and culture. Second, research and development reflects the needs of the Estonian society and economy. Third, research and development investments should encourage the development of target growth areas (information and communication technology, health technologies and services and more effective use of resources). Fourth, Estonia should be active and visible in international research and development cooperation (15).
|Research Governance=The Estonian Research Council promotes research integrity in Estonia (16), but there is no institution at the national level tasked with the implementation of research integrity among different institutions. 

[https://www.ut.ee/en/research-ethics-committee-university-tartu Research Ethics Committee of the University of Tartu] and [https://www.tai.ee/en/about-us/tallinn-medical-research-ethics-commitee Research Ethics Committee of the National Institute for Health Development] are two main ethics committees on research involving human subject. [https://www.sm.ee/et/eesti-bioeetika-ja-inimuuringute-noukogu The Estonian Committee on Bioethics and Human Research], established at the Ministry of Social Affairs, is responsible for ethics approvals concerning the research of [https://genomics.ut.ee/en/about-us/estonian-genome-centre Estonian Genome Center]. Together with the [https://www.agri.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/loomade-tervis-heaolu-ja-aretus/loomade-heaolu#loomkatsed Project Authorisation Committee for Animal Experiments], these committees provide oversight on research with humans or animals, but also in research involving human genes (17). Estonian Research Ethics Committees write annual reports to the State Agency of Medicines and to the governmental bodies of their institution (18). There are also two clinical ethics committees, the Ethics Committee of the Tallinn’s Children Hospital and Ethics Committee of the Tartu University Hospital (17). 

Registration of clinical trials including medicinal products is mandatory and regulated by the Medicinal Products Act (19). 

Ethics committees are also responsible for investigation of alleged research misconduct. For example, the Statute of the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Tartu states that in the case of the violation of research ethical principles, a member of the Committee has the right to delay the processing of the application or its approval until the circumstances are clarified (20). 

The Estonian Code of Conduct for Research Integrity states that the research institution ensures the confidentiality of dealing with possible breaches and protects the dignity and inviolability of private life of all the parties involved (21). Nevertheless, Estonia’s whistle-blower protection framework is one of the weakest in Europe. Public officials are required to report corruption and 2013 Amendment to Anti-Corruption Act protects public officials from retaliation. The country does not provide protection for public employees who report misconduct other than corruption or for private sector whistle-blowers. There is no anti-corruption institution in Estonia not agency that copes with whistle-blower issues. Corruption reports can be submitted to the Central Criminal Police through a hotline (22). 
{{{!}} class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"
{{!}} width="330" valign="top"{{!}}'''Bodies  for RE+RI'''
{{!}} width="421" valign="top"{{!}}'''Scope'''
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="330" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.etag.ee/en/estonian-research-council/ Estonian  Research Council]
{{!}} width="421" valign="top"{{!}}Concentrates the funding of R&D and  guarantees the better functioning of financing systems.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="330" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.agri.ee/et/eesmargid-tegevused/loomade-tervis-heaolu-ja-aretus/loomade-heaolu#loomkatsed Project  Authorisation Committee for Animal Experiments]
{{!}} width="421" valign="top"{{!}}Provides  oversight on research involving animals.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="330" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.ut.ee/en/research-ethics-committee-university-tartu Research  Ethics Committee of the University of Tartu]
{{!}} width="421" valign="top"{{!}}Assesses  the ethical aspects of human research in the field of medicine and natural  sciences and other human research.
{{!}}-
{{!}}[https://tai.ee/en/about-us/tallinn-medical-research-ethics-commitee Research Ethics Committee of the National Institute for Health Development]
{{!}}Provides its expert opinion for all surveys involving humans.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="330" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.sm.ee/et/eesti-bioeetika-ja-inimuuringute-noukogu Estonian Committee on Bioethics and Human Research]
{{!}} width="421" valign="top"{{!}}Coordinates  the activities of the committees and advises policy makers and governmental  institutions in bioethics-related questions. It also participates in the  preparation of relevant laws and governmental acts and educates the public about  the issues in bioethics. Gives ethics approvals concerning the research of Estonian  Genome Center.
{{!}}}
|Law And Regulation=A number of laws address RE and RI in Estonia.
{{{!}} class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
{{!}} width="283" valign="top"{{!}}'''Law'''
{{!}} width="468" valign="top"{{!}}'''Scope'''
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="283" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/529122020002/consolide/current Medicinal Products Act]
<br />
{{!}} width="468" valign="top"{{!}}Ensures the safety, quality and  efficacy of medicinal products in Estonia. It also promotes the use of  medicinal products for their intended purposes.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="283" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/530102013045/consolide/current Animal  Protection Act]
{{!}} width="468" valign="top"{{!}}Regulates the protection of animals  from human acts or omissions that may endanger their health and welfare.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="283" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/513042015012/consolide/current Organisation  of Research and Development Act]
{{!}} width="468" valign="top"{{!}}Provides the grounds for the  organisation of research and development as a component of Estonian culture  and the Estonian economy.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="283" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/Riigikogu/act/525062020001/consolide Higher  Education Act]
{{!}} width="468" valign="top"{{!}}Provides the bases of organisation of studies at the level of higher education;  the rights and obligations upon studying at the level of higher education;  and the bases of the operations of education institutions organising studies  at the level of higher education.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="283" valign="top"{{!}}[https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter The  European Charter & Code for Researchers]
{{!}} width="468" valign="top"{{!}}The Charter and Code ensure that  researchers can enjoy the same rights and obligations in any European  country.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="283" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/530102013038/consolide/current Gender  Equality Act]
{{!}} width="468" valign="top"{{!}}Ensures and promotes equal treatment  of men and women ss a fundamental human right and for the public good in all  areas of social life.
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="283" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/530102013066/consolide/current Equal Treatment Act]
{{!}} width="468" valign="top"{{!}}Ensures the protection of persons  against discrimination on grounds of nationality (ethnic origin), race,  colour, religion or other beliefs, age, disability or sexual orientation.
{{!}}}
|Measure=<u>RI training </u>

Courses in ethics constitute an integral part of higher education in Estonia. All Estonian universities offer introductory courses in ethics (17). Important resource for RE and RI training is [https://www.eetika.ee/en/ethics-estonia/estonian-code-conduct-research-integrity Estonian Code of Conduct for Research Integrity].

<u>RI dialogue and communication</u>

The statement of the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU “Tallinn Call for Action 2017” emphasizes the importance of building trust between research and society on several levels including academia, media, research performing organisations and research funding organisations (23). 

Collaborative science is promoted by the Estonian Research Council through various programs and organisations which offer project grants: [https://www.etag.ee/en/funding/partnership-funding/mobilitas-pluss-partnership-and-co-operation/ Mobilitas Pluss partnership and Co-operation], [https://www.lmt.lt/en/research-funding/international-collaborations/baltic-research-programme/3344 Baltic Research Cooperation Programme], [https://www.nordforsk.org/ NordForsk], [https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/docs/h2020-funding-guide/cross-cutting-issues/era-net_en.htm ERA-NET Cofund] and [https://www.era-learn.eu/network-information/networks/bonus-169 Bonus Programme]. In the personal research funding applications, one assessment criterion is international cooperation (24). [https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/245536 OpenGENE—Opening Estonian Genome Project for European Research Area] is conducted in order to raise public awareness of ethical issues related to gene banks and to increase people’s trust towards data banks (25). 

The [https://www.etis.ee/Portal/News/Index/?IsLandingPage=true&lang=ENG Estonian Research Information System (ETIS)] is a national register in which information on R&D institutions, researchers, projects and research results are presented and open for everyone (26). Research Libraries responsible for the collection, preservation and processing of scientific information and making such information available by providing public services (27). 

The Ethics Centre of the University of Tartu is mostly scientifically oriented but it is also active in addressing ethical topics in society (16). It organises annual conferences and events for the promotion of ethics among different scientific disciplines (28). Research ethics committees share information with each other twice per year seminars for research ethics committees are organised for the purposes of networking (18).

Lay press occasionally discusses research integrity. 

<u>RI incentives</u>

University of Tallinn provides training in research integrity via some of its courses (17). The Estonian Academy of Sciences offers support to its researchers through various awards.
{{{!}} class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}'''Initiatives'''
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}'''Scope'''
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.eetikakeskus.ut.ee/en Centre  for Ethics (University of Tartu)]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Training
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.eetika.ee/en/ethics-estonia-0 Research  ethics courses (University Tallinn)]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Training
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.eqar.eu/register/agencies/agency/?id=24 Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational  Education]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Accreditation
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.hm.ee/en/activities/research-and-development/national-research-awards National  Research Award]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Support
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.akadeemia.ee/en/academy/medals-prizes-scholarships/ Endel  Lippmaa Memorial Lecture and Memorial Medal]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Support
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.akadeemia.ee/en/academy/medals-prizes-scholarships/ Memorial  medals (disciplinary)]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Support
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.akadeemia.ee/en/academy/medals-prizes-scholarships/ Medals  of the Estonian Academy of Sciences]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Support
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.akadeemia.ee/en/academy/medals-prizes-scholarships/ Scholarships  of the Academy]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Support
{{!}}-
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}[https://www.akadeemia.ee/en/academy/medals-prizes-scholarships/ Student  research prizes]
{{!}} width="376" valign="top"{{!}}Support
{{!}}}
}}